#@%ï¿½ï¿½+ï¿½ï¿½### groundhog is back!

11 years ago

We trapped a near dozen groundhogs out of the woods and garden last summer, thought we had gotten rid of the colony and that was the end of it for a while, but now a new one has moved in yesterday. Amazing how much they can eat in one day! I was commenting how good my chicory was looking, and waiting for lots of pretty blue flowers.....whacked to the ground! I won't miss the violets much or the blackeyed susans, but the chicory that I've been trying to grow for the last 4 or 5 years made me mad, the war is on and the traps are out. In the meantime, I dusted everything with black pepper just in case. Now I know what ate the hostas next to the deck. I had that blamed on bunnies but now I don't think so!

I just hope it's not a nursing mother because if it is, we will have to let her go until her babies are weaned. She is in the old den under the studio and I sure don't want to have dead baby groundhogs under there. A dead mouse a few weeks ago was too much for me!

Sandy

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

helenh
11 years ago
You need the team I have here to run through your garden looking for groundhogs. At first I thought you were soft feeling sorry for baby groundhogs then I got to the end where we discovered your reasoning. Maybe the chicory will shoot back up. Is it the wild chicory that grows in limey parking lots and in gravel? Sometimes plants that appear to be tough have specific requirements and are not that easy to grow just anywhere.
jfmand3
11 years ago
young ground hog,fried, along with mashed tators and gravy is mighty tasty.
Related Discussions
Groundhogs and deer, and other pests
Q
Comments (2)
Hi, I am brand new at SFG (and gardening in general) myself, so take this for what it's worth :) I have 2 4x4 boxes growing right now on stilts. One is completely on my back deck covering two levels and the other is on two levels with one leg down to the ground below the deck. The boxes are square, flat and level, it is just the legs that are of varying lengths. They are both growing great so as long as you build them sturdy with a strong bottom, you should be fine. We have 5 legs for each box made from 4x4's. One on each corner and one supporting the middle of the plywood base. The tops of the boxes are at about 18" above the deck, so the base is about 11" above, give or take. I have two more boxes that are half on and half off the deck, but have not filled them and planted them yet. I hope that helps :)
...See More
The groundhog's back and I don't care (video)
Q
Comments (12)
"Great stuff! Are your beds groundhog proof under ground as well?" Did I ever! ;-) You can see how I fortified the bottoms about 40 seconds into in the "Birth of a Square Foot Garden" video. The front right planter is actually placed directly on one of his burrow exits. I found it while clearing that area of weeds, and for a couple of days we played a game of I-fill-it-up-he-digs-it-out. I can only imagine what went through his furry little mind when one day he dug his way out and came face to face with 1/2" hardware cloth. LOL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRjXAZqXvXA&fmt=18 Here is a link that might be useful: Birth of a Square Foot Garden video
...See More
The groundhogs back!
Q
Comments (1)
She's Beautiful! Thanks a gardenbunch for the photos. And he/she ... lost weight?!? Yeah? Looks like a mini-elephant. My hubby would be elated to have one in our backyard habitat. We did see one alongside the road for a few seconds, and his/her nearby burrow, about two blocks away. We'll be walking that roadway more often. Sarah, he's got a fortunate life rooming w/appreciative wildlife and greenery lovin' property owners! Cool picture of her tail. Never seen their tails from that angle. smiles, thanx for sharing.
...See More
Groundhog in backyard
Q
Comments (13)
No rolled up sod this morning, thinking it was originally groundhogs I laid out bright balloons, pinwheels and spread a ton of Costco Chili Powder around the grass. Coincidence or not who knows but it also seems that the squirrels are scared of the pinwheels, something I should have put 2 months ago before they ravished my tomatoes (unlike any other summer, I'm assuming it was due to the dry summer we had and they were super thirsty).
...See More
mosswitch
Original Author
11 years ago
The groundhog has been relocated to an undisclosed (I truly don't know where and I'm not asking) new home far far away from my chicory, ya hoo! The trap will be reset tomorrow in case he brought a buddy, haha.

Yes Helen it is the wild chicory, I love the blue and I've been trying to get it to grow by my pond for years, but there have been those groundhog issues. Plus I think I was pulling out the seedlings for a while there because they look just like dandelions! This was looking like a real good year for it but I think it will come back ok, it didn't eat the entire plant, just the top.

Haha I'll be glad to bring you the next one we catch, jf, you are welcome to have him for a meal. As for me I think I'll pass.

Sandy
mosswitch
Original Author
11 years ago
The groundhog has been relocated to an undisclosed (I truly don't know where and I'm not asking) new home far far away from my chicory, ya hoo! The trap will be reset tomorrow in case he brought a buddy, haha.

Yes Helen it is the wild chicory, I love the blue and I've been trying to get it to grow by my pond for years, but there have been those groundhog issues. Plus I think I was pulling out the seedlings for a while there because they look just like dandelions! This was looking like a real good year for it but I think it will come back ok, it didn't eat the entire plant, just the top.

Haha I'll be glad to bring you the next one we catch, jf, you are welcome to have him for a meal. As for me I think I'll pass.

Sandy
helenh
11 years ago
You are good at trapping animals. I have never had any luck getting anything to go in a trap.
christie_sw_mo
11 years ago
Glad to hear you caught your groundhog Sandy.

I like wild chickory too. It seems like it blooms for a long time. From where I've seen it growing, I bet it needs really good drainage. It's odd that I don't see it in yards, just along the road. I've never tried to start any myself but have been tempted.

#@%ï¿½ï¿½+ï¿½ï¿½### groundhog is back!

Comments (6)

helenh

jfmand3

Related Discussions

mosswitch
Original Author

mosswitch
Original Author

helenh

christie_sw_mo

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

#@%ï¿½ï¿½+ï¿½ï¿½### groundhog is back!

Comments (6)

helenh

jfmand3

Related Discussions

mosswitchOriginal Author

mosswitchOriginal Author

helenh

christie_sw_mo

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

mosswitch
Original Author

mosswitch
Original Author