Groundhog-Proof Your Garden How To Keep Groundhogs Out

How To Keep Groundhogs Out Of Garden

If you've had the unfortunate experience of finding groundhogs living in and around your garden, you're not alone. Those pesky critters have a nose for burrowing and a hunger for vegetables; they can wreak havoc on your garden and put you in a tough spot. The good news is that there are many ways to keep groundhogs out of your garden and get your plants a chance to grow in peace.

Identify source of problem

Before you can effectively banish the groundhogs from your garden, you need to ascertain why they're attracted to it in the first place. Generally, groundhogs relish gardens with sprawling vegetables and nearby sources of water. Additionally, they prefer to have an ample food supply without much competition to threaten their presence. Equipped with this knowledge, you can begin to set boundaries around your garden and keep them away.

Barriers to entry

The most common means of keeping groundhogs away is by erecting physical boundaries. You can install a wooden fence around your garden that's 12 to 24 inches tall and bury at least 6 inches of the bottom into the earth. Additionally, you can run strong strands of wire mesh along the perimeter as an extra precaution. You can also opt for a combination of chicken wire and landscape fabric; the fabric helps deter rodents and insects, while the chicken wire will keep out larger predators.

Attacking the food source

If you take away the groundhogs' food source, they'll likely move on. Train your plants to climb a wall so that the groundhogs can't reach them and implement a good watering system. You should also consider removing all the weeds around your garden, as they can attract groundhogs. Additionally, you can try putting up some bird feeders or something else to distract them from your plants.

Harassment tactics

The idea behind this approach is to make your garden a less hospitable environment for groundhogs. You can do this by creating obstacles, such as low-lying fences or piles of twigs and sticks. Additionally, you can set up some loud music or lights around your garden, which may ward off the groundhogs. Another trick that you can use is to spread some strong herbs and spices, such as peppermint, around your garden; the groundhogs won't be able to stand the smell.

Finally, you can always enlist the help of a professional, who may have the knowledge and skills to rid your garden of groundhogs for good. For instance, they may be able to use hormonal repellents, live traps, and other methods to keep the groundhogs away.

In Summary

Groundhogs can be quite a nuisance when they start to invade your garden, but there are plenty of ways to keep them at bay. You can erect physical barriers to deter them, attack their food source, and try harassment tactics to make your garden an undesirable environment. Of course, you can always enlist a professional to help you out with this task. By following these steps, you can keep groundhogs away from your garden and get your plants a chance to thrive.