5 Ways To Keep Your Garden Pest Free

Growing a garden takes a lot of hard work and patience. The last thing you want to see is a family of opossums eating your tomatoes! And since most of us aren't nocturnal, it doesn't make sense to try to stand guard the garden all night. So, we want to offer you a few tips that will surely slow these critters down. 

First you must determine what kind of animal problem you have. There are a wide range of animals in Texas that love fruits and veggies just as much as you. We are going to give tips about the most popular perps; deer, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, armadillos and birds. 

You could purchase a game camera with motion sensors that will allow you to see who's been in your garden. The moment comes when you see those little eyes of.... and Gotcha! Now that you know what's been in your garden, here are a few ways to keep them out. 

1. Electric Fencing

Electric Fencing can deter lots of different animals away from your fruits but it depends on how you set it up. 

If Deer are your problem, make sure your fence's first wire is around 10 inches off the ground. From there, add four spaced wires about 12 inches apart. 

If smaller rodents are your problem, then lower the first wire and the fence doesn't need to be more than two and half feet tall. This type of fence should not provide lethal shock, but a good scare to keep the opossums, raccoons and even feral cats out of your garden. 

We would recommend a visible electric fence so humans around your property will not get jolted. 

3. Netting For Birds

Are birds taking all your fresh fruit right off the vine? We have a fix for that! As your fruit starts to ripen you can cover them with nylon mesh. If they are picking other ground vegetables, you can try 'box' in your garden with a mesh ceiling to keep birds out. 

4. Natural Barriers

There are many natural barriers to use around your plants to keep out unwanted guests. For example, Daffodils are completely poisonous to eat and would provide natural protection. Rabbits love clover and dandelions and would prefer to eat those over your fruits. Coffee grounds work against cats, deer and slugs. Other herbs that grow with a strong scent will also keep away deer, such as marigolds, peonies and cosmos. 

5. The Scarecrow & Other Weird Noises

While this may not be a long term plan to protecting your project, we know that a good scarecrow can keep away most birds, animals and some neighbors. In this day and age, we are past the regular scarecrow. Now you purchase a motion sensor scarecrow that also sprays water at unsuspecting critters. 

Most wild animals scare easily so any noise makers or even a battery-operated radio will help deter animals from sniffing around. One idea is to tie pie pans to several stakes around your garden so they rattle in the wind. 

What we DON'T suggest is trying to trap any animals. Wildlife can be very dangerous and unpredictable. If you do not have professional help, it can turn bad. If you think your problem consists of one or two pesky animals, then call a professional or Fort Bend County Animal Control to assist with trapping the animal to relocate.