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Something keeps digging in my mulch

Heruga (7a Northern NJ)

6 years ago

Not sure if its a chipmunk since I don't see them around anymore so I think it might be squirrels but argh they do this everyday. I recently planted dracocephalum argunense, aquilegia flabellata, sanguisorba officinalis, and dryopteris crasshirzomas in october. I put pine bark nuggets for mulch. They dig in there like crazy but funny thing is they just dig right around the plants and don't actually dig out the plants. Whys that? And how do I stop these critters from digging. I'm very worried they will damage the roots of my plants one day

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peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada

6 years ago

Perhaps they have buried nuts in the bed if there are any nut trees around. I think sometimes they are just curious as to what has happened in "their" yard.

I have heard of people placing stones or bricks around new plantings to stop digging/heave. Once the plants are established the threat of digging is greatly reduced.

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Comments (9)

Heruga (7a Northern NJ)
Original Author
6 years ago
Theres a very large oak in my neighbors yard in which about half my yard is under the oaks canopy. Why do they have to dig in the mulch and not anywhere else though? They don't seem to bother my perennials in the mulch but rather dig around it which is probably equally as damaging
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I'm having the same problem! I don't think I'm quite the gardner all of you seem to be, but I like having nice flowers in the spring and summer so I have a barrel in my front yard that I planted with spikes and petunias. Since I planted them last week, I keep having to go and re-plant them b/c something is digging through my barrel. Help!! We have squirrels (with huge attitudes!), racoons, chipmunks - the whole bit. Is there anything I can put on the soil to repel these little buggers????
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This is mean but I sprinkle cayenne pepper when I plant bulbs they do not dig. The lawn people they work for me they break it they buy it. Once they have to pay me they no longer break, cut, damage anything in my garden. I wish I could give those same rules to the deer and groundhogs. I stomped my feet at the deer the other day and she stomped her feet back at me and kept eating. Hit her with a rock she left and came back with her friends.
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Armadillos would be my guess too if your house is in or near a rural or semi-rural area where the deer and the buffalo (and armadillos) roam. Skunks also dig in the soil in a manner similar to armadillos. I've never had toads dig in the soil like that at this time of year, but sometimes do accidentally dig up a buried or semi-buried toad in early spring. Did you try googling to see an image of 'toad scat' or 'toad droppings' to see if it matches what you're seeing? Dawn
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Robins....or any other birds.......don't dig holes 2' deep and 2' wide looking for worms or other soil critters. Whatever is doing this is mammalian. Did you use any strongly scented organic fertilizer when planting? Blood meal, bone meal, manures? That could be attracting undesirables. I suppose you could just put the cloth on the ground as you described but you lose the benefit of it keeping all the flying insects away from your plants as well. I'm not sure why you are finding this so difficult to do. As I mentioned before, it is a very common practice and you see these row cover tents or tunnels in virtually every p-patch/community garden in the area.
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mxk3 z5b_MI
6 years ago
Chipmunks are hibernating in my area right now. What else might burrow - voles maybe? Or maybe raccoons digging to find something tasty down there? If you have any snow yet, tracks would give you a clue. I do the stone/brick trick, too, it does help (especially with my dog, who is a terrier mix = ratter/digger).
Jean
6 years ago
Around here, squirrels are burying nuts & peanuts.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
one of the purposes of mulch is to retain heat ... ergo ... the soil is softer under it ... longer into the cold weather ....

also ... they seem to be stimulated.. any time of year .... by freshly dug soil ... perhaps they think you planted some nuts for them ...

if you have a few stakes around ... you can get a box .... open top and bottom ... place around the plant.. and stake 2 corners ... this also keeps rabbits away ...

ken
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
6 years ago
Along with squirrels, raccoons and skunks are active and will dig if the weather is above freeing. Both are more active dusk to dawn than during the day, so you might never see them, but there were many in the suburban neighborhood where I grew up.
Heruga (7a Northern NJ)
Original Author
6 years ago
Ah I see.. so thats why they dig in soil that was just dug up. So I guess fence them out until the plant gets established and once it gets established the critters wont bother them anymore like perenall says.

Even if its something else thats digging, I don't understand why they don't touch the plant and just go around it. Its like they're avoiding it
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
"I don't understand why they don't touch the plant and just go around it. Its like they're avoiding it"

They are :-) The plant(s) is in the way. They simply bury their treasure where the plant is not. Squirrels routinely 'plant' horse-chestnuts in all of my containers and usually in the ground as well.....even in the middle of the lawn. I never notice until spring when I need to repot or the dang chestnuts germinate and start growing! They never bother any plants at all. The only time that is an issue is if they dig up bulbs like tulip or crocus to eat.
Cathy Kaufell
6 years ago
Squirrels s like to dig in my mulch. That's how I now have a 60 ft Pin Oak. It was rescued from the mulch when it was 6 inched tall. Prettiest tree on my property.

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