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Old 01-05-2006, 04:04 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
General Schvantzkoph
 
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Default Woodchuck defenses

I'm planning on putting in tomatoes this year, however I have a woodchuck
living in my yard and rumor has it that woodchucks love tomatoes. Turing
(my woodchuck) is a cute little guy so I'm not going to trap or kill him.
Trapping would be hopeless anyway, I gave up gardening 20 years ago
because after trapping and moving 10 raccoons a year for 4 years I failed
to make a dent in their population (I moved them seven miles away to the
other side of the Merrimac river so I don't think it was the same ones
coming back).

I'm thinking that a fence around the garden is the only means of keeping
the woodchucks and raccoons out. My question is how tall does it have to
be and how deep to I have to bury it in the ground?


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Old 01-05-2006, 11:35 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
 
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Default Woodchuck defenses

General Schvantzkoph wrote:

I'm planning on putting in tomatoes this year, however I have a woodchuck
living in my yard and rumor has it that woodchucks love tomatoes. Turing
(my woodchuck) is a cute little guy so I'm not going to trap or kill him.
Trapping would be hopeless anyway, I gave up gardening 20 years ago
because after trapping and moving 10 raccoons a year for 4 years I failed
to make a dent in their population (I moved them seven miles away to the
other side of the Merrimac river so I don't think it was the same ones
coming back).

I'm thinking that a fence around the garden is the only means of keeping
the woodchucks and raccoons out. My question is how tall does it have to
be and how deep to I have to bury it in the ground?


We've been growing tomatoes here in our garden for the past 27 years.
We have woodchucks aplenty but never have we had a problem with them
bothering the tomatoes. That may be because they have access to 20+
acres of an alfalfa/clover mix. As for raccoons, they've never
bothered the tomatoes either. Now, sweet corn, that's another thing.
They know exactly when it is going to be ready to pick and they
destroy the whole patch the night before. In past years, they also
took more than their share of our chickens.
The pests we have the most problems with are the wild cottontails.
They will nip off almost any tender young plants, lettuce, beans,
peas, cabbage, etc.

Ross
Southern Ontario, Canada.
New AgCanada Zone 5b
43º17'28.63" North
80º13'28.55" West
To email, remove the obvious from my address.
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Old 15-05-2006, 02:49 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
---Pete---
 
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Default Woodchuck defenses

On Mon, 01 May 2006 11:04:22 -0400, General Schvantzkoph
wrote:

I'm thinking that a fence around the garden is the only means of keeping
the woodchucks and raccoons out. My question is how tall does it have to
be and how deep to I have to bury it in the ground?

--------
I have a 3 foot fence with small spacing at the bottom and larger
spacing near the top. I think it's called rabbit fence because the
smaller spacing at the bottom is supposed to keep out the rabbits.

Anyway, I have seen the groundhogs climb the fence about 2 foot
up and squeeze through the larger spacing holes near the top of
the fence. If I had to re-do my fence, I'd get a 5 foot tall fence
with very small spacing and put it 1 foot under the ground. Then
I'd back fill the dirt with a combo of stones & broken glass to
discourage any digging. I'm not sure if this would work but this
is what I would try.

PS: If you do any live animal trapping, try spray painting their
fur to mark them before you transport them anywhere. 7 miles
might not be far enough. I have heard stories where animals
like squirels were taken miles away and the just about beat
the transport vehicle home.

---pete---

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Old 15-05-2006, 03:40 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
General Schvantzkoph
 
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Default Woodchuck defenses

On Mon, 15 May 2006 13:49:16 +0000, ---Pete--- wrote:

On Mon, 01 May 2006 11:04:22 -0400, General Schvantzkoph
wrote:

I'm thinking that a fence around the garden is the only means of keeping
the woodchucks and raccoons out. My question is how tall does it have to
be and how deep to I have to bury it in the ground?

--------
I have a 3 foot fence with small spacing at the bottom and larger spacing
near the top. I think it's called rabbit fence because the smaller spacing
at the bottom is supposed to keep out the rabbits.

Anyway, I have seen the groundhogs climb the fence about 2 foot up and
squeeze through the larger spacing holes near the top of the fence. If I
had to re-do my fence, I'd get a 5 foot tall fence with very small spacing
and put it 1 foot under the ground. Then I'd back fill the dirt with a
combo of stones & broken glass to discourage any digging. I'm not sure if
this would work but this is what I would try.

PS: If you do any live animal trapping, try spray painting their fur to
mark them before you transport them anywhere. 7 miles might not be far
enough. I have heard stories where animals like squirels were taken miles
away and the just about beat the transport vehicle home.

---pete---


When I did raccoon trapping in the past I moved them across the Merrimac
river which is a pretty substantial river so I doubt it was the same ones
finding their way back. However since then there has been a serious rabies
epidemic in the raccoon population so I wouldn't dare try that today. I'm
going to try a fence and see if that does it. However before I do anything
the rain has to stop, my side yard is a lake at the moment (btw a cubit is
about 20 inches, is that right?).




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Old 15-05-2006, 05:14 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
Boron Elgar
 
Posts: n/a
Default Woodchuck defenses

On Mon, 15 May 2006 13:49:16 GMT, (---Pete---) wrote:

On Mon, 01 May 2006 11:04:22 -0400, General Schvantzkoph
wrote:

I'm thinking that a fence around the garden is the only means of keeping
the woodchucks and raccoons out. My question is how tall does it have to
be and how deep to I have to bury it in the ground?

--------
I have a 3 foot fence with small spacing at the bottom and larger
spacing near the top. I think it's called rabbit fence because the
smaller spacing at the bottom is supposed to keep out the rabbits.

Anyway, I have seen the groundhogs climb the fence about 2 foot
up and squeeze through the larger spacing holes near the top of
the fence. If I had to re-do my fence, I'd get a 5 foot tall fence
with very small spacing and put it 1 foot under the ground. Then
I'd back fill the dirt with a combo of stones & broken glass to
discourage any digging. I'm not sure if this would work but this
is what I would try.

PS: If you do any live animal trapping, try spray painting their
fur to mark them before you transport them anywhere. 7 miles
might not be far enough. I have heard stories where animals
like squirels were taken miles away and the just about beat
the transport vehicle home.

---pete---



Groundhogs are fierce diggers and can even undermine the foundation of
a home. I, myself have only found success with growing what they like
up on my deck and gating off the stairs (think large sheet of plywood)
so they have no access to what it grown up there.

I have tried trapping, fencing, and even brick sunk below ground,
etc...nothing has beaten them. I hate the *******s, frankly.

Boron


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