Pests and diseases 73
have suggested that clients acquire cats if the rabbit damage is serious. If a cat
isn’t the answer—and cats aren’t always the best solution, as they may wreak
havoc on bird populations—another option is fencing the border with chicken
wire. The fencing isn’t visible from a distance once the perennials fill in, and it
beats trying to use repellents against the rabbits, which wash off with the rains
and need to be applied frequently to the emerging new growth of perennials,
particularly pruned perennials. Composted sewage sludge used in soil prepara-
tion is said to help deter rabbits as well as voles.
Chipmunks and squirrels do their damage by digging around the roots of
perennials, particularly over the winter. The roots are then exposed to freezing
temperatures, which can be the cause of the plant’s demise.
I have trouble with raccoons. Whenever I plant new perennials in the gardens,
that very night (I’m sure they’re watching me with binoculars from the trees) the
raccoons dig up the plants and leave them lying on top of the soil. I have found
that sprinkling black pepper on the soil around newly planted perennials usually
prevents the damage. I buy pepper in the industrial size and in rather large
quantities (the grocery clerks aren’t sure what kind of cook I am!). I know of
other gardeners who rely on black pepper to control moles, rabbits, ground hogs,
and squirrels. Pepper needs to be reapplied to newly planted areas after a rain.
Dogs can be helpful in pest control. I was once blessed with a golden retriever
who was also an exceptional listener. When she was young she learned quickly
the importance of the command “no gardens,” and so even if her Frisbee landed
in the gardens she would wait on the outside until the launcher of the bum throw
came to fetch it out for her. Many breeds of dogs are not so cooperative, however.
For many, digging is preferred over Frisbees. Or simply lying on a prized peren-
nial will suffice. In such cases I have had clients use either chicken wire around
the border, if it is small enough, or yellow tape tied from stake to stake around
the garden, which keeps the dogs out but also makes the garden look like it is
constantly under construction. The surest approach is the use of an invisible
electronic fence around the gardens.
Deer deserve a book of their own, and several are available. If you have
problems with deer, I’m sure any of the above so-called pests seem like a piece of
cake comparatively. Combining a variety of control measures, from cultural to
mechanical, is the best approach to keeping deer away. The scent of a dog can
help to deter deer, even if the dog isn’t keen on patrolling the garden. Several
different deer repellents are available, and Liquid Fence, made from plant oils,
seems to be the most effective one currently on the market. You should alternate
repellents so that the deer don’t get accustomed to them. And of course the
repellents need to be applied frequently to rapidly growing perennials. Milor-
ganite, Milwaukee’s composted municipal sludge, is sold as an organic fertilizer
and has been shown to help keep deer away. Its effect is lessened in the autumn
when the odor is less pronounced.
Black plastic mesh deer fencing comes in 7 1/2-ft.-high rolls and is fairly
inexpensive. It is practically invisible and lasts 10 years. Obviously, the entire
area must be completely enclosed in order for the fencing to be effective. Some
gardeners use a 4-ft. chicken wire “mulch” around plantings, and others place
Vexar (a dark bird netting) over plants in bud or use it as a mulch.
Growing plants on the lean side, trying to avoid lush succulent growth, and
growing a variety of plants may help in deer prevention. Deer usually avoid
pubescent (covered with short, soft hairs), aromatic, spiny, or toxic plants.
Damage from deer depends on many factors, including the size of the deer
population, the amount of space available to them, other available food sources,
weather conditions, and time of year. Certain plants that may never be eaten in
one garden are the favorite treat of deer in another.