Whether it’s squirrels, deer, rabbits, raccoons, moles, or groundhogs, no one loves it when the local wildlife munches their way through, tramples, or digs up your yard. While we all understand the value of wildlife, nobody wants to see the hard work they’ve put into their garden go to waste. Luckily, there are several effective ways to keep unwanted animals out of your yard in Quad City. If your yard has many regular visitors, you may have to employ several of these techniques at the same time.
Reflective bird tape will help keep birds off your fruit and vegetables. Scented repellent products such as Liquid Fence or Plantskydd are a humane way to repel deer, rabbits, groundhogs, and squirrels. Since most wild animals prefer to stay out of sight, motion sensor lights might also help. One of the best repellents is a dog with regular access to your yard. Most wild animals don’t want to run the risk of getting stuck in a yard where a dog might be waiting for them! Similarly, rodents are more likely to avoid a yard where neighborhood cats hang out.
You can block pests from your yard with fencing or hedging. If your yard is very large, you can use fencing or hedging to create barriers around your garden area. For smaller pests like groundhogs, using raised beds with solid bottoms or gardening in pots can also help protect your plants. Hedging may not be quite as effective as fencing since small critters will still be able to squeeze through, but it may be a deterrent for larger pests like deer.
Wild animals like to have hiding places near their forage sites. Cleaning up your yard and removing hiding places, like dense brush and overhanging branches, will make it less appealing.
One of the best ways to make your yard unappealing to wild animals is to remove anything that might look like a food source. First, make sure that any outdoor garbage bins are sealed tightly shut. If you have compost, make sure your compost area is tidy and clean with no nearby hiding places.
Deer are challenging animals to keep out. They can jump higher than you might expect, and they seem to like to eat almost anything green. If deer are a constant problem in your yard, choose deer-resistant plants like daffodils, poppies, and peonies.
And last but not least, keep in mind that wild animals were here first. We’ve built our towns and cities in their habitats, so it’s only fair to expect the occasional encounter.
You might notice that the intensity of animal-related damage often correlates with the severity of our weather conditions. If we get a particularly intense Illinois winter with lots of snow, the deer are going to be a little more desperate and will be more likely to eat things they normally wouldn’t. If you need to replace some critter-damaged plants, or choose some less tasty specimens, swing by our garden center. We’ve got professional solutions for whatever critter problems you might have.
