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Garden Gate:  Small Vegetable Garden Preparation Question  |
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Meadowflower
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Lisa
Harrisburg
Pa
USA
25 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 29 2009 : 6:39:19 PM
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Hi! I think a few of you here might have ideas for me on this.
Last year we did a vegetable garden in a community garden plot. It was fun but we had lots of trouble with it, including clay ground, too hot sun, bad growth, and we had to hike water in buckets from a hand pump. It was crazy hard work! Also a lot of the things that did grow well were stolen. We're not doing it again this year.
So, we plan to grow the vegetables in our backyard. However, we have other types "thieves" here - the furry kind! Squirrels and lots of groundhogs specifically. My husband said we won't be able to grow anything without it being eaten. I feel quite let down before I've even begun.
So. How can I protect my vegetable garden? I know after we till it we can lay chicken wire down to keep groundhogs from digging up into the garden from underneath, but what about keeping them from walking straight into it? Or climbing over top of any fence type of structure? I wouldn't mind losing a little to some critters, but our yard is full of nesting squirrels and the neighbors have groundhogs that they've not been able to get rid of for years.
Any thoughts on this would help.
*~Lisa~*
My farmish blog: http://meadowflowerfarm.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - Meadowflower on Jan 29 2009 6:40:47 PM |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2009 : 8:49:30 PM
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I'd suggest raised beds (4 ft by 8 ft sizes are easy to create) to which you can then attach small wood stakes to the corners and at intervals along the sides of the wood framing.. and put a "wall" of screening around the edges..you could use chicken wire but make sure you use a small enough gauge size to which critters cannot crawl through the holes..window screening may actually work too ..attach this all around the sides of the raised bed.you'll need this to be at least 2 ft tall or taller.
then use bird netting over the top once your produce starts developing..use clothes pins to attach the bird netting to the screen/wire.
Amending your soil is also a good thing to do if it has a high clay content..try the raised bed method..to your raised bed do a 1 part top soil, 1 part organic compost, 1 part peat mixture..mix this in a wheel barrow and dump into the raised bed...you can also add horse manure, cow manure for extra oomph..also mushroom compost works well.
Good luck.
~I Dream of a Better World..where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned!~
blogs:http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and http://thevictorygardener.blogspot.com
magazine: www.stliving.net
etsy shops: http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com
and http://myvictorygarden.etsy.com |
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Quintessential Kate
True Blue Farmgirl
175 Posts
Kate
Tyler
TX
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - Feb 02 2009 : 06:29:09 AM
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My mother, who lives out in the "boonies" was having a problem with rabbits,deer and other little thieves stealing her garden bare.
She has a kitty cat who stays in the garage at night....and uses a litter box. I took the used kitty litter....sans the poop (I sifted it out)....and then circled her garden with the used litter. I made a perimiter of about 3 feet all the way around the garden. It took about 10 days to get enough used litter to completely circle the garden.......but when it was completely circled NOTHING ELSE came in to her garden. All they could smell was predator....and stayed clear. Even the deer. Whenever I see a gopher or mole hole in her yard I pour used litter in the hole.........and the little boogers keep moving farther and farther away.
I know it's not the most pleasant remedy......but it works. And it's not like we're putting the used litter in the garden.....we're just making a circle about 3 feet out from the edges of the garden.
Ciao, Kate
Heart of Texas
Chapter
AKA: Hot Farmgirl #234
http://quintessentialkate.blogspot.com
Today is my best day! |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Feb 02 2009 : 06:59:11 AM
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I have used the kitty liter method for moles and such it works great. I have many furry critters that come into our yard and so far have not really had any problems with them stealing food. Squirrels pretty much leave the veggies alone - they are more interested in my flower bulbs. Raccoons tried the onions one time and decided those were no good and left all else alone. Birds can be my biggest problem with having berries and such, but I still get enough from the garden that it has not been a big problem. I also live right in the city too - so I don't have rabbits or deer, which I would assume would be your biggest issue if you have those.
Try Gardeners Eden - both website and catalog - they have ways to keep animals away that are not harmful to the animal or the enviroment.
Anne in Portland,OR
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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Edited by - asnedecor on Feb 02 2009 07:00:06 AM |
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Meadowflower
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Lisa
Harrisburg
Pa
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Feb 02 2009 : 3:32:17 PM
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Oh I'm so glad I got some responses here - I've been away for a few days and needing to get back here to check this thread.
Tina - this is a great idea. I do want to try raised beds this year. I guess one side you do separately as a "door" and attach it somehow so you can get in the area to water and such?
Kate and Anne - the kitty litter idea sounds great. We don't have a cat yet but do want to get one. I will definitely try this when we get one. I'm going to look at Gardener's Eden right now. (EDIT: Might you have a site for this company? I've heard of their catalog; however I can't find their website)
I do want to grow berries and have been concerned about birds snatching them all, so I'm going to wonder about that too. However, I don't think we'll be getting berry bushes in this year.
Yes the squirrels eat my flower bulbs. It makes me so upset. I hope some of my tulips come up in spring! They munched quite a few of the ones I planted in the fall.
*~Lisa~*
My farmish blog: http://meadowflowerfarm.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - Meadowflower on Feb 02 2009 3:34:02 PM |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4738 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4738 Posts |
Posted - Feb 02 2009 : 5:13:03 PM
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These are great suggestions to deal with the clay soil and the critters. I had a pesky raccoon that moved in by me. I soaked a rag in ammonia and put it in the garden. It got rid of that little bugger once and for all! We also have motion lights by the vegetable garden and that kept the deer and raccoons out as well. The squirrels and chipmunks never bothered the vegetables. I have my fingers crossed that they'll leave it alone this year as well. Enjoy planning your garden and dealing with mother nature!
Dawn in IL |
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Quintessential Kate
True Blue Farmgirl
175 Posts
Kate
Tyler
TX
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - Feb 03 2009 : 05:19:10 AM
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Another thing I do to keep the squirrels away from my freshly planted bulbs is to put a circle of powdered cayenne around the area. It also keeps other critters out as well....as you can imagine. One day after a fresh application of cayenne.....I watched a squirrel sniffing his way over to one of my bulb areas. He got a snoot of the cayenne, did a dance and ran up the fence. I think he told his friends, because I don't have problems with them stealing my bulbs anymore. It will not hurt them.....just irritate them for a bit.
Ciao, Kate
Heart of Texas
Chapter
AKA: Hot Farmgirl #234
http://quintessentialkate.blogspot.com
Today is my best day! |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Feb 03 2009 : 06:45:24 AM
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Lisa -
Gardeners Eden is listed under gardeners.com.
Apparently they changed the site some on the internet. They are a good resource and fairly cheap on many items for the garden.
Anne
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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homemom
True Blue Farmgirl
1593 Posts
Ruth
Warwick
RI
USA
1593 Posts |
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herbquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
891 Posts
Kristine
Bonney Lake
Wa
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2009 : 1:42:57 PM
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Lisa,
I spoke last night in, Your Victory Garden presentation.
Would you like the Resource Packet emailed to you? Loads of great information and ideas.
Anyone else?
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many, MRET & Wellness Coach
http://herbalmommasda.blogspot.com/
Farmgirl Sister #97
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homemom
True Blue Farmgirl
1593 Posts
Ruth
Warwick
RI
USA
1593 Posts |
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cheryl sisk
Farmgirl in Training
18 Posts
cheryl
darien
wi
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2009 : 1:52:52 PM
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| Lisa I grow berries summer and fall ones i have no problem with birds |
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Garden Gate: Small Vegetable Garden Preparation Question |
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Small Vegetable Garden Preparation Question
