During this time of year many of us in the Visalia area are starting to spend more time outdoors in our gardens. As we prepare our gardens for the spring and summer, we want to be sure to find a way to protect your garden from invading deer, rabbits, groundhogs and other animals in a humane way. If you don’t want to do all that hard work just for your garden to be a buffet for these critters here are some simple tips.

Reduce the attraction

Your garden can become a prime breeding and feasting ground for many wild creatures. If you make your garden even more inviting by not removing brush piles, and tall weeds or grass you’re going to find squirrels, skunks, moles, racoons and more throwing house parties. If you have an open compost pile, cover it with a tarp or fence it in. Try to seal off any point of access for small animals. If you have a bird feeder, clean up the excess seed that spills out, or move it away from the garden space.

Know the enemy

Ok, so we’re not going to go to the Peter Rabbit, or Elmer Fudd extreme, but we still do need to know the culprit and identify its preferences. Once you know who is causing the damage and their habits and preferences you can find a humane solution to keep them out of, and protect your garden. Deer, rabbits, groundhogs, cats and dogs all can damage your garden unless you find out why they are trespassing and how to stop them.

Take down the welcome sign

Blocking access is a very effective way of deterring animals. Once you know the culprits you can choose a barrier that is the right size and option for them. If you put up a fence that is two-four feet tall you can keep groundhogs and rabbits out, but animals that burrow and dig holes will go right under it! You’ll need to bury the fencing at least 10 inches deep to deter them. Birds like to feast on your berries and other veggies, so some netting over them will help protect them as they ripen.

Repel them away

Once you know your culprit you can educate yourself on what would deter them. Some are deterred by strong or unpleasant smells (to them). If you have deer, you can use ordinary soap to keep them out of your garden. You just need to choose the right repellent for the right animal.

Deter them

Animals don’t like certain sounds and objects. When an animal feels like there is danger in the area, they are not comfortable feeding. Plastic owls, snakes, scarecrows and aluminum pie plates are some commonly used deterrents to protect your garden. You might find that you need to rotate between repellents and deterrents or double up, because animals are smart and can figure out, you’re faking them out.

Choose plants wisely

If you know that there are certain animals in your area that are problematic, you can carefully avoid planting their favorite and most irresistible snacks. Ask your local nursery (come talk to us!) for a list of less-tempting plants.

Obviously, no method is going to be 100 percent effective, but some education and careful planning can prevent a lot of frustration. If you’d like to discuss the best options for your area, come talk to us at the nursery, we would be happy to help!