Chances are, the raccoon is digging up the pansies or tulip bulbs in its search for grubs or other insects as a food source. Spraying the area with an insecticide may help alleviate the problem (you should always carefully read …
How do I stop crows from feeding in my nut trees?
You describe a major problem in the pecan industry—predation by birds. A major legal concern for management efforts is the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 that protects most bird species, including crows. There are similar state laws that …
Is it safe to use castor bean plants in a vegetable garden as a gopher deterrent?
It won’t deter pocket gophers, period. Neither will it deter moles, voles, chipmunks, or other ground squirrels. If you want more information on managing pocket gophers or other small mammals in your garden, visit the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage …
Is bougainvillea a deer-proof plant?
You can find some lists which state bougainvillea will not be browsed by deer, and others that say it will. What this discrepancy demonstrates is that there is no such thing as a 100% deer-proof plant. Different deer have different …
I have heard that mothballs will keep rabbits away. My question is whether it is safe to use them in my vegetable garden.
Mothballs are a registered pesticide and should be used according to the pesticide label instructions. The instructions for mothballs do not allow for outdoor use.
Mothballs tend to have one of two active ingredients: dichlorobenzene or naphthalene. Some products containing …
The lawn is dug up in areas leaving large but not deep holes, and the grass is dying. Could this be caused by skunks digging out grub worms for food? What can I do?
Skunks and raccoons often damage turf as they forage for grubs and other soil insects. Generally speaking, skunks dig precise holes. These holes are shallow and may be very numerous, they usually are not “large” (1.5 to 2 inches in …
How can you tell the difference between vole and mole damage in the yard?
Moles dig complex systems of feeding tunnels just under the soil surface. In lawns, the digging raises the turf so that the tunnels feel soft when we step on them. Most of these tunnels are closed, but the moles may …
We had field mice do a lot of damage to our lawn. Is there any way to prevent that from happening? My husband cuts the lawn very short in the fall to prevent damage, but it doesn’t work.
Field mice or voles chew a lot of turf under the snow, but the damage often looks worse than it really is. Grass in the affected areas usually recovers without repair by the middle of May. If the crowns have …
Squirrels are digging up newly planted crocus, hyacinth, and tulip bulbs. How can I prevent this?
Protecting Plants from Squirrels
Some gardeners have placed wire baskets over a small planting of crocus corms and tulip and hyacinth bulbs, while others have covered larger areas with chicken wire or hardware cloth. Others have given up on this …
Will deer eat raspberry plants?
Yes. Deer are especially fond of tender new growth, so first-year canes of summer-bearing raspberries are more vulnerable than fruiting canes.
Online Resources:
Deer Control…