Fencing can be the solution to rabbit and groundhog populations. Chicken wire or hardware cloth will deter deer. Certain plants such as abelia, barberry bushes, forsynthia and winterberry holly also act as natural deterrents; deer don’t seem to like these choices either!
Seek evidence of who’s causing damage by looking for telltale signs like droppings and telltale snip marks on vegetables, while covering them in netting or garden fabric will keep animals away.
Fences
At times, physical barriers may be the best way to keep animals out of your garden. There are various fencing options available – solid wood fences, reed fencing and plastic mesh or welded wire are just a few – and it’s important that your fence height fits the animal you wish to exclude; deer-proof fences must be at least 7 feet tall while groundhog-proof ones need only be dug down a few inches into dirt in order to stop digging in!
Fencing can also help protect plants from animals while controlling how much sun your garden receives, which is especially helpful when growing vegetables that require lots of direct sun such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. A light-colored fence will reflect light into shaded areas of your yard.
Other techniques for keeping animals away from your veggie garden include planting a border of deer-repelling plants such as Abelia shrubs, Forsynthia flowers, winterberry holly and coral bells. Bulbs that deer dislike, such as daffodils and crocus bulbs covered by bulb cages or doused with thiram-based repellent can also help. You can even try scare devices such as Mylar balloons that flutter in the wind; motion-activated sprinklers; motion-activated sprinklers; motion activated sprinklers; motion activated sprinklers; motion activated sprinklers and radios as potential solutions to keep animals out.
Small animals such as chipmunks, squirrels, voles, slugs and mice can be difficult to keep out of your garden due to their ability to dig under or climb over fences. Chicken wire with small holes or 1/2-inch hardware cloth may be effective in deterring these pests; you could also consider protecting individual plants with poultry wire cloches designed to deter birds and rabbits. Alternatively, consider burying the bottom edge of your fence a few inches underground which should also deter groundhogs or any burrowing animals that might attempt to enter.
Repellents
If you prefer natural and organic solutions for keeping animals away from your vegetable garden, building a fence may be your answer. The type and height will depend on what kind of animals are a problem; rabbits and squirrels may be deterred with short fences while deer need something at least four feet tall to stay out; chicken wire, hardware cloth plastic fencing or sturdy mesh netting fencing work great against deer while groundhogs and voles will require trench digging to bury at least 10 inches underground before installing the fence.
Covering your plants with cloth, netting or chicken wire may also provide protection from burrowing animals; it will still keep birds, groundhogs and squirrels at bay from accessing your vegetables though.
Create your own repellent by spraying a solution of water and soap onto your veggies or flowers. Soap sprays are especially effective against soft-bodied insects like squash bugs, leafhoppers and aphids; combine 1 tablespoon of mild soap such as plain or organic dish soap or castile soap such as Dr. Bronner’s with 1 cup of vegetable oil and one quart of water into a spray bottle and apply to crops every four days until insect populations start decreasing.
Some people also find success using predator urine, available both online and at garden shops. The urine sends out signals to groundhogs and other critters that there is a real wolf nearby; thus reducing their likelihood of raiding your veggie patch.
If you notice signs that a pest is eating your veggies, such as chewed leaves or stems or hooved tracks, take immediate action. Study their behavior and observe where they prefer hanging out – for instance acorn weevils prefer hangout near roots of okra so plant it where its presence won’t attract acorn weevils! For example acorn weevils also like hanging around other plants they prefer like this may help keep pests at bay from your garden.
Bird Feeders
Bird feeders offer an effective, inexpensive and engaging way to attract an abundance of wildlife to any garden. Not only are many species beneficial to the environment; pollination and soil aeration also benefit. According to studies conducted at Virginia Tech, birds that visit feeders had a 38% greater survival rate during migration as well as harsh winters than birds who don’t visit one – providing consistent food sources that help sustain life throughout the year!
Feeding birds in your garden can be a rewarding family activity. Children and adults can learn about different species, their behaviors and personalities while developing empathy towards all creatures – even pests like deer and rabbits! It is an opportunity for education as well as fun.
Feeding birds in your garden can bring with it both disease and bacteria contamination. When birds feed together close up, they pick up bacteria and waste from each other as well as from seeds themselves, creating more opportunity for predators or collision hazards such as flying into windows.
Deer, rabbits and groundhogs can be particularly devastating to your vegetable garden. A physical barrier is the most cost-efficient and efficient method for keeping these pests at bay; depending on which animal type it’s meant to keep out; for example a fence must be buried at least an inch underground if intended to keep rabbits away; metal wire, hardware cloth or plastic fencing all make suitable solutions.
At the first sign of damage in your garden, take immediate steps to take preventative action. If you notice chewed leaves or stems, make an effort to identify who the offender(s) may be by using tracking guides with pictures to match tracks with pictures in them and making a plan to prevent future visits – fencing may be one option – however chicken wire or plant covers are just as effective at keeping animals away from edible plants and their tasty snacks!
Soap
Insecticidal soaps are one of the least toxic pest control solutions on the market and can be highly effective against numerous unwanted insects. They work by covering bugs with a soapy film that breaks down their outer layers, leading them to dehydrate and die – no harmful residue left behind, suitable for use even up until harvest time! However, like any chemical product, insecticidal soaps may alter soil pH balance; use with care!
Gardeners might be tempted to spray their plants with dish detergent as a weedkiller, but doing so may actually be detrimental. Dish detergents contain surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate which take an extended period to decompose in soil after rain washes them away, much like toxic weed killers.
Homemade mixtures of hot peppers, natural soap and water will taste unpleasant to rabbits, deer and mice and can help keep them away from your garden. To create one such concoction, mix 1 ounce of hot pepper sauce with 4 drops of natural soap (such as marigold leaves ) plus one cup of aromatic leaves from plants which rabbits find offensive ( such as marigolds ). Combine all of this before spraying over plants in your vegetable garden.
Homemade sprays can also help combat soft-bodied pests like squash bugs and flea beetles, making use of Castile soap to treat soft-bodied pests like squash bugs and flea beetles. Mix one tablespoon with 2 quarts of water in a jar before pouring the solution into a spray bottle to apply directly onto plants – being sure to spray underside of leaves and growing stem tips thoroughly for coverage. Continue this procedure every 7-10 days until no pests remain on plants.
Protecting your vegetable garden from animals requires more than fencing – another effective strategy is surrounding it with shrubs and flowers that repel animals, like barberry bushes, bluebeard holly or coral bells can work just as effectively. Also hang drawstring pouches filled with scented soap flakes around your garden can deter predators like deer. UF/IFAS Extension faculty Drs Adam Dale and Matthew Borden can offer more information on protecting it using soaps in their publication “Managing Garden Pests with Soaps”.