KUSA - How can I deal with pesky wildlife like squirrels, rabbits and deer that are eating up my yard? That was one of the top questions from the 138 callers last Friday afternoon who asked experts from the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado for gardening advice
One caller reported that squirrels were chewing up wires outside that they had never seemed to notice before. Another said rabbits nibbled her pansies down to the ground the first night they were planted. Others were frustrated with deer chewing up everything in their reach.
Start with that squirrel chewing the wire in the backyard. As ALCC's expert explained to the caller, copper wire smells like water to the squirrel. Under more normal conditions, Mr. Squirrel would find enough moisture in roof gutters or puddles. But this dry winter has left him pushing the limits with unusual measures to find water wherever he can sniff it out.
Squirrels will also chew the bark off trees and eat new spring buds. Later on, they will go for berries and fruit. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about squirrels but learn to tolerate them. Wire mesh over berry plants will help. Using absolutely squirrel-proof bird feeders can make your yard less attractive. If you have a fence and not a lot of it, you can also try running those round slinky toys along the top. According to some gardeners, this trick helps keep squirrels out.
Here are some tips for dealing with other wildlife that likes to graze in our yards:
Rabbits:
- They turn up their noses to plants if you have applied products around them that contain blood meal or that smell like the urine of their predators. Get these products from garden centers.
- If these products get wet, you will need to re-apply them.
- If coyotes are in your area, be aware that blood meal can attract them.
Deer:
- They will eat most any plant, but are sometimes deterred by very thorny plants like barberry and pyracantha.
- Because they dislike the color yellow, sometimes deer will be deterred by hanging yellow objects like caution tape in their path.
- Hanging strongly scented soaps like Irish Spring can also help repel them.
Voles:
These are mice-like rodents about 4-8 inches long and you will see their damage more than you actually see them. They create forts in dense plants-especially juniper and their ongoing chewing will cause serious damage. They also tunnel under lawns creating visible ridges and sometimes soft, spongy areas. Best remedies:
- Select plants that are less vole-friendly and avoid juniper.
- For lawn areas, follow best care practices--aerate, provide adequate water, fertilize. Over seed turf areas in the spring if there is serious damage.
Bees:
Because of the dry winter, bees are searching for water and often get very active when sprinklers are first turned on or other watering begins. Since bees don't fly far from their nests, their presence tells you there is a nest close by. Dogs will often snap at bees and get stung-so keep dogs inside while bees are active in the yard.
Information courtesy Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, sponsors of the 9News Water Wise Garden and the 9News Kitchen Garden. For help finding a landscape expert, go to www.alcc.com and click on Find a Pro
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