Animals In The Garden

August 31, 2021

Many gardeners share their gardens with animals as some welcome, some not. Four-legged pests can ruin your garden, but you can stop these animals in their tracks.

One good place to start is adding plants that offer resistance to critters in the garden. We have the best varieties that are less palatable to these animals. Try to pick the plants that are best for your region.

In addition to plants, these tips can help you deter animals from your garden.

RACCOONS/SKUNKS

White grubs are a perfect food source for these animals, and they will destroy your lawn to get at them. For small areas apply Critter Ridder animal repellent. For larger segments place well-anchored chicken wire to prevent them from digging. After a week or two passes the wire can be removed.
Treat your grub problem before these insects chew their way through the grass roots killing your whole lawn. Beneficial Nematodes are a long-term organic solution to rid the grubs.
To prevent raccoons from ravaging your water plants and eating all your fish, make it impossible for them to get into your water feature. Position flat flagstones, so they hang over the pond; racoons do not like jumping in from an edge. Position rocks with large cavities at the bottom of the water garden to provide a hiding place for fish.

RABBITS

Spray your plants with Bobbex Animal Repellent.
Surround your vegetable garden plot with chicken wire stapled to sturdy posts in early spring. Bury 10 cm below the ground so they can’t burrow.
Plant Common Foxglove, Bishop’s Hat, Bergenia, Catmint, Spiderwort, Globeflower, Gooseneck Loosestrife, Lungwort, Rosemary, Periwinkle, Golden Elder, Rockspray and Cotoneaster, as rabbits do not like these.
Protect the trunks of your fruit trees in late fall with the spiral wrap so rabbits cannot chew the bark during winter. Remember to remove the wrap in early spring.

DEER

Deer are inconsistent in their likes and dislikes. What they won’t eat in one garden, they’ll completely devour in another. If it’s a very severe winter, they’ll eat anything including roses.
Deer destroy Junipers, Yews, Cedars, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Euonymus, Hostas, and Daylilies. They also find fruit and vegetables delicious. Corn and apples are particular favourites.
Deer seem to dislike plants with leaves that are sticky, aromatic, or hairy. They generally stay away from things like herbs, garlic, and Lamb’s Ear.
Deer stay away from Barberry, Holly, Potentilla, Forsythia, Privet, Burningbush, Hypericum, Weigela, Butterflybush, certain Dogwoods (Cornus Alba), Boxwood, Japanese Pieris, and Caryopteris.
Deer do not seem to like Perennial varieties of Salvia, Lavender, Black-Eyed Susan, Yarrow, Iris, Artemisia, Speedwell, Columbine, Rose Campion, Peony, Lupine, Monkshood, Lady’s Mantle, Astilbe, Beebalm, Russian Sage, Foxglove, Poppy, and many Ornamental Grasses.
Fencing is the best way to keep deer out but should be at least 3 m (9 or 10′ high) to prevent them jumping over it.

SQUIRRELS

Squirrels live for Crocus and Tulip bulbs. To keep them from being dug up in fall, lay chicken wire over your planted area.
Use Critter Ridder or Blood Meal around your plants.
Squirrels stay away from Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crown Imperial, Allium, Scilla, Snowdrops, Grape Hyacinths, and Camassia.

CATS

To minimize a cat’s digging, try Critter Ridder.
Spray the area they keep returning to with citrus juice; they don’t like the smell. Even placing lemon, orange, or grapefruit rinds can help.
Avoid planting Catnip, using Blood Meal or Fish Emulsion fertilizer – cats are attracted to the smell.

VOLES

Purchase commercial “thumpers” available to create a vibration that discourages moles and groundhogs too.
Place dog or cat hair at the entrance of the mole runs to scare them away.

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