how to grow a garden Archives

Last summer when we had our garden growing we realized that we kept getting critters in it. We even had our dogs get in there at one point. This year we are going to be much more strategic.

Are there critters chowing down on your vegetables? I know this happened to us before it even started growing so that section was a loss for us!! You can’t make your garden completely critter-proof, but there are a few ways to minimize the nibbling:

Identify the culprit.
There were only a few options for us: deer, rabbits, and groundhogs. We knew it wasn’t deer because we have a large fence and two dogs, and deer leave tracks in the soil. Rabbits make sharp cuts and often leave pellet droppings. Groundhogs leave mounds of dirt at the entrance to their burrows and eat greens.
Fence it. Fencing is the most efficient way to keep unwanted visitors out of your garden. A fence may work if it’s a few feet tall, but persistent bunnies and groundhogs may burrow under. Your fence should be chicken or wire hardware cloth.
Garden in pots and raised beds. Sometimes if you elevate pots or planting in raised beds, you can get rid of critters too. A raised bed that is about two feet or taller will limit rabbit damage; especially if you have a short fence on top.
Don’t be too tidy Let shrubs and grasses around the edges of your yard go a little wild. If there are other opportunities for food around, your garden will be less attractive, and the critters will go for the easy food instead.
Limit the opportunity If you feed your pets outdoors, be sure to bring their bowls inside after meals so you won’t attract other animals such as skunks, possums, and raccoons.

Shop some of our favorite items listed above:

Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of visions2images.com (1)