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Q. Something is tunneling all over my new garden. I'd like to know if it's moles or voles, and how to get rid of them.
- B. P., South Hill, VA
A. "Moles create characteristic mounds and tunnels that rise above the soil level; voles have trails through tall grass, but have been known to use mole tunnels to feed on roots and bulbs. It sounds like you have moles at work.
There are many ways to try to get rid of moles. Moles feed on grubs and earthworms living in your lawn or garden. The damage they do is to plant roots while they are tunneling. Your first consideration should be to control the grub population in your lawn. You can purchase beneficial nematodes to control the grubs. These are microscopic organisms that you spread on the lawn. They infect and kill grubs but are safe for animals and people. Another tactic is to flush the mole tunnels with water (best done in the spring), or protect your garden by burying a fencing of tightly woven hardware cloth. Finally, moles hate the smell of castor oil beans, and you can purchase repellents containing castor oil. (The beans themselves are poisonous.)"
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Q. "Can you tell me a safe, effective way to rid my garden of woodchucks?"
- V. M., Livingston, NJ
A. Woodchucks are difficult to deter from a garden. Although some gardeners have had success using repellent sprays, the most effective long term solution is a fence. It should be at least 4 feet tall, made of stout wire mesh, and buried about a foot deep with the buried part bent outwards (so the woodchucks will be foiled if they try to dig under the fence). If you leave another foot or two loose and floppy at the top it will discourage them from climbing over. Alternatively, the woodchucks can be trapped and removed. Any wild animal can be very unpredictable when cornered or trapped, so I suggest that you contact your game warden to find a professional to trap and relocate the animals.
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Q. I am trying to start school and community gardens on the side of my elementary school. School officials are worried about rodent infestation. I would like to know if that is a realistic concern. Also, I am starting a compost bin using only plant materials. Will this be a likely hideout for rodents?
- A. R., Alexandria, VA
A. "In general terms, there are always rodents wherever there are people. Fencing the garden would possibly help keep from attracting any new critters to the area, and using an enclosed compost bin would do the same. Good garden maintenance and sanitation should keep it from becoming a magnet for scavengers: Keep weeds and plant debris cleaned up to eliminate hiding areas, and pick all ripe produce immediately. Remember too that many rodents are nocturnal and would not be apparent during the day.
Many schools have successful gardens, so the problem is certainly manageable, and hopefully won't get in the way of your new venture. The benefits of gardening for schools and communities is well documented.
For specific information about rodent and other possible problem animal populations you might contact your county extension office for suggestions, as well as naturalists at local or regional parks. They should be able to help you assess the impact of your project on the local animal population and make control suggestions should any seem necessary."
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Q. I have a strawberry patch in an 8' x 4' raised bed. The plants are very healthy and producing strawberries galore, but something is starting to eat the leaves and strawberries. I can't find any type of insect. Any ideas what might be eating them? Should I spray an insecticide just to be safe?
- O. R., Kingman, AZ
A. "Strawberries have a few enemies out there; beetles, birds and slugs are the worst. Since you don't see any beetles or caterpillars on the plants, I'd suspect that either slugs, snails, or birds have discovered the fruit. You can drape bird netting over the patch to keep birds out, or paint golf balls or walnuts bright red and place them among the plants to annoy and frustrate the birds. To keep slugs and snails away from the fruit, use traps and empty them daily. I wouldn't use pesticides in the bed without first identifying the pest, and then making sure that the label states it's safe to use around strawberries. "
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Q. Is there any way to get rid of snakes in yards and gardens?
- W. R., Colombia, MO
A. "As you probably know, snakes are considered beneficial creatures, and many people try to encourage non-poisonous snakes to set up their homes near their gardens. Various snake species consume slugs, bugs, and even rodents. However, I understand how startling it can be to come upon a snake unexpectedly!
The best way to repel a creature is to first think about what environmental features it likes -- and then remove those. Snakes like to sun themselves, so try removing large, dark, flat stones that are sitting in a sunny spot. They also love to hide in damp, cool places like stone walls, so if you have one of these near your garden, that might be an attraction. A saucer of water can attract snakes, so any easily-reached pools of standing water may be attracting them. And some snakes use gopher tunnels as hiding places, so try ridding your yard of these.
Finally, realize that most snakes are your allies. By understanding their habits, you should be better able to be on the lookout for them so they won't startle you with their presence."
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Q. How can I keep raccoons out of my raised bed garden?
- S. F., Dallas, OR
A. "Raccoons are little devils in the garden. You can try some home remedies such as playing a radio all night in the garden, spraying repellents on the plants, sprinkling human hair and/or talcum powder in the garden, or laying down some chicken wire (presumably they don't like to walk on it). All may work for awhile, a long time, or not at all. If these don't work, the best bet is a secure fence."
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Q. I recall that an old friend used to deter moles from her garden by planting something around the perimeter. Do you have any idea what this plant was, and does it work?
- K. K., Manchester, TN
A. "There is an old-fashioned annual plant that is sometimes called mole plant or gopher purge. The Latin name is Euphorbia lathyris. This plant exudes an irritating sap and was said to repel moles if simply planted at regular intervals around the garden.
Castor-oil plants (Ricinus communis) bear beans that are extremely toxic -- this includes being toxic to people. Castor oil is made from these beans and is often suggested as a repellent for moles. Some companies now sell castor oil-based sprays for the purpose of repelling moles. Do not plant castor-oil plants if there is any chance that the beans could be inadvertently ingested."
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Q. I have a vegetable garden that is walled on one side by a new wooden fence that divides my yard from my neighbor's yard. My dog does a good job in keeping the squirrels out of the yard. But they now climb across the fence and jump right down into the middle of my fenced garden, and my dog knows not to go in there. Do you have any suggestions on how I can keep the squirrels from crossing the fence on the top?
- M. L., Havertown, PA
A. Squirrels are natural acrobats and can easily overcome (and I'm convinced, even enjoy) our attempts to thwart them. You might be able to construct some sort of slippery baffle that leans outward at the top of the fence. (Of course your neighbors will have to agree with this since it will be on their side.) If you make it tall and steep, the squirrels will slide off if they try to climb it, and it'll be too tall for them to leap over. Alternatively, a strand or two of electrified fence a the top of the wooden fence might do the trick. You could also try laying chicken wire around plants the squirrels are damaging; they'll usually avoid walking on it.
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Get Away® Animal Repellent
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Q. Something has been digging in our yard and garden this year. We haven't had this problem in past years. I don't see tunnels, just numerous holes in the lawn and in the mulched flower beds. We frequently see squirrels, rabbits, and groundhogs around our house, and I have seen at least one squirrel digging in the mulch, but I'm not sure if squirrels are the doing all the damage. Friends have suggested that it sounds like a skunk since we often notice the holes in the morning. Any suggestions on what might be doing the digging and how to stop them?
- J. C., Lansdale, PA
A. "My first guess would be that the culprit is a skunk. Skunks are nocturnal and will dig holes in search of insects and grubs. The holes are often small enough that they do not cause serious damage to the lawn or plantings so there is usually no need to control them. You may want to examine your lawn for signs of a grub infestation. By controlling the grub population, you'll discourage skunks from digging in your yard. You could also have a professional animal control specialist trap and remove the culprit. Otherwise, you can consider the skunk's work as free pest control and lawn aeration, and simply rake the holes closed once a week.
The holes could also be the result of a squirrel burying food for later, or digging up previously hidden food. Woodchucks make large burrows rather than small holes."
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Q. "We have a summer house located in zone 5 in upstate NY, and have several areas that would be great for naturalizing perennials and bulbs. What plants would be good for this location, and would be somewhat deer/rabbit resistant? Do any of the repellent sprays really work?"
- D. B., Brooklyn, NY
A. "Deer are crafty, and if they're hungry, persistent. This is to say, take all ""deer resistant" recommendations with a grain of salt. That said, here are some choices that would work where you live: astilbe, bee balm, bleeding heart, columbine, coreopsis, crocosmia, crocus, daffodil, dahlia, foxglove, gloriosa daisy, hellebore, lupine, moss pink, pincushion flower, poppy, purple coneflower, and thyme.
Many gardeners use repellent sprays with varying success. Rain will wash them off, meaning reapplication is necessary. Soap and some organic fertilizers are also recommended from time to time. The only guaranteed solution is a fence -- one tall enough that deer can't jump, and buried deep enough so rabbits can't burrow under it."
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Bulb Guard®
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Q. Do you have suggestions for making lawns, gardens, and flowerbeds reasonably compatible with 2 healthy, active young dogs? I love my dogs and they need all the space they can get to play. However, I like my yard and flowers also. I'm not terribly fussy, but I would like some decent landscaping, especially perennials, and something green that resembles grass. One dog in particular loves to dig.
- A. W., Lexington, KY
A. "Many dogs love to dig, sometimes just for fun, sometimes to excavate a place to curl up in the cool soil.
Have you considered one of those "invisible fences?" You could then decide what parts of your yard you want dog-accessible, and what you want to protect. It does require some work to train the dog, but it's do-able. That's the route I'd take if I were you.
Otherwise, you can do things like lay down chicken wire over the beds to make digging difficult (this works for cats, anyway), or install fencing. If you are willing to take some time to train the dogs -- and they are willing to obey! -- you could install some low, temporary fencing to put around her garden, and train the dog to respect the contained areas as off limits. I think problems arise because dogs can't distinguish what's OK to dig and what's not OK to dig. (And they gotta dig!)"
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Fence Free
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Q. We have chipmunks living in our area that, although they are cute, can be annoying. Last year I had a problem with them eating my tomatoes until I kept a dish full of water out for them, so they didn't have to raid the fruit to quench their thirst. This year I planted a window box with some herbs (cilantro, basil, parsley and dill). A day after I put it out I found a chipmunk in the box rooting the soil around. What can I do to deter them from destroying my plants? I don't want to kill the chipmunks.
- V. S., Reading, PA
A. Chipmunks can be pests, it's true. You could try one of the commercially formulated rodent repellent sprays, or a home made one based on garlic. Spray the mixture on the plants and soil and reapply periodically. You could also try placing wire mesh such as chicken wire, hardware cloth, or screening on the soil surface in between the plants to make it more difficult for the critters to dig.
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Q. How can I keep cats from digging in my flower pots?
- J. H., Dayton, PA
A. Cats can be real pests digging in flower pots, as can squirrels, chipmunks, and even toads. Here are some things to try: Keep the cat indoors; cover the soil surface with gravel, large mulch chunks, thorny branch trimmings, or chicken wire; or use a repellent spray such as the commercial formulations or a homemade garlic spray. There are also motion-activated water sprinklers available.
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Get Away® Animal Repellent
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Q. I have tried several years running to plant sunflowers from seeds, however, the birds eat the seeds and young sprouts. Is there something I can do to deter the birds from eating my precious seeds?
- A. E., N. Mankato, MN
A. Unfortunately, sunflower seeds are a favorite of most birds. You can try erecting bird netting over newly seeded areas, making sure it's high enough to allow growth and not let the birds poke through it. When the plants are a few inches tall, they should be safe from birds. Good luck!
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Q. I recently planted my veggie garden and it was coming up fine. I noticed this morning that something snipped off the flower buds from my watermelons and cantaloupes, snipped the leaves off of my cucumbers and pulled some of my beans and corn out of the ground to eat the insides. Is this birds and if so, what can I do about them and salvage the rest of my garden?
- T. R., Carrollton, TX
A. "Crows and finches will do several of the things you mentioned, especially uprooting seedlings of corn and beans. Other possibilities would be chipmunks and squirrels. Look for tracks, or if it is too dry, water the area and check for tracks the next morning.
Blooms on cucumbers and squashes only last a short time. Could you be seeing the natural drop of male blooms or unpollinated female bloom?
If crows or other birds are the culprit, your main weapons are scare tactics. Noise makers like a radio (check first with neighbors who might be bothered), mylar tape and balloons (the reflection bothers them), and strings down the row with streamers of flagging tape have all been used with some degree of success. Varying your scare tactics works best, as it keeps pests from getting used to them. Once seedlings are up about 8 inches tall, birds don't seem to bother them, so your distraction tactics need not last long. If scaring them doesn't work, you can get some bird netting to create a temporary barrier."
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Q. We would like to attract bats to our small acreage and heard that, in addition to setting up bat houses, we can plant certain plants to attract them. Can you recommend some?
- T. C., Clark Edmond, OK
A. "Bats are among a gardener's best friends. All bats feed on insects such as moths, mosquitoes, cucumber and June beetles, leafhoppers and even scorpions. In fact, bats are the only major predators of these night-flying insects as well as many agricultural pests. It's a Bat Fact that a bat the size of your thumb can eat up to 600 mosquitoes an hour -- that's 3,000 insects in one night.
Insects are bat food, so create a garden for insects with native plants, night-scented flowers, herbs and flowering vines. An outdoor light is also a good insect lure. Remember to chose plants that bloom throughout the season (April through October), and chose plants that bloom at a variety of levels; e.g., grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, vines and trees. Good choices for a bat garden include:
Salvia - spikes of blooms in red, purple, salmon, lilac, white, blue, and pink
Silene - 3"" clusters of deep rose flowers
Phlox - star-shaped flowers and needles-like leaves
Stock - sturdy spikes of full, fragrant flowers which came in pink, white, and lavender, and there's also the evening stock for the night garden.
Cornflower - also known as bachelor's buttons, these are fragrant, many-petaled, old-fashioned flowers in pink, blue, white and maroon
Spearmint - a fragrant herb, which also has small white blooms.
Flowers that all bloom in the evening include four o'clocks, moonflower, and nicotiana."
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