Plants vs. Critters: Missouri Releases Strategy Guide for Backyard Battles

Gentle Reader, you might be aware that I've gone a little nuts in the plant department lately.  Well, I think it's a little nuts, anyway.  I have many, many plants on my back porch and on the front porch, all the way around the house, and inside as well. And at my office.

And I don't know about you, but it can get frustrating when you plant something and it gets destroyed or eaten or messed up in some way that.... isn't your fault.  Luckily, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is thinking about this, too.

What Do They Suggest?

DNR suggests stopping the "drive thru", so to speak, by creating obstacles.

Strong smells and bad tastes can turn off animals like deer from snacking in your garden. Some folks go with store-bought sprays that stink to high heaven. Just spritz them around the edges of your garden, but make sure they’re safe for people, pets, and your plants....not to mention your wallet.  You don't wanna use anything too harsh, or you're gonna be lookin like this.

There are also plenty of DIY tricks people swear by. One of the simplest is mixing up a spray of 20% whole eggs and 80% water. Just don’t forget to reapply it every month. Some store-bought stuff uses capsaicin — that’s the spicy kick in hot peppers —to keep critters away. One thing I did when I had something digging in my front planters was to break out the red pepper flakes.  I just shook some in the dirt, and bam.  Fixed.

Visual scare tactics can also help: scarecrows, shiny foil, pie pans, plastic owls, or mirrors can make your garden look less like a buffet. Just remember to move them around now and then.  You know how it is.  Animals catch on if things stay in one spot too long. If you want to get loud, there are noise-makers like ultrasonic devices, bird bangers, or recordings of distressed animals that can also spook uninvited guests. I wouldn't suggest that, though, til you get desperate.

Okay, So What If I Am Desperate?  What If That Doesn't Work?

If you're really fed up, you can go big with fences, netting, or even little cages around individual plants like tomatoes. These methods usually work pretty well, but they can get pricey.

To keep out smaller critters like rabbits and squirrels, try using 36-inch-high chicken wire and bury the bottom six inches so they can’t dig under. For deer, though, you’ll need a much taller fence (think at least eight feet high), because everybody knows they can jump like Olympic athletes.

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Electric fences are another option. For smaller pests, two low wires placed about 2 and 4 inches off the ground should do the trick. Bigger animals will need higher setups. Just make sure to clearly mark any electric fencing so people don’t get an unexpected jolt.  You'd hate to give the cable guy a random surprise on a Thursday afternoon.

And if you don't want to go that extreme, you can always try another suggestion.

Plant selection is another way to deter wildlife. Common garden flowers considered to be deer-resistant include ageratum, geranium, marigold, morning glory, nasturtium, salvia, snapdragon, Shasta daisy, canna, liatris, petunia, phlox, verbena, vinca and yarrow.

So basically, you're not stuck, you've got options.  You'll just have to choose which one you like best, and what you think will keep the creatures out.

Of course, if your creatures are neighborhood kids sneaking into your strawberries.... well, you might be outta luck there.

Gardeningly yours,
Behka