Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Varmint control in our vegetable garden - HELP!
DH has been dreaming of planting a vegetable garden this year - and dug a lovely 9 x 18 plot in our backyard, has started seedlings of lettuces, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, etc etc.
Last year he made his first attempt at vegetable gardening by planting a huge patch of watermelons, which grew really well until the suburban vermin discovered all the tasty treats in our backyard. The watermelons would grow to about tennis ball size and then would mysteriously vanish overnight. DH of course, did not put up any fencing and didn't really think this would be a problem.
So anyway, this year he did some research about pest control, and decided on a "floppy fence" - basically it's green plastic mesh attached to metal stakes around the perimeter of the garden. The idea is that a fat racoon or possum will try to climb up the plastic fence and then it will flop over on them, thereby preventing them from entering vegetable utopia.
DH spent several hours yesterday installing said fence, and last night decided to test the integrity of the fence by baiting the vermin with an apple.
You know where this is going. This morning the fence was ripped and the apple was gone. DH is despondent. What can we do to deter pests from our garden?
TYVMIA!
Re: Varmint control in our vegetable garden - HELP!
A better fence, of course. Net fencing is fine, it just needs to be sturdier. And that "floppy" theory is rubbish- if you have ever seen the lengths hungry animals will go to in order to get food (especially a favorite food) you KNOW. Animals will climb over it, dig under it, fly in from overhead, and rip it to shreds, so invest in something strong enough, and don't give up just because the first thing you tried didn't work.
Good luck.
My Blog
I've been using Liquid Fence to keep the deer away. I think it would work on your small animals as well and is safe to use in or near a veggie garden. I would try that along with a more sturdy physical fence.
Lachlan
born March 2012
I just called our animal control for a trap for our huge possum living under the shed. The waiting list is 2-3 months.
In the meantime, she said to put amonia on a rag and throw it at the opening. Possums hate amonia and will move out.
I'll try it later when I am finished in the yard.