How To Keep Groundhogs Out Of Garden

Introduction

Ah, you've got a garden that is the envy of all your neighbours. But, it seems, you've got a pest problem. Groundhogs have been making guest appearances in your garden more often and you want to keep them out! Fear not, there are plenty of ways to keep those pesky burrowing animals out of your garden. In this article, we will look at 8-12 topics related to ways of keeping groundhogs out of your garden, from electric fences, to scare tactics and other natural remedies.

Laying Down Barriers

One of the most common ways of keeping groundhogs out of your garden is by laying down barriers to prevent them from entering. Fencing, either electric or conventional, is a popular choice. Electric fences can come in many forms such as a single line electric rope, or a live orange electric mesh, both of which will keep your garden intruder free. Conventional fencing can also help deter or keep out groundhogs, however, it needs to be high enough to prevent them from tunneling underneath. If you have a bigger budget, a rubber landscaping barrier is the perfect solution for keeping unwanted animals out.

Plants That Discourage

Planting certain plants in and around your garden can be a great way to keep groundhogs away. Artemisia, also known as wormwood, is a plant with an extremely pungent aroma that most wildlife detests. A plant like this should be planted around the perimeter of the garden bed. Other plants that you can plant to keep groundhogs away are sunflowers, daffodils, and marigolds; groundhogs do not like the sight or smell of these plants. You can also spread crushed pepper, garlic, or those commercially available animal repellent thorns around the perimeter of the garden bed.

Scare Tactics

Given that groundhogs are skittish animals, scare tactics are a viable option for keeping them out of your garden. You can choose to purchase economical scarecrow balloons that look like owls, however, this only works for a short amount of time. You can also use a motion-activated sprinkler to startle groundhogs when they enter your garden. Another trick is to string up CD discs around the perimeter of the garden. As the sun shines, the disc will reflect the light, which can startle the groundhogs.

Feeding Them Elsewhere

If you have groundhogs in and around your garden, you can actually encourage them away from your garden and into another area by feeding them there. Put out vegetables, your groundhog won't be able to resist. Once they are habituated to eating in that location, they will be more likely to spend more time there and visit your garden less frequently.

Clean Up Your Garden

Groundhogs are attracted to gardens for the food and shelter. So, reducing their access to either of these can be an effective way of keeping them out. Make sure to clean up any fallen fruits and vegetable scraps that may be lying around your garden. On top of that, make sure to put away anything that groundhogs can use for shelter, such as wood and rocks.

Remove The Food Source

Sticking with the topic of food, make sure to cover your vegetable beds. Groundhogs will rarely attack vegetables that are covered, so consider using fencing, twine, or chicken wire to cover vulnerable crops. Make sure the fencing is high enough and secure enough overwinter so that the groundhogs cannot access the food. On top of that, make sure to cover any ripening fruits with bird netting to keep groundhogs away.

Conclusion

Keeping groundhogs out of your garden doesn't have to be a difficult task. We have looked at 8-12 different methods of keeping groundhogs out of your garden, from laying down barriers, to using deterrents and scare tactics. The methods presented here are all easy to implement and can be used in combination to ensure that your garden stays groundhog free.