Pests in the Garden

There I was on a balmy Sunday, sipping from a glass of iced tea with crushed mint straight from the garden, when what to my wondering eyes did appear? 

 A mother ground hog and three frisky babies, pouncing upon the oak leaf lettuce like it was their last meal.  Ms. Hog was showing her offspring how to chew efficiently while staring innocently into the eyes of the gardener who was losing her entire crop! 

 I ran to the sliding door, opening it noisily, shouting unpleasantries while splashing the tea and wielding a rolled up section of the New York Times.  The furry family scampered off, pausing a few times to look back, noting no doubt, that I had given up and was now surveying, dejectedly, what was left after the Sunday morning massacre of my beloved garden.

Determined to salvage the rest of the garden, I decided to consult with the experts.  Abma’s Farms Greenhouse Manager and fellow Master Gardener Jenny said it was a wise gardener who knew  the enemy before sowing seeds: “You don’t wait until something is eating your garden. You find out what lives in the neighborhood and take steps before you plant.”

Deer

Bambi may be super cute in the movies, but in the garden can be a real pest.  Jenny recommends a 6-to-8 foot tall fence or shorter angled fence when it comes to keeping deer away.  Deer are also easily frightened by humans and some gardeners swear by hair clippings scattered around the perimeter of garden beds.  Dryer sheets are also offensive to deer and can be nestled into the inside edges of containers or torn in strips and hung in the area.  Irish Spring soap bars cut into cubes and strung like popcorn is another non-toxic trick. 

Rousseau’s Organic Nursery manager Karen Lauber recommends Liquid Sprays such as “Deer Out” which also comes in a spray for trees and shrubs.  These are non-toxic products made from ingredients such as peppermint, garlic and egg solids and when applied correctly, will last one to three months.  For vegetable patches, she suggests a product called “Deer Scram” made from dried blood, garlic, pepper and  cloves.  (Lauber advises using a vegetable wash to rinse produce thoroughly.)  Deer do not like hot or spicy tastes and it may only take one mouthful of this stuff to send Bambi and friends packing.

Jenny from Abma’s added that the sprays can be used effectively on trees and shrubs around the perimeter of your property to discourage deer from entering the yard.

Rabbits

Little bunnies are charming little creatures in children's bedtime stories, t00.  But don't tell that to the rose aficionado who finds all of the bark and lower leaves stripped off the canes.  A low fence may be all it takes to repel these nibblers as well as a healthy dose of dried blood which also doubles as a fertilizer.  (Dried blood products are available in most nurseries in 5lb. bags).

Rats, Mice, and Moles

Most gardeners treat these rodents with “rodenticides,” poisoned baits or blocks, available at nurseries and hardware stores.  This is a safe way to eradicate these pests as they eat some of the bait and return to their holes with very bad stomach aches.  Many of today’s rodents have become immune to “over-the-counter” baits making it necessary to call in the experts: restricted use of rodenticides must be handled by licensed professionals who are certified to handle these more potent poisons.

Groundhogs

These are probably the most difficult pests to treat as they have less heightened senses of smell and taste.  Groundhogs never met a plant they didn’t like and can easily eat a whole garden in a few days.  Although there are sprays which may deter these four-legged fur balls, the best defense is a well-trenched fence.

Groundhogs are darn good burrowers requiring aggressive action. Dig a 12-to-18 inch trench  into the ground around your garden with at least 8 inches of fencing protruding above ground.  Chicken wire is the thriftiest barrier and should be inserted into the trench in a reverse “J”.

 It is advisable to visit your garden frequently at odd times -- a deserted garden is like an engraved invitation to these critters!

 Other suggestions are an old-fashioned scarecrow with moving parts such as tin pie plates, pinwheels, beach balls, plastic grocery bags, bells or wind chimes tied onto limbs. Motion-activated alarms and sprinklers may be used somewhat effectively.

Homemade repellants include a mixture of hot sauce and water sprayed directly onto plants.  Planting unappetizing flowers around the perimeter of your vegetable garden is another line of defense in the summer long battle against these pests: try ageratum, annual poppies, dianthus and nicotiana.  Some folks also say that a battery operated radio tuned into a lively sports game or talk show may also chase a hog from the yard.

Chipmunks

Although many chipmunks appear to scurry in and out of the garden, they seem easily satisfied with the excess seeds that have fallen from the birdfeeders.  They may occasional nibble at the lettuce, but do not level a row of vegetables the way many of the other marauders do. They are easily scared off by some of the noise and motion tactics mentioned above.

Most gardeners understand that it is impossible to keep every hungry invader out of the garden and may even be resigned to accept the idea of a little for the animals, a little for the gardener and a bit that goes back into the earth.

Email any additional ideas that have worked for you — especially related to groundhogs, so I can enjoy my iced tea in peace.