Thursday, January 26, 2017
Q. How do I keep critters out of my vegetable garden? I want to be organic!
Mark from Cortland
A. Winter is a great time to plan your “critter control” strategy for the home vegetable garden – or any part of the garden you want to protect.
It’s easy to get started if you know what the critter is. If you are unsure, try to make a list of what types of damage you saw in the garden. If the damage was tearing – there were strands of fibers and very unclean cuts – you probably have a deer issue. If the damage was “clean cuts” the damage is probably rabbits. If the damage is digging, you’re looking at voles, moles, chipmunks or even raccoons.
Here are some options to try:
1. Fence for diggers: Use chicken wire or other mesh type fencing at least 3 feet tall. The top of the fence should be 2 feet high off the ground, the rest should lie on the ground where the grass can grow through it. This will reduce their ability to dig under the fence. The fence should be secured to posts, but let it be loose to deter climbing.
2. Fence for deer: You have two options, depending on your ability, local zoning and your personal philosophy. First is 8-foot-high netting fence. This fencing should be secured tightly. The height is what will keep them out of the garden. The other option is a peanut butter fence.
3. Trapping: Depending upon the species, you may be able to live trap the animal. Go to: http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/ for details and laws in Ohio,
4. Repellents: There are many options on the market today. Some work well, others not so well. Our wildlife expert was interviewed and provided lots of ideas on these at: http://go.osu.edu/deerideas.
5. Scare tactics: From noise-makers to pie pans blowing in the breeze, there are lots of things to try. Just remember that animals eventually figure these out. You’ll need to change it up often for these to work effectively.
6. Keep it clean: Pick the garden when it’s ripe. Don’t leave fruits and vegetables to rot in the garden. The less food you leave for them, the better chance of having them move on to another feeding location.
7. Choose different plants: There are certain plants that deer like less than others. While not fool-proof, they do work most of the time. For complete details on identifying your problem and multiple options for control, goto: http://go.osu.edu/crittertips.
Eric Barrett is OSU Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Mahoning County. Winter hours for the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic vary. Submit questions to the clinic at 330-533-5538 or drop samples off to the OSU Extension Office in Canfield.