How to keep critters out of vegetable garden
micrazy
15 years ago
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micrazy
15 years agoRelated Discussions
How to keep rats out of vegetable garden?
Comments (30)Just something to keep in mind with the wire ideas, rats can fit through things that are the size of their head. If the head fits, the rest of the rat can too! That being said, perhaps some really tight wire? I've also personally had luck with decoys (I've got an owl who's head turns with the wind as though it's looking around, as well as a snake that looks ready to strike- the snake isn't realistic colors, but has a very realistic shape). I live right on a canyon so there are all types of critters out there (including things that eat rats and other possible pests like rabbits). We also get red tail hawks flying around. I like the idea of attracting more local predators to take care of the rats- owls especially for the evening hours as someone had mentioned. Perhaps if it gets really bad you can do something with motion detectors that active lights and/or jets of water? Just something to startle the rat off and make it think things aren't safe. I've heard of people doing that for larger things like raccoons, not sure if it would work with rats....See MoreKeeping critters out of the garden
Comments (8)I live 50 yards from the long swampy draw that is known locally as 'raccoon ally', and I can spot light a dozen any given night with a flashlight. The only things I have them bother in the garden are ripe corn, ripe fruit, ripe grapes, and ripe melons. They will dig up the compost if there is some sort of protein in there, fish heads, meat or chicken scraps, or something like that. So I don't put that stuff in the compost. Recently, I tried an unsuccessful way of making yogurt, and poured the result onto newspaper and buried it in the compost. the raccoons dug it up and ate it. If you really have problems, aside from the chicken wire fence mentioned above, the best solution is an electric fence around the garden with one strand about 3 inches off the ground, and another at about a foot. Anyone who raises corn around here does that....See MoreA novel fence to keep out the critters
Comments (7)Two things I have not had to worry about are squirrels and rabbits- I have 10 cats! While the birds take some risks, their food has never been disturbed by any squirrels. As for deer, SO FAR, they have not been a problem. On the very rare occasions that my son has seen them in the yard, he has fired his BB gun at them (w/ my thanks). It would be a big problem though if the deer began eating up my yard. An opossum, on the other hand, took up living under the house there for awhile and I was feeding it as well as the cats (I suspect it was making itself free of the house by coming in through the kitty door). I'm sure there are raccoons too but I haven't seen any yet. Wildlife, I love it but only in its proper place- the woods. Brandy...See MoreHow to keep cats out of my garden
Comments (6)Those noise repellers do work, my friend got one for his garden because he used to get unwelcome cats and foxes in his garden. They stopped coming in pretty quickly when he put the repeller up! So I think they are probably fine. I personally got some fence spikes that you pop along the top of your fence and find them to be very effective at stopping unwanted visitors getting into your garden! I get mine from this site, but I think you can also get the noise ultrasonic repellers here too if you prefer that. My order was delivered very quickly and wasn't too expensive either, so I think they're a good company. Here is a link that might be useful: Primrose Fence Spikes...See Moresylvana_grows
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