GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

phorbin · 28-04-2008, 01:35 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible

In article ,
says...
A groundhog dug a tunnel into my garden last year, I filled it in last
fall but he's just reopened it again. I've bought some Havahart Critter
Ridder which is basically a hot pepper powder. Has anyone used this
stuff? Does it work?. There were a couple of other choices for groundhog
repellents that had a very different formulations, does anyone have any
opinions on repellents in general?

Hot pepper didn't work for us. The dammthings thought it was a
seasoning.

We trap and remove to open spaces (no gardens, roads or farms nearby),
harrass them away if they're smart enough to take the hint, or kill them
if not. The two former give them a chance at survival.

As for it digging into the garden, you need a fence like an L, with the
bottom of the L about 1 foot underground and aimed outward away from the
garden. The base of the L needs to be at least 1 foot wide. That should
stop them digging through. The thing you need to know is that they are
agile climbers and will climb trees, fences etc.. You have to deal with
"over" which means creating a floppy fence or an electric one.

Do remember that you need your gate to have a lintel to which you've
attached fencing so that the underground fence is continuous around the
whole garden.

And I suggest finding all the cabbage mower's holes, stuffing them with
saplings, long branches, scrap 2 by 4s and earth. Track them all down.
Don't worry about trapping them underground. They'll dig their way out
or they'll have an escape entrance. Then fill the route they've taken
out, too.

You see, if you can prevent them from developing a main burrow and/or
way station burrows near your property/garden, they'll probably eat at
somebody else's table.

--
In an urban environment you have to outwit the neighbours and the
critters.