Homeowners have been urged to hang up bars of soap in their gardens for a surprising reason. Home improvement website House Digest shared a video on their YouTube channel revealing various ways in which the kitchen and bathroom item can be an effective tool for protecting your plants from pesky critters.

The video explains that various animals like rabbits and birds can cause havoc for your plants by feasting on their lovingly nurtured leaves. The video advises, "If you want to deter any of those cute-but-pesky critters" a "bar of soap could be your answer".

"Some animals have sensitive noses, and the scent of a fresh bar of soap could be enough to keep them out of your plants", adding that in terms of the one you choose, "the more pungent soap the better".

The outlet says if you're using it to deter deers, "you'll want to hang the soap from your garden fencing", explaining that while fences "may keep bunnies at bay, deer have a pretty high jump".

This approach can also be used in your home or greenhouse to discourage bugs from entering and damaging plants. 

House Gigest says soap can lose its pungency over time, but you can refresh its repelling effect by carving off the outer layer to release its scent.

According to the website, having a bar of soap among your arsenal of gardening kit can be useful for gardeners in various other ways, you can find out more here.

Various creatures are important for the ecosystem, but can negatively impact your garden if you don't take some clever precautions.

Slugs and snails are among the creature that can cause issued. They're both a crucial food source for the country's bird population, but as the Royal Horticultural Society explains, some species "feed on live plant material, and this is why gardeners often consider them an enemy".

However, the charity emphasised that "they cannot and should not be eradicated", instead urging that gardeners use targeted management to keep plants, particularly ones that are vulnerable like seedlings and soft young shoots, safe.

The RHS suggested an ingenious method to keep them away, using left overs of fruits you may already have in your home.