Ruth Harley - Pest-Proofing Your Garden

Ruth Harley

The elderly salesman at the farm store was quite knowledgeable about his subject. He explained explicitly how to set up an electric fence. He mentioned the names of gardeners in the area who were using electric fences and found them very satisfactory. He knew the exact cost of all the components and estimated the amount of time needed to erect the fence. And then he answered one final question. It was: What do you do to keep the rabbits and woodchucks out of your garden?

Nothing, he said. I dont try to keep them out. Theyre nice little furry animals. I just plant a little extra. Surely theres enough food for all of us.

Your approach to getting rid of the unwanted animals in your garden will be determined by your own philosophy, influenced by the appetites of those intruders. If you are concerned about the environment and dislike using poisonous substances or killing animals, your attitude will differ from the person who is intent on having the perfect garden and getting rid of the rascals, no matter what method is employed.

Suggestions for protecting plants presented on the following pages cover a wide range. Undoubtedly you will find some of the methods more useful than others. The tricks that deter one gardeners predators may not faze the animals that are ruining your crop.

The methods you choose may be determined by the amount of time and money you wish to invest. If you are sharing a community garden for a season, your approach will not be the same as the gardener who plans to cultivate the same plot indefinitely.

A fenced garden fares better than one open to traffic. A fence keeps out the neighbors dog, your own children, a few rabbits and cats. But a simple picket or wire fence does not stop everything: groundhogs (or do you call them woodchucks?) and moles dig under, raccoons and squirrels climb over, deer hurdle it, slugs ignore it, and birds perch on it while digesting your delicacies. Fences can be expensive and the barrier designed to keep out absolutely all invaders is not only exorbitant in price but also impractical.

Its a good idea to garden for a while in an area to find out just who your enemies are. Identify the animals and birds that are determined to share your garden with you and watch to see which vegetables are most attractive to them. Then you can take steps to repel the culprits and concentrate on protecting specific crops. Unfortunate indeed is the gardener who is attempting to raise vegetables in an area inhabited by all the creatures discussed in the following paragraphs!

Eloise Ray, Connecticut landscape architect, confesses that she long ago gave up her battle with the local groundhog. Over the years she determined which plants appeal to him. Now she limits her crops to the plants the groundhog doesnt eat tomatoes, eggplants, red and green peppers, chives and all kinds of onions and, perhaps, parsley.

Gardening can be the pleasantest of vocations or avocations, so dont let a few gatecrashers or uninvited guests ruin it for you. Above all, dont give up in frustration. Never forget that man is supposed to be the most intelligent of the animals. Surely we can outwit the others.

Only about 7 percent of all rabbits live to be a year old, but you may feel that the entire surviving population is in your neighborhood. Rabbits mate early and often, and produce several litters each year, ranging in number from four to seven. They do not hibernate and are usually active during the day. They are particularly destructive to young fruit trees, garden vegetables, and tulip leaves.

To protect fruit trees from rabbits, build a cylindrical fence of chicken wire or hardware cloth around the trunk, or purchase the perforated plastic strips offered through seed catalogues or garden stores. They can be wound around the tree to a height of twenty-four inches and make it difficult for the rabbits to make a meal on the bark. These protections for fruit trees will discourage mice, too.

Fortunately, rabbits are timid creatures and are easily frightened. A toy snake or even an old piece of garden hose left in the garden will fool them, at least temporarily. A dog tied near the garden will keep rabbits away. The family cat, if a good hunter, may eliminate them altogether.

Perforated plastic wrapped around tree trunks will help stop rabbits (left). Or use chicken wire or hardware cloth (right).

Dried blood meal, available in farm and garden centers, is a good deterrent and is also beneficial to the soil. It can be sprinkled near the plants. Rains wash it away, so it must be replaced. Some dislike using it, saying it attracts dogs.

Powdered rock phosphate can also be tried. Sprinkle it on the leaves of young plants.

Chemical repellents on the market to keep animals away from ornamental plants should not be used on vegetables. Read the label to find out what the ingredients are, and follow the directions carefully. It is possible to soak a clothesline in a repellent and suspend it from stakes a few inches from the ground, or stretch such a line along your fence.

Other repellents, recommended by some gardeners, may or may not work on your rabbits, but you may wish to try them. Moth balls or moth crystals should be used with caution, especially where children may be playing. Additional substances to scatter around tulips and young plants are powdered aloe, tobacco dust, cayenne or black pepper, wood ashes, and cow manure.

In her book Carrots Love Tomatoes, published by Storey Publishing, Louise Riotte points out that rabbits dislike the odor of fish. She gives directions for making a spray that will repel rabbits and insect pests at the same time:

Take three to four ounces of chopped garlic bulbs and soak in two tablespoons of mineral oil for one day. Add a pint of water in which one teaspoon of fish emulsion has been dissolved. Stir well. Strain the liquid and store in a glass or china container, as it reacts with metals. Dilute this, starting with one part to twenty parts of water, and use as a spray.

Rabbits dislike onions, so it is a good idea to interplant onions with cabbage, lettuce, peas, and beans. Another plant that rabbits seem to stay away from is Dusty Miller (Centaurea cineraria Diamond), an attractive ornamental that even if it fails to discourage the rabbits will improve the looks of your garden. As with any companion planting, get it into the ground early so that it will be thriving before your lettuce comes up.

One approach that brings cheers from some gardeners and jeers from others is to bury empty soda bottles along the border with their tops about four inches above the ground. The theory is that the wind blowing across the openings makes a sound that either frightens the rabbits or hurts their ears so they will stay away. Another glassware remedy is to fill bottles or jars with water and place them around the garden. This time the theory is that the rabbits and other small animals will be frightened by the reflections of lights or of themselves.