Our garden has become the local groundhog buffet and I'm ready for some groundhog stew! Only problem is, I won't have any veggies to put IN the stew if they keep up!
It isn't big but has a few plants each of tomatoes, peppers, squash, lettace, radishes, cucumbers, carrots, onions and beans. We were late getting it in (last weekend of May) but they left it alone until 2 weeks ago when things started coming through. The cucumbers were nibbled on first, then the squash, then the beans...now it's just open season.
Any advice on how to keep them out? The garden is fenced in, but the fence doesn't go underground. But we only found one hole that we blocked so we think they are climbing the fence. We got on the internet and found suggestions and have tried rags soaked in ammonia, used kitty litter sprinkled around the outside, epson salts, mothballs, none of these work. I think all our groundhogs have stuffy noses and can't smell
. I did plant garlic around the edges but that hasn't come up yet. And there are marigolds mixed in but probably not enough. Today, I got a ton of tin pie pans and strung them in pairs along the fence. I know it helps to keep birds out (which we don't have a problem with, thanks to the barn cats) so maybe that will help with the groundhogs? A friend at work suggested pouring animal blood from a butcher shop around the edges. Does anyone think that will work? MIL does have electric wire that we can string from pole to pole on the top, but I'm hesitant to do that because of the cats. Same thing with the ultrasound devices. Many of the barn cats live in the nearby buildings (within 10-15ft) and I don't know if it will scare them out of their homes.
DH wants to just take a .22 and go hunting and I'm about ready to say fine. Don't get me wrong, I like groundhogs and think they're as cute as can be....until they start eating MY FOOD! Times are tight for us right now, and I we made an investment with plants, seeds, fertilizer, time and sweat so we could have some to stock up on, and right now, I don't see it happening.
Any suggestions, before I go completely ballistic????
It isn't big but has a few plants each of tomatoes, peppers, squash, lettace, radishes, cucumbers, carrots, onions and beans. We were late getting it in (last weekend of May) but they left it alone until 2 weeks ago when things started coming through. The cucumbers were nibbled on first, then the squash, then the beans...now it's just open season.
Any advice on how to keep them out? The garden is fenced in, but the fence doesn't go underground. But we only found one hole that we blocked so we think they are climbing the fence. We got on the internet and found suggestions and have tried rags soaked in ammonia, used kitty litter sprinkled around the outside, epson salts, mothballs, none of these work. I think all our groundhogs have stuffy noses and can't smell
DH wants to just take a .22 and go hunting and I'm about ready to say fine. Don't get me wrong, I like groundhogs and think they're as cute as can be....until they start eating MY FOOD! Times are tight for us right now, and I we made an investment with plants, seeds, fertilizer, time and sweat so we could have some to stock up on, and right now, I don't see it happening.
Any suggestions, before I go completely ballistic????