|
Birds, deer, and other animals can decimate the yield from your fruit and vegetable garden. You can coexist with wildlife if you protect your produce garden from pests with these methods.
Bird watch:
- Polyester bird netting. Sold at most garden centers, this barrier is by far the most reliable way to protect fruits and vegetables. Drape the netting over fruit-bearing plants as soon as fruits begin to ripen.
- Birdscare flash tape. This tape looks like metallic ribbon. Decorate the tops of plants with the stuff and trick birds into thinking the plant is on fire.
- Fake predators. These fool-the-eye figures include artificial snakes, and owls, and good old scarecrows. Rearrange these phony spooks often to keep the birds baffled.
- Noisemakers. The devices include wind chimes, bells, rattling aluminum pie pans, and other items that make sounds when bumped by birds or jostled by the wind (just use your imagination).
Animal patrol:
- Deer. Deer are creatures of habit. They often travel along the same routes day after day, moving between two locations. Build a deer-excluding fence about 8 feet (2.5 meters) high (deer have been known to jump 10-foot, or 3-meter, fences). Before you invest in a fence, you may want to try surrounding your garden with a heavy fishing line attached to posts at about 3 feet (1 meter) high. This can startle deer because they don't see the fishing line, and they may retreat. This wouldn't be a method to try with young children around who could injure themselves on the line.
Deer avoid some plants, although they are notorious for changing their minds about what they want for dinner. In general, pungent or fuzzy-leafed plants are safe.
- Gophers. These are burrowing, antisocial rodents that can carve out 700 square yards (585 square meters)of elaborate underground tunnels. While they tunnel, they work up quite an appetite and any plant roots that happen to be in the way turn into lunch.
Underground barriers made of hardware cloth are effective. Install barriers at least 2 feet (60 cm) deep to block their borrowing.
Various traps are available to catch gophers dead or alive, and traps are the only method used by orchardists and others who are serious about limiting gopher damage. Traps work best when set inside the tunnels.
- Groundhogs (woodchucks). The easiest way to eliminate groundhogs is a fence, one that extends 3 to 4 feet (1–1.2 meters) above ground and 18 (46 cm) inches below ground. Traps are next best. Groundhogs are one of the easier garden raiders to trap alive with a Havahart trap. Check with local and state ordinances about any restrictions on live trapping, and take care when releasing any wild animal so that it doesn't turn on you.
If you're at wit's end dealing with marauding deer or gophers, or woodchucks, consult your local animal control officer. Normally, you find these folks listed under the city, county, or state listings in the telephone book.
|
