Got any plastic forks lying around from your last summer picnic?

It may seem odd, but forks could be the unexpected solution to your garden problems.

Pests can often wreak havoc on your favourite plants—from squirrels and cats, to rabbits, and badgers, they all have a talent for nibbling on shrubs, vegetables, and saplings.

Diana Cox, gardening expert at The Gardening Talk, said: "The fork prongs irritate critters and establish an environment they prefer to avoid. The technique functions as a physical barrier, rendering the ground uncomfortable for pests to traverse."

The plastic fork hack involves inserting forks into the soil with the prongs facing upwards which will make it more difficult and uncomfortable for these animals to crawl onto your beloved plants and crops.