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| Large Garden Pests |
Gardening advice on how to deal with garden pests.
Birds
– A Few species of birds are troublesome for the gardener. Blackbirds and many species of Tits will peck ripening pears and apples, Bullfinches will damage many forms of fruit and flora and Sparrows will tear crocuses and primroses apart whilst also attacking apple blossom, carnations, lettuce seedlings and runner bean shoots. All of this can have a disastrous impact on the crop harvests and flower production of many young plants.
Although many forms of bird scaring devices such as Scarecrows, glitter strips, linked CD mobiles and filled water bottles exist, there are few that work consistently and that are guaranteed. Fully effective and preventative damage limitation can only truly be achieved by the use of netting or cages. Fruit cages can be erected to create fruit orchards and strong plastic netting can also be used. The only disadvantages of this are that pollination rates may be hindered by the use of such structures if the netting gaps are not sufficiently large enough for bees and other pollinating insects to penetrate. Organically, these are the only preventative measures. Seedlings may also be mildly protected by the use of black cotton strung across the plot to hamper access.
At the same time, a healthy bird population will create a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing environment and will equally assist in reducing the slug and snail population accordingly – helping to prevent plant damage from these pests.
Cats
– Few animals can damage plots and well laid plans as quickly and efficiently as the cat. They will tear young plants from the ground, disturb or bury young seedlings and create nuisance with their fouling too – which often harbours disease and encourages flies to the area. There are few effective measures against them and you may consider the use of strung clack cotton, erecting large protective cloches of chicken wire over seedlings or the use of proprietary cat repellents.
Mice
– These pests are increasingly common in areas bordering hedgerows and wild land. They destroy both harvested and growing crops by eating the bulbs and seeds. Damage may also be inflicted on flowering bulbs in storage in sheds or garages, such as Daffodils and Tulips. Effective measures include the use of mousetraps (both deadly and trapping) and regular clearing of disused areas of the garden which may provide suitable nesting sites.
Squirrels
– Once of the most common of all of the ‘wild’ pests, squirrels are responsible for untold damage to cultivating crops and plants in the garden. They are particularly adept at destroying bulb stores and digging tubers out from the ground in search of food, eating ripe fruits and stripping bark from trees and small shrubs. They may be enticed away from plants by providing a readily available amounts of nuts in bird feeders, however, other than that there are no effective deterrents known. |
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