Rabbits, moles, squirrels, groundhogs, and other critters may be cute, but they can be a gardener’s worst nightmare. You may be wondering what you can do to prevent these and other animals from wreaking havoc on your plants. Shooting the pests is generally not the best approach, and poison may be effective, but it can be harmful to pets. So, what can you do? Here are some tips for keeping pests out of your summer garden!
Keeping Pests Out of Your Summer Garden
1. Get rid of areas where pests could build their homes.
High grass and brush piles can make perfect homes for tiny critters. Removing them from your garden area can help keep pests away.
2. Keep your compost pile and your bird feeder far away from your garden.
This will help lure critters to another area of your yard.
3. Fence in your garden.
While critters that dig, like moles and groundhogs, will still be able to make their way in, fences can help keep larger animals like deer out of your garden.
4. Consider using a repellent.
Garlic, peppermint oil, and castor oil are thought to keep some critters out of the garden. Predator urine, such as that of a bear, may help keep them away as well. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you’ll need to continuously reapply them in order for them to remain effective.
5. Pets such as cats and dogs can by useful for keeping unwanted furry pests under control.
Dogs can help deterring or nabbing furry pets while cats can be good at catching mice and gophers.
6. Growing multiple types of plants.
It’s known that if you plant the same type of vegetables then pest that love those veggies may not come alone and actually bring more pests as a group to eat your crop. When multiple vegetables are planted, this risk is significantly reduced.
These are just some tips for keeping pests out of your summer garden! Do you have any tips to keep pests out of your garden?
Good tips, I’d also add that certain plants planted together help protect others from pests too.
I’ve just read today that lavender keeps mosquitoes away, of that is true it will make me very happy!
This year I planted spinach and kale together, and added some marigolds. So far I have fewer pests than last year when I planted only kale.
I am still working on this issue! I can’t figure out what is eating my green beans! I have tried twice this year and have failed terribly. Beans are the easiest thing to grow! Slugs maybe?
Could be?
I’ve heard that sprinkling cinnamon around can be a good deterrent to keep away insects that you don’t want. And it smells good!
To get rid of insects, we’re planting mint in our gardens. As for squirrels, we feed them on a regular basis. They don’t bother us, they patiently wait for their peanuts.
OMG! Love this!!!
We have a raised garden with chicken wire around it to keep the critters out but as crazy as this may sound I sometimes feel guilty for depriving them of the food and yet my husband always tells me no way when I tell I want to make a separate garden for them.
Like I said I know I sound crazy ! lol