</MYMAILSTATIONERY> Critter Control
You know, as gardeners, we want to have our cake and eat it too. We love wildlife. Indeed, we have our little garden ponds with goldfish and frogs, our birdfeeders and birdhouses. We love Nature, and we do enjoy the wildlife that comes to call. We don't like it, though, when the creatures like our places so much that they start viewing our flower beds, plants, and vegetable gardens as the equivalent of a salad bar. I am no different. When we first moved out here from town, we put in a vegetable garden with corn and other goodies. The cottontail rabbits made short order of the beans and other veggies while the raccoons set their sights on the corn. Needless to say, we harvested very little produce that year.
This isn't a problem just for rural gardeners, either. When we lived in town, we still had rabbits, chipmunks, and the occasional raccoon who would raid the veggie patch and other plantings. Birds would strip the cherry crop, if we would let them. Every wild thing enjoyed the strawberries. Squirrels, crows and starlings would decimate the birdfeeders. I am sure you all have had similar experiences. What can we do?
First of all, despite all our efforts, there will still be some losses. You can keep a dog out back patrolling the place, but sooner or later Fido will be coming indoors, he won't be out there 24/7. You can spray to your heart's content, but something invariably will be poached from your plantings. The goal will be to minimize damage, and to prevent as much decimation as possible. Without further adieu, let's explore some tactics to keep the varmint damage down to a minimum:
Deer
Now I feel sorry for deer. I really do. With all the expansion that has been going on between commercial businesses, new housing developments, and other urban sprawl, much of the natural habitat has diminished for these lovely creatures. Definitely, all of their natural predators are pretty much a thing of the past as well. Many states have instituted special deer hunts on public lands and parks that before were protected habitat for deer because of population increases and pressure on the environment. Even though these efforts have been very successful, deer are becoming an increasing problem with home owners in town as well as in the country.
It's controversial, but one way people handle deer is to place a feeding station for them. It has to be maintained, though, through good and bad weather, and it can become an expensive proposition if there are a lot of deer in the area. The controversy about this is that it might possibly be illegal in some localities, it is interfering with the natural flow and cycle of the deer, and this can override the deer's natural foraging activities and will keep them in the area longer than they might normally be.
If you aren't that dedicated or wild about intervening and having the deer at your place in any way, shape or fashion, there are other alternatives that can be used.
Deer Sprays And Other Deterrents
--You can always mix up a batch of eggs, raw of course, and add water to them. While a half-dozen or so eggs are relatively cheap, when blended with water and sprayed on desirable plants, it will act as a deterrent to deer. It will need to be reapplied after overhead watering or rain, though.
--Another way to keep deer at bay is to scatter human hair clippings in the garden.
--Deer do not like the scent of soap or aftershave. Perhaps this is why hunters avoid using any scented toiletries before they go out deer hunting. So, this is one that might be easier on the nostrils than the rotten egg approach!
--Hang small bars of soap from the branches of trees and shrubs. You can either hang them in panty hose, or you can poke holes into the bars of soap, run twine through them, and tie them about twenty feet apart on branches of trees and shrubs. You can also hang soap from stakes placed every few feet around plants in the perennial boarder. The beauty of using scented soaps is that they will retain their odor for a long time, and do not need to be reapplied after every rain.
--Another smelly deterrent which is also good for the garden is to use a kelp and fish emulsion spray on ornamentals:
Mix 1 tablespoon of kelp, 1/3 cup of fish emulsion, 1 tablespoon of liquid hand soap, and 1 tsp. of hot sauce together into one gallon of water. Spray on plants every week or after a heavy rain. This one is also good for deterring insect pests as well, and will feed your plants to boot!
Plant A Deer-Proof Garden
Perhaps this is a bit misleading, but it does seem that most deer do not like the following plants. I say this is misleading since someone out there reading this will be sure to comment that the deer ate some of these listed plants, anyway! This list is of the plants that MOST deer will avoid. If deer cannot find other forage, they will resort to eating some of these plants; however, if other food sources are available, most deer will leave the following plants alone:
Mints of all types
Artemesia
Candytuft
Marguerite
Obedient Plant
Spurge
Yarrow
Beebalm or Monarda
Columbine
Marigolds
Rhododendron
Sage
Cone Flower
Cranesbill
Liatris or Blazing Star
Rosemary
Lamb's Ears
Wisteria
Lemon Thyme
Foxgloves
Forsythia
Wormwood
Miscanthus
Butterfly Weed
Mexican Oregano
Oregano
Santolina
Squirrels and Chipmunks
Not only do squirrels and chipmunks raid ground feeders and, in the case of squirrels, pole and tree feeders, they also can cause considerable damage to plants and bulbs. There are a few deterrents and planting strategies that can be used to deter them and minimize the damage caused by these critters:
--Chipmunk & Squirrel Repellent: Mix 3 tablespoons of cayenne pepper into very hot water, about a quart. Strain into a spray bottle. Add a teaspoon of a mild soap to the spray, and spray plants. This will need to be reapplied after watering overhead or after a rain.
--Spread used kitty litter around ornamental plants only. This one might work at deterring squirrels and chipmunks, but might also attract any outdoor cats who might be lurking around. So, only use this on ornamentals and only if there are no cats in the area.
--Planting Potion: Take 1/3 ounce of hot sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap, 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper powder, 1 crushed garlic clove, and add to a pint of water. Allow this to brew for about a half hour, then strain into a spray bottle. You can spray plants, tree trunks, and also spray into planting holes when you plant new bulbs in the fall. If you apply this to above ground plants or trees, it will need to be reapplied after a rain.
--For Birdfeeders: Mix in crushed, not ground, fresh cayenne pepper with the seed mix.
--Place chicken wire over bulbs when planting, about an inch or so above the bulbs and before backfilling with soil.
--Plant daffodils if you have a terrible problem with squirrels and chipmunks. They will not eat daffodil bulbs.
--Plant crown imperials in your bulb plantings. These bulbs reputedly repel rodents and other small digging animals.
--Apply squirrel baffles to feeders.
--Try to use a good quality squirrel-proof feeder that will tip the squirrel out of the feeder when they attempt to raid it.
Raccoons
Raccons are opportunistic animals, and are omnivorous by nature. Think of all the foods we as humans consume, and they will eat it all, plus pet food and plants and some unmentionable "foods" as well. They commonly cause problems in the vegetable garden and in garbage cans. Believe me, even with a large garbage can, raccoons can get into them and wreak havoc! There is nothing so unpleasant as picking up trash that is strewn around the yard after a visit from these nocturnal marauders. Here are a few tips:
--To keep raccoons out of garbage cans, pour a cop of household ammonia over the trash.
--Wrap a two or three foot wide piece of of sheet metal around the trunks of fruit trees. Position these strips about two feet above the ground to create a raccoon baffle.
--Plant cucumbers among your other plants. Raccoons do not like cukes.
--Spread a boarder of lime around your garden perimeter. About a two feet wide. Since raccoons are meticulous animals, they do not like to tread on lime.
Rabbits and Mice
Rabbits can quickly destroy a vegetable garden or prized tulip bed. They love plants nearly as much as we do! Mice can also be a problem, especially in the winter. If you do not have a cat or dog patrolling your yard, you might wish to try a few of these remedies:
--Rabbit and Mouse Scatter Spray:
1 small bottle of hot pepper sauce or 5 tablespoons of fresh ground cayenne pepper.
1 gallon water
1 teaspoon mild liquid detergent such as dishwashing detergent
Spray plants liberally. Reapply after rain or overhead watering.
--Moth Balls, the safe way: Place moth balls in a plastic container, such as a margarine tub. Cover it, poke holes in the container and lid, and tuck under plants. The smell will last a long time, and acts as a deterrent to rabbits, mice, and other four-legged creatures while being unavailable to pets. You can also sink these into the ground just to the rims, and punch holes only in the top, then barely cover with just enough mulch to hide them. This will prevent over-curious kids or pets from investigating the contents of the containers.
--Blood Meal: Sprinkle blood meal liberally around planting areas. Reapply after rain or overhead watering.
--Chicken Wire: Extend chicken wire fencing from about 12 inches below a garden area to about 2 feet above the area. Be sure it is a fine-mesh so small mice cannot get in.
--Tree Wrap: Wrap trunks of young trees in the late fall before the snow falls to keep mice and rabbits from stripping the bark from young trees. You can also spray trees with planting potion that is listed above for squirrels.
Moles
--Place Juicy Fruit gum in mole runs
--Place chocolate Ex-Lax in mole runs
--Blend 1 Tbsp castor oil with 2 tbsp. liquid soap, blend so this is about the consistency of shaing cream. Add 5 or 6 Tbsp of water and blend some more. Add 1 Tbsp to 1 gallon of water. Poke holes in the run at every few feet, and pour into the holes. Water this in after applying.
--Take human hair clippings and poke holes in the run and place the clippings.
--If you have a cat, take the used litter (urine, feces, and all), and poke holes in the run and add the used litter with all its goodies down into the run, every few feet.
--Take cheap perfume or aftershave and pour into the run.
Birds
While birds are among our most welcome visitors to the garden, and are usually more friend than foe, at times even these beneficial animals can be a bother. Here are some ideas:
--To deter larger birds from raiding bird feeders, buy feeders that will only allow small birds to feed.
--Apply bird netting over cherry and other fruit trees. This works when the trees are smaller. This will also work in berry patches and with blueberries.
--Place metal strips in trees to twirl and reflect light. It won't deter all of the feeding on fruit trees, but it will minimize the amount of crop losses.
--Just before fruit ripens, place an artificial owl or eye scarecrow or two in your trees. If placed too early, the birds will get used to it. The idea is to simulate a predator.
--If you have the room for it, plant a self-fruitful variety of mulberry tree on the back side of your property, away from seating areas. Mulberries are messy, but birds prefer to eat mulberries over cherries. Both ripen at about the same time.
Cats 'N' Dogs
I have owned both cats and dogs. Or, dogs and cats, if you prefer. They are wonderful companions to have around, but make lousy visitors to gardens. I actually had a watermelon-eating dog once, so not only does Man's Best Friend leave calling cards and holes all over the place, he can develop a liking for some produce, it would seem! As for cats, the surprises often come when someone goes out to plant a few new prized flowers or whatever in the garden. Some cats feel that gardens are giant litterboxes, and this can be a most unpleasant experience, believe me! Here are a few ideas to keep Fido and Fluffy at bay:
Keep Diggin' Dogs at bay:
If your dog is digging, he is usually following his natural instincts or is bored. Keep in mind that a dog parked out in the backyard all day is going to have to entertain himself in some way, so provide him with other diversions as well!
Spray the holes and other areas of the yard with the following:
--Cayenne Pepper Spray:
one whole garlic, crushed
1 hot onion, chopped
1 quart of hot water
2 teaspoons of crushed cayenne pepper (fresh)
2 tablespoons of hot sauce
Mix, allow to steep for about four or five hours. Spread on areas where dogs trample down plants when they lie down, compost heaps, ornamental plants, or where dogs like to dig or plants they use as urinals.
No Cats or Dogs Allowed!
--Place brambles or other clippings of roses and other thorny plants down around flower beds to deter them from resting in your flower beds, or to keep them from digging.
--Cats detest the smell of citrus. Place orange or other citrus peels around flower beds to deter cats from resting in plantings or digging.
These are a few ideas of critter control. There will always be visitors, welcome and unwelcome, to the garden. The trick is to prevent as much damage as possible while living in peaceful co-existence with these animals. | </MYMAILSTATIONERY> |
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 