| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| JEN000 |
Posted - Jun 16 2011 : 07:50:43 AM
I'm an Urban Farmgirl and have 7 4x4 raised beds. I'm growing all kinds of things in them. Unfortunately, every day I have another heartbreak. First it was the squirrels eating my raspberry plants. Next it was the rabbits eating my lettuce. Next "something" chewed off all of the leaves of my strawberries but left them there uneaten. Next squirrels dug up my garlic bulbs (probably thought they were walnuts?). I replanted them, put netting over them all and in a month "something" made a bed out of them and half of them are now smashed flat. Next it was moths laying eggs on my Huckleberry plants. Then I got rust on my pear tree. Then something ate the leaves off my blueberries. The list goes on and on... Basically, something that I thought was going to be a fun, fruitful hobby has turned into a battle against nature. I honestly don't want to even look at my garden because each time I do there is another problem.
In order to battle all of these things I have done the following:
1. Put netting, fences, screens over everything. Now, I can't weed or harvest without pulling out staples. Plus rabbits now like to lay on the netting which just smashes my plants.
2. I have put pepper spray on all of my plants, after each rainful - did nothing to deter the animals.
3. I spray neem oil on all plants after each rainful and don't see any difference in bug control.
I really feel like giving up... |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Arctic Flower |
Posted - Jul 07 2011 : 5:28:49 PM
I know exactly how you feel. We have a squirrel problem too. In fact one is trapped in a live catch trap waiting for my DH to get home from work and transport the thing down the road. We also have had an explosion of yellow jackets making watering just not possible. The kind we have here crawl on everything. We have already killed 5 nests and over 300 of them in an addition we are building. I think we have finally exterminated most of them but in the meantime the garden suffered for lack of water. I'm allergic to stings so I couldn't water some days with so many of them around. And it has been dry here. Now it's too late to replant. But on the bright side, I did plant my herbs in a big pot next to the house and they are doing great. My flowers in the planters boxes are too. But from reading everyone's stories it seems like nature is fighting against us. But from one farm girl to another, I won't give up without a fight and a clean apron. :))
Farmgirl #2416
Believe in the power of Love! |
| tribalcime |
Posted - Jul 03 2011 : 02:13:02 AM
I know how you feel.............i trapped 63 coons and possums out of my garden 3 years ago :) I still trap but the rabbits wont go in it...I use flour around all my plants to keep rabbits away ...so far works... I dust ground where i planted the seeds also . I save all my onion peels and throw out around garden beds also ...
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| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 2:24:32 PM
Jennifer I had nothing but varmits attacking my garden. Rabbits, stinkers (skunks and their babies),turtles by the droves. I got sick of it year after year. The insects, floods, and droughts were bad enough. I finally saved up the money and broke down and bought electric netting. They don't get in anymore. Its short enough that I can step over it. I purchased it from Premier. Its one of the best things I have ever purchased. Hope this helps and don't give up without a fight.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| mountain mama |
Posted - Jun 16 2011 : 3:26:22 PM
I can relate. I have a nine foot fence around my garden to keep out deer. No problem with squirrels, however, I have three dogs. However, this year we are not getting any rain so everything is dry. A couple of years it was a late snow storm and a freeze. Snow in June is just wrong. Gardening is challenge no matter where a person lives and I don't think there are any definite answers. As for your problems you seem to have tried everything.
Marilyn Farmgirl #408 |
| marjean |
Posted - Jun 16 2011 : 2:57:27 PM
I can relate in a different way. For me it's not animals it's the elements. Last year was a complete loss. So this year I did the raised bed and layered method. Well, everything was growing well until we started getting more and more fires near our area and yeasterday the sky was so smoky you couldn't see anything but white smoke and the same today.
Well, I checked my garden and all my plants are dieing that were big and full of flowers. Then over in one corner I see a new squash plants with dark green leaves and one onion standing about a foot tall. So, even though I was so upset over the dead ones I at least have two survivors.
Now, if they are still alive in a week. I'll be happy!
I keep asking myself how are the other gardens doing across the state.
Farmgirl sister #308
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| embchicken |
Posted - Jun 16 2011 : 11:44:15 AM
Jennifer~ I feel your pain regarding the squirrels. I swear those nasty rodents are plotting against me and my garden! I finally used Irish spring soap grated around everything (but after the rain I have to reapply). I don't have half the problems you do. I feel so bad. It is so discouraging to put so much time and work into something just to have things beyond your control go wrong. One year I grew a ton of mint because nothing liked to eat it and I just wanted something to grow! LOL. I'm thinking of you!
~ Elaine
Farmgirl sister #2822
"Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you. Now tell me about hundreds of things." ~Saki
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| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Jun 16 2011 : 11:28:35 AM
Jennifer,
I feel your pain! This is my fourth year of gardening and I have learned a lot. I had many critter problems, just like you. Seems like as soon as I got rid of one another would come. I have no answers for you, but keep on trying different stuff. The snake and predator bug idea is good. I now have a fenced yard with 5 dogs roaming...no furry critters anymore! I just have to find something to kill the Japanese Beetles that will be coming to eat soon.
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- E. B. White |
| blackfell_farmgirl |
Posted - Jun 16 2011 : 10:03:38 AM
Hello Jennifer,
I don't how you would feel about this, but in a separate thread elsewhere in the chat forum is a long thread about snakes. There are several varieties of fairly harmless, non poisonous snakes that reside in the midwest and they would love to eat the varmits!! I am not sure how you could introduce one or two into your garden, but once you feed them they stay! I think Corn Snakes and possibly King all eat rabbits and squirrels. I have seen magazine articles about introducing bug eating bugs as well that are Garden Friendly. MaryJane may have an article and I know Hobby Farms had one like that.
I am sooooooo Sorry you are having so much grief!!
blackfell
HorseCrazy! |
| SarAvery |
Posted - Jun 16 2011 : 09:37:40 AM
Jennifer~ I feel for you too! How awful to put so much time, love, and energy into something and have it not turn out the way you expected. I am not going to offer any advice right now because I think you just need to vent and know that others are thinking of you and feel just as bad for you. Please don't be disappointed in yourself though...You are feeding the animals which is very kind of you and will produce great karma :) (I hope you get my sense of humor)
Farmgirl #3137 |
| LadyInRed |
Posted - Jun 16 2011 : 08:56:16 AM
Oh Jennifer...how sad! I have never heard of anyone having that many problems with their garden. Good Grief Girl...I would feel like
giving up too. It sounds more like a Battle Field than a Garden. I think I would get out my gun and maybe a Cannon or two and blow
them little varmits to smitherians! You poor girl! I'm feelen Sooooooo Sorry for you! I have no good Advice, sounds like you have done all the right things and then some...but I can lament and cry with ya...if that helps! A Pity Party of Two is better than one where you are the only one who shows up! Let's get us a Weepen Willow and a fiddle and sing us a sad song or two!
Farmgirl Woes and Big Shoulders to Cry On,
Peggy
Farmgirl #1326
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"I'm only as strong as the caffeine I drink, the hair-spray I use and the Girlfriends that I have." |
