Organic vegetable gardens can give you a lot of benefits. One, it provides you the greens you need for your table. Not only are you assured of its freshness, but you are also assured of how they’re grown – no artificial fertilizes and no artificial pesticides. Two, you can sell your food produce for additional income. Three, the plants, especially those that produce flowers, will lend beauty to any garden. Four, gardening is a very relaxing hobby. It can ease away stress and tension from your body.
However, your vegetable garden does not just benefit you and your family, but it also benefits three types of animals that do significant damage to them.
Groundhogs
Groundhogs, also commonly called woodchucks, are one of the most common garden pests. These creatures burrow underground, creating tunnels and holes. The burrows can displace the soil, causing it to collapse and do damage to the vegetable plants above.
To get rid of groundhogs, you can set up traps. This will trap the animal, and you can simply relocate them to another place far from your vegetable garden. If traps are not enough to keep them away, you can install fences around your garden. Of note though; if you’re going to put up fences, see to it that you bury a portion of the fence deep below the ground to prevent them from digging under the fence and getting to your plants.
Skunks
Skunks are also considered as garden pests. They usually forage for food at night and could easily eat through your vegetable garden. Not only do they eat vegetables and fruits, but they also eat insects that are beneficial to your garden.
Getting rid of skunks is easier than getting rid of groundhogs. The first step that you need to do is to make sure that your trash cans are located far from your vegetable garden and that they also have covers. As food scavengers, skunks will also forage for food in the trash bin, and giving them easy access to food will make them loiter around your home. Installing chicken write as well as bright lighting around your garden will also help in keeping them away.
Rabbits
It isn’t just carrots that rabbits love, but they will also eat anything that they can find in your garden. They can go through your cabbage patch in one night and leave bite marks on your fruits. Since they breed quickly and easily, your garden will soon be overrun by these pesky animals.
To control rabbit population, you can also install fences along the perimeter of your garden. This can keep the rabbits out. However, because they can also easily dig under the fence, you have to see to it that the fence is buried deeper underground. In addition to fencing, you can also try rabbit repellants. Some of these include crushed garlic placed around the vegetable crops as well as cat hair or cat litter scattered around the garden.
These pesky animals can cause a lot of damage to your organic vegetable garden; however, their population can be controlled. If you can’t control their population, then hire a pest control provider to get rid of them for you the humane yet effective way.
Jennifer Dallman writes for an Anaheim pest control provider. If you’re having problems with pesky animals damaging your vegetable garden, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local pest control company.