| Birds: Birds can be a real pain in the neck in going | | | | to be effective when hung from stakes, since the |
| after your berry bushes and many of your vegetable | | | | move, flash, and make noise when a breeze moves |
| plants. Here is how to deal with them. | | | | them. |
| 1. Some people like to keep birds out of their | | | | 6. Fencing. This is one of the most common and |
| gardens by enticing them elsewhere. To do this, | | | | most effective ways of keeping unwanted rodents |
| simply hang or mount a couple of bird houses or bird | | | | out of your garden. Make sure to choose a fence at |
| feeders well away from your garden area and keep | | | | least 36" high and bury it at least 12" deep around |
| the food in good supply. | | | | the entire perimeter of the garden. Both plastic and |
| 2. Rubber hoses cut into sections about 18"-24" in | | | | metal mesh varieties are available. |
| length and scattered between rows look like snakes | | | | 7. Homemade remedies. Many people claim that |
| from the air. | | | | mixtures including: cayenne pepper, garlic, black |
| 3. Gallon and half gallon milk cans can be placed upside | | | | ground pepper, tobasco sauce, etc. make great |
| down on thin stakes driven into the ground. When | | | | sprays to use on individual plants to deter rodents. |
| the wind rattles the cans around the noise will | | | | 8. Some people claim that planting the favorite food |
| typically scare off birds. | | | | of rabbits (clover) in large patches will distract the |
| 4. Nets! Almost any decent garden center or nursery | | | | rabbit from their vegetables. |
| will sell nets that you can use to cover crops | | | | 9. You can plant the most desirable vegetables in the |
| (especially berry bushes) to protect them from birds. | | | | middle of the garden and plant less desirable plants |
| There are kinds that are more bird friendly then | | | | (peppers, certain herbs, prickly plants like pumpkins |
| others in terms of the ability of a bird to become | | | | and squash) around the outside perimeter to deter |
| entangled. | | | | them from entering the garden. I find this to be fairly |
| Rabbits, Groundhogs, and other rodents: My garden | | | | ineffective but some people say it works. |
| used to be plagued by rabbits and groundhogs. They | | | | 10. Sprinkle hair from your dogs around the garden. |
| really enjoy eating bean plants, pea plants, tomato | | | | The animals will smell the natural predator and stay |
| plant roots, lettuce, and many other vegetables. | | | | away. Some people also like to use fox urine in their |
| 1. Trap them and move them to another area. There | | | | garden. Fox or wolf urine can usually be found in |
| are many types of non-lethal traps to be found, | | | | sporting goods/hunting stores. |
| however, you should check with local regulations to | | | | Deer. Deer can be a real headache for those in |
| make sure you are allowed to trap animals in your | | | | suburban or country settings. They eat voraciously |
| area. | | | | and can easily clear even 6' tall fences. Here are |
| 2. Lethal. To most people lethal means eliminating the | | | | some suggestions for trying to deter them. |
| rodents with a bullet. Again, many people do not like | | | | 1. Use very tall fences. Minimum of 8' tall around your |
| the lethal option and you will need to check local | | | | garden. This can be costly and you may still find a |
| regulations for discharging guns in your area. I know | | | | deer or two occasionally within the confines of the |
| many people who have had no choice but to use this | | | | fence. |
| option, and it has worked well for them. | | | | 2. Use repellents, either spray or granular around |
| 3. Pellet or spray repellants. You can find these at | | | | individual plants and the perimeter of the garden. This |
| any garden center and I have found them to be | | | | can be somewhat effective. |
| somewhat effective. You will also need to read the | | | | 3. Use cages around individual plants, thereby making |
| packaging to find out how close to your edible plants | | | | it difficult for the deer snouts to access your plants. |
| you can sprinkle the repellant. Also, you will need to | | | | 4. Use motion sensing lights or sprinklers. These can |
| repeat applications every couple of weeks or so. | | | | be found at many garden centers, online, or at home |
| 4. Rubber hoses cut into 18"-24" sections and | | | | improvement stores. |
| scattered between rows will look like snakes to | | | | 5. Allow your dogs to roam around your garden or |
| those little bunnies. | | | | take their hair (from grooming) and sprinkle it around |
| 5. Anything that makes noise or moves. This could | | | | your garden. |
| mean milk jugs placed upside down on stakes or | | | | Good luck on embarking on the never-ending quest |
| pinwheels planted in the ground. Rabbits and | | | | of keeping your veggies and fruits safe from these |
| groundhogs do not like shiny items moving or noise. | | | | natural predators! |
| Some people have found aluminum pie plates or cd's | | | | |