It is very satisfying to have a garden in your backyard. Whether it is for decorative purposes or something more useful like fruits, a garden is a labor of love that often shows great results. Unfortunately, plants can be very fragile. Many things can destroy or ruin them. Gardeners should be aware of them and be ready to defend their garden lots. A major threat is that of animals digging up the plants. Here are some tips on how you can ensure that your garden will stay unmolested:
Identify The Animal Threats
Before anything else, you should be aware of what animals might threaten your garden. Depending on your geographical location, there are different animal threats. For example, in some areas, there are burrowing animals like gophers and moles can be found only in certain parts of the country. Another example would be deer, which live only in forested areas.
Ask your neighbors what possible animal pests can mess with your garden so that you can start your preparations. You can also do some research and observation of your yard to see what animals show up. Take particular note of birds, rodents, and the like.
Put Up Physical Barriers
For wild animals, one of the more effective methods is to put up barriers against them. There are several layers of fencing you can put up. Mesh fencing is for defending the plants up close. This prevents small animals from reaching the plants, especially rodents and rabbits. If you have deer problems, then a higher fence is the better choice.
There are other ways to protect your plants. If the threat can evade the fence like birds or certain climbing animals, then you might need to create a full enclosure. Chicken wire is useful in creating full coverage for all your plants so nothing would be able to chew on them.
Create Raised Garden Beds
An interesting thing is that you don’t need your harden to be fully in the ground. If digging animals are common in your area, then you might consider building raised garden beds. Dig into the ground and place a wooden bottom and sides. You can then fill it up with soil for the garden. This prevents moles and gophers from reaching plant roots by placing a physical barrier. You can also do this by planting in pots, which is much easier but can be limiting.
Train Your Pets
If you have pets, then you know that they can be very rambunctious. Dogs and cats love playing around and they might feel that your garden is a place they can mess about. You need to put some discipline into them so that they don’t ruin it. For example, for young dogs, you might consider sending them out for some puppy training program. This ensures that they know how to behave. Additionally, discipline training can help a lot as they grow. Other pets may not be as easy but discipline and training can come a long way. You might also want to keep them inside so that they won’t mess with your garden.
Repellents and Traps
While physical barriers are good, they might be enough. It would be a good idea to implement additional defenses. These can come in the form of repellents and traps. Pest repellents can come in various forms. For one, there are chemical repellents. They are substances that can discourage pests. There are several natural repellents like predator urine and castor oil.
A lot of pests have sensitive noses and they will be driven away by this. There are also physical and audio repellents. Ultrasonic devices are a good example since they drive away animals with sensitive ears. Reflective tape and fake predators can also help scare off pests.
Trapping is similar to mouse traps or wire-mesh cages. The animal is caught and it is your responsibility to release them back to the wild.
Choose Different Plants
Several plant types might discourage animals from interfering with your garden. For example, some animals dislike getting hurt by brambles when they pass them. Laying down bramble mats in several areas will ensure that they avoid moving to those places. Additionally, you can choose to plant some unappetizing plants. Marigolds are great decorative flowers but taste horrible. Mint and lavender have similar properties.
A single animal can ruin hours of work on your garden. Taking steps to protect the garden can be worth all the additional effort. With the right protection, your garden will be able to flourish and deliver on its promise.
