@theyoungnonno: It’s not just me right? 🤔🐿️🐦‍⬛🐀 The pest pressure in the garden seems off the charts this year. Noticing far more damage to plants and fruit, and earlier on too. Also seeing greater numbers of birds, chipmunks, rabbits, squirrels hanging around - not to mention potential rodents at night. And it’s not just my garden. I’m hearing it from friends, family, clients, neighbours and pretty much everyone trying to grow something tasty in their backyard. Why does this year seem to be so much worse than ever before? The simple answer: blame the it on the mild winter we had. Especially if you live the eastern half of North America, like I do. Warmer weather meant less snow, which meant more natural food and water was available for small animals. Sheltering from the temperature wasn’t as much of a challenge for critters either. When all that happens, more of them survive. Not only that, but the weather enabled them to breed later in the fall and earlier in the spring. So, welcome to critter population boom 2024. They’re all hungrily competing for food. And they know where the good stuff is growing. What can you do to stop them? Not one thing on its own, that’s for sure. No garden is ever 100% pest free. But here few ideas to try: ✔️ Scent deterrents like chilli powder, fragrant soap, blood meal and pet hair spread around plants. ✔️ Physical barriers like fences, netting, cages and organza bags to close off areas or protect fruits. ✔️ Sensory defences like water spray, alarms and lights set to motion sensors. ✔️ Decoys such as fake predator, sacrificial plants or bowls of water for animals to drink from instead of eating your veggies for hydration. Of course it discouraging doing all that work only to find it torn to shreds before you can enjoy it. But you’re not alone in the fight. And you’re not without some tools to slow it down. Don’t forget either that in nature every bubble eventually bursts. Buon giardinaggio! #garden #gardening #Summer #tips #weather #animals

The Young Nonno

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Region: CA

Friday 16 August 2024 01:28:44 GMT