Living in harmony with the animal kingdom doesn't mean they get to eat my garden

 

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.
                             Eleonora Duse (famous Italian actress 1858-1924)

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

This week we're going to talk about protecting your garden against the various “critters” who like to reap the benefits of your gardening efforts.

In western Pennsylvania we have a huge deer issue. I hesitate to call it a problem because I love to watch the deer grazing on the hill behind our house and they were, after all, here before we were. However, grazing on my garden is definitely an issue. Some of the deterrents we've used are:

• stringing gallon plastic jugs around the garden (They don't like the movement of the jugs bouncing around in the breeze.)

• stringing old CD's around the garden (In addition to the movement of the CD's, the sun reflecting off the shiny surface is apparently a deterrent)

• five-foot high wire fencing

• and finally

• building an elaborate structure around the garden. On the hill behind my house two square foot gardens are enclosed in a six foot high fence supported by 4"x4" s and accessed through a  gate.  This was built by my husband and has worked beautifully.

All of these measures have had some degree of effectiveness with the above-described structure being by far the most effective. But not everyone would want to go to that extreme. Some other measures that I've heard of, but haven't tried, are to scatter human hair around the garden, which apparently is also effective against those cute little bunny rabbits, and to hang mothballs or strong smelling soap near the garden.

If you're using chicken wire around the garden, make a little “skirt” along the bottom. In other words, bend the bottom of the fence outwards so that it lies flat on the ground. This will discourage small animals from digging under the wire.

Here are some suggestions for how to deal with the creep-crawly type of pests.

The best methodology is to avoid them in the first place. Planting marigolds or nasturtiums in or around the garden will help to ward off nematodes, worm-like creatures that can wreak havoc on your garden. Another tactic is to plant garlic, mint and onion around the edges of the garden as a lot of potential pests are repelled by the smell of these plants.

Believe it or not, dandelions can be very beneficial to the garden. Dandelions attract beneficial ladybugs and provide pollen for their food. Ladybugs eat certain destructive insects like aphids. Dandelions long roots give air to the soil and enable the plant to accumulate minerals, which are added to the soil when the plant dies.  Not only are dandelions good for your soil, they are good for your health. Dandelion leaves in a salad provide beta carotene, an important nutrient, as well as vitamins C & A. However, grow dandelions around the garden area rather than in the garden as they will take nutrients from the soil that should go to the vegetables.

Cabbage Worms – these are the worms that attack cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts. You know they are there when you find partially eaten leaves. If you look closely you will find worm droppings and a tiny worm, almost the same color as the plant lying at the stem of the leaf.

The best way to get rid of them is to pick them off and destroy them. Then cut out the damaged portion of the leaves and wash away the droppings with a gentle spray of water. Do this to all of the affected plants.

Cut Worms – cut worms cut down an entire plant by eating through the base of the plant. Cut worms come out at night and go into the soil to sleep during the day. To find them take a pointed instrument or a pencil and gently dig a circle around the plant. You should find the worm in the soil but if you don’t find it right away, keep making wider circles around the plant until you find it. Then destroy it right away by dropping it in salty or soapy water or it will quickly burrow into the soil again and disappear.

Slugs and snails – these pests can be detected by the slimy silvery trail that they leave behind and small holes they eat into the plants. They also eat at night and sleep during the day. They like to sleep under boards, mulch or other cool resting places. If you put little planks up between your garden squares, you can catch them sleeping under the planks during the day. Pick them out of the garden and drop them into salty or soapy water.

Ants – You can try mulching the garden with coffee grounds. Thoroughly cover any anthills with the grounds but also spread them on the entire garden.

 And then there is Neem Oil, an extract from a common shade tree native to India and South Asia. The seeds of the tree, which hold the highest concentration of the oil, are used in wax, oil and soap products. In the garden it serves as a pesticide and anti-fungal agent. It can be applied directly to the soil or sprayed on the plants. Distributors claim it is effective on 200 species of chewing and sucking insects. Neem oil spray can be purchased at most garden supply centers and online.

But if you prefer to make your own...

Homemade Organic Pest Control Sprays

#1 Buttermilk Spray: A mixture that’s great for getting rid of pests in and around houseplants or vegetables is buttermilk and flour. This is most effective for aphids, spider mites, thrips, whitefly, worms and slugs. 

#2 Mix a pint of water, a quarter cup organic dish soap, two teaspoons of paraffin and six tablespoons of finely chopped garlic. Soak the mixture for a day, strain the ingredients and put the mixture in a spray bottle

#3 8-10 cloves garlic

7 or so Tabasco Peppers

A couple spoons of Murphy's Oil Soap

A couple spoons Canola Oil

Habanero sauce

a couple spoons of organic, non-toxic liquid soap (such as is used for washing dishes).

Thoroughly mix the ingredients with just a little water, then mix with 1 quart hot water. Bring to a boil and let it steep for a while. Strain the veggie bits out with cheesecloth to make sure your spritzer bottle doesn't get clogged. Then go to town on the bugs.

Reflection: In the opening quote Eleanora Duse speaks about the simple things of nature being a message for the living soul. John Burroughs, author and naturalist got that message. My hope for you is that, during this spring season, you will too.

“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.”

John Burroughs, American naturalist and nature essayist, 1837-1921