One household item hailed a game-changer as it stops squirrels and cats eating plants

A cheap and easy hack for gardeners might be the difference between keeping your plants and flowers in tact or having to find a replacement after an animal has damaged them

There's perhaps nothing worse for gardeners who work hard all year round outside only for a pesky animal to go and dig up their plants.

The cheap and simple hack uses a household item that many people will most probably have lying around the place - and only takes a few seconds to implement. In doing this, you will end up discouraging a host of wild creatures such as squirrels and even deer from entering your garden and taking any of your crops.

Likewise, domestic cats in the area may also sneak into your garden and cause havoc by clawing at your flowers. It's worth taking a moment then to hunt out any spare plastic cutlery you may have boxed away.

"Before you toss that box of unused plastic forks from last year’s holiday gathering, consider using them in your garden. Placing forks in the soil around your plants will discourage animals like raccoons, cats, squirrels and deer from wandering into the garden and helping themselves to your crops," advises Farm Flavour.

One impressed reader replied: "I love the plastic fork idea! Really works. I also use. Moth balls in flower beds to keep critters out." However, not everyone was so sure about the hack, as one person commented: "Placing forks in the soil around your plants will NOT discourage animals like raccoons, cats, squirrels, and deer from wandering into the garden and helping themselves to your crops.

"Putting plastic utensils in the garden for anything other than labeling purposes is a waste of a good eating utensil. It’s best to use those unused plastic forks from last year’s holiday gathering, family event, or special occasion for their original purpose – eating a meal." In response, another reader simply stated: "So true."

Elsewhere, as winter approaches another cheap gardening hack can help you protect your plants from the frost. Gardening expert Josh Novell, told Ideal Home: “Bubble wrap works well as a cost effective solution, as well as being a great way to make use of any early online Christmas shopping.

It works well because the air pockets in bubble wrap create a layer of insulation that protects your delicate outdoor plants from cold temperatures.” However, he warned this solution is only temporary and suggested covering plants overnight but removing the wrap every morning to let air and water reach the plant.