|
Fri, May 11, 12 at 19:25
| Well, it is woodchuck season again! Today, my delphs, yesterday my oriental poppies! I thought these plants were poisonous but it just gobbled them up and still looks quite healthy! My Cornflowers are gone too. I have put the trap out for a week, no luck and by the time I catch it, nothing will be left in my garden. Every year I deal with these miserable little beasts, I trap and relocate them but the next year there are always more! I've tried every repellent out there, the fox urine, the hot pepper spray, the castor oil, liquid fence, you name it, they don't work, and the woodchuck just munchs away, spray or no spray. How they could want to eat anything sprayed with Liquid Fence is beyond me, it has to be the most vile smelling stuff ever! Keeps the deer and bunnies from eating, but not the woodchucks. Please tell me there is something that works besides a shotgun! |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| If it's the shooting rather than the killing that bothers you . . . DH fills all but one hole (often the back door has no dirt pile by it) and then puts a woodchuck "bomb" from the hardware store into the hole and then backfills with soil. Be careful not to cover the bomb itself with soil since that will put out the fuse. It kills the woodchuck with fumes. Alternatively you can try a low, several-strand electric fence or get a terrier. I find that my broccoli serves as an indicator crop; when it gets munched I need to get looking for the hole (often it's in the same spot) and then get DH on the warpath. Alternatively, you can plant toxic plants. Monkshood is relatively similar in appearance to delphiniums and is toxic to all mammals. Another perennial that is toxic is foxglove (has digitalis which effects heart rhythms). I'm not sure if daffodils and euphorbia are toxic or just unpleasant, and alliums' strong scent and flavor discourages nibbling. Good luck - it can be heart-breaking to lose plants to the critters. |
|
- Posted by summersunshine 5b (My Page) on Fri, May 11, 12 at 22:26
| When you trap them and more appear, do you think it's new ground hogs moving in or babies of the ones that you've trapped? If new groundhogs keep being attracted to your yard, maybe you can try to reduce hiding places for them like tall grass/weeds, brush piles, etc. that they're said to like hiding in. Did you see the recent thread about the systemic repellant that has been newly developed? It might be another option. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Thread about new systemic pellets
|
| I have a shed that they live under, also a forsythia hedge that despite my cutting it back, grows prolifically and I think it lives in there. There is also a vacant, overgrown lot next to us where I think a lot of them live. Also, bordering the back of the property, a protected woodlands. So, lots of nice places for them to live. I've resigned myself to the fact that every year there will be more but it is still frustrating. Eventually, they do venture into the trap, but it takes some time and in the meantime, they are gobbling up everything in sight. My veggie garden is fine, due to a 6 foot chain link fence. But my flower beds are not fenced. I prefer them unfenced, but I am beginning to see this is not practical. I do have several digitalis, planted just because they are poisonous and they haven't been touched. They just walk right by the digitalis and head for the delphs. I would like to get some monkshood, but haven't seen it locally or in any of the websites I usually purchase from. In past years, I've planted flowers that I know for sure they won't eat, but the list is limited and I got tired of my choices being dictated by a rodent! |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Perennials Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.