A Tough Start for the Vegetable Garden
As I always do, I started our garden with visions of the fresh vegetables and herbs that would arrive over the summer. Carefully choosing what to plant in our small 12 x 12 raised bed.
We planted the usual green beans, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplant. The garlic returned, along with the chives and sage that have been full of blossoms that the honey bees are enjoying. We added some potatoes, lettuce and carrots this year, and fresh plants of oregano, parsley and basil. So much to look forward to.
Until the morning I looked out to find the peppers, cucumbers, lettuce and green beans had most of their leaves missing. The dreaded woodchuck had arrived!
First I tried a repellant that was recommended; putting it around the perimeter of the garden and also encircling the plants. Did this work? NO - not a single leaf of Romaine was left; nothing but little stubs. And the parsley had no leaves - just stems rising into the air.
Then I did some research for all natural repellants and found a site that said woodchucks hate red pepper flakes. By the time I was done shaking red pepper all over the garden it looked like the top of a pizza. It seemed to work, and we didn't see the woodchuck for over a week, so I bought new plants and lovingly put them in.
All was good for several days; then I went out to look at our beautiful garden and he was back! He ate almost everything only leaving a few pepper leaves and green beans. I was not only devastated at losing my plants again, but angry at the fat little rodent.
We finally bought a Havahart trap and tried baiting it several times over ten days - nothing. We put it by the fence, in the garden, at the edge of the garden and nothing seemed to work. Finally we were told to put wires going from the fence at an angle towards the trap to lead him, and to put a fresh plant on the back end outside of the trap. I set it up yesterday afternoon and up to mid-day today I had nothing. As I was telling my mother the woeful saga I looked out the back door and there he was in the trap. Finally - success!
We did not have the heart to end his poor life, so we took him about 25 miles away and let him out in a field of tall grass. When we opened the door of the trap he took off like a shot into the field as fast as his little legs would take him. I imagine he was thanking his lucky stars we were so kind hearted.
The trap is set up again for a few days to make sure he has no family or friends left behind. Then, and only then, will I plant our third batch of vegetables, and wait with optimism for what's to come.
We planted the usual green beans, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplant. The garlic returned, along with the chives and sage that have been full of blossoms that the honey bees are enjoying. We added some potatoes, lettuce and carrots this year, and fresh plants of oregano, parsley and basil. So much to look forward to.
Until the morning I looked out to find the peppers, cucumbers, lettuce and green beans had most of their leaves missing. The dreaded woodchuck had arrived!
First I tried a repellant that was recommended; putting it around the perimeter of the garden and also encircling the plants. Did this work? NO - not a single leaf of Romaine was left; nothing but little stubs. And the parsley had no leaves - just stems rising into the air.
Then I did some research for all natural repellants and found a site that said woodchucks hate red pepper flakes. By the time I was done shaking red pepper all over the garden it looked like the top of a pizza. It seemed to work, and we didn't see the woodchuck for over a week, so I bought new plants and lovingly put them in.
All was good for several days; then I went out to look at our beautiful garden and he was back! He ate almost everything only leaving a few pepper leaves and green beans. I was not only devastated at losing my plants again, but angry at the fat little rodent.
We finally bought a Havahart trap and tried baiting it several times over ten days - nothing. We put it by the fence, in the garden, at the edge of the garden and nothing seemed to work. Finally we were told to put wires going from the fence at an angle towards the trap to lead him, and to put a fresh plant on the back end outside of the trap. I set it up yesterday afternoon and up to mid-day today I had nothing. As I was telling my mother the woeful saga I looked out the back door and there he was in the trap. Finally - success!
We did not have the heart to end his poor life, so we took him about 25 miles away and let him out in a field of tall grass. When we opened the door of the trap he took off like a shot into the field as fast as his little legs would take him. I imagine he was thanking his lucky stars we were so kind hearted.
The trap is set up again for a few days to make sure he has no family or friends left behind. Then, and only then, will I plant our third batch of vegetables, and wait with optimism for what's to come.
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