Garden For The Seasons. Thwarting Diabolical Critters

Feb 26

Feb 26 Garden For The Seasons. Thwarting Diabolical Critters

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Audrey Hepburn
Garden For The Seasons. Not Your Average Gardening Column is a new Hummingbird weekly series. Its intent is two-fold in that it will explore the workings of the garden/gardener from various perspectives, while at the same time explore the garden as it applies to the season of life we are experiencing. Like a garden, we expect that Angela’s “plan” for this column will continually evolve, bending to work with whatever is thrown her way… just like in a real life garden. We are nothing if not inventive, right? YOU are invited to contribute. Please use the links within each post or the post comment section. We welcome you!

Garden For The Seasons. Not Your Average Gardening Column…

Thwarting Diabolical Critters

I hope that you have answered the questions from last week because the answers will help you be successful in your garden (of course, don’t forget that Mother Nature has her own plans—my favorite saying “Nature Abhors a Garden”).

The first tool in planning your garden is your imagination. How do you want to use your garden? Do you want to grow your own homegrown vegetables? Or is it a bright flower garden that you will admire from indoors? Do you like annuals or perennials (it isn’t either/or)? Do you want to sit outside sipping cocktails while enjoying the breezes and energy that a shade garden can provide? Are there architectural structures that you want to highlight? Are you looking for curb appeal?

Your plant selections will be dictated by your answers to these questions.

First step: Draw it out…it can be precise or “back of the napkin” but get the shape and size and the amount of sun (full sun is 6+ hours).

This is seed, bare root and (some) plant selection time, so use your imagination, your wallet and some temperance (but of course, we always overbuy).

Then address your garden’s nemeses: Probably the most frustrating problems with gardening are those creatures that are determined to take advantage of our hard work. So get out your list and let’s start addressing them. Here’s our list and the recommended potential remedies…if any.

Deer

Probably the most ubiquitous problem in the Northeast. But their palates change by location. Talk to your local garden shop or your gardening friends about your area. The deer in the Hamptons are more discerning than those in some locales. In Northwest New Jersey there were only 3 bushes that we could reliably plant: Andromeda, Leucothoe, and Boxwood. But some areas allow you to plant Rhododendron, Azalea and even Hydrangea. As for vegetables, annuals and perennials, there are few that are deer resistant.

But here is a partial list of deer resistant plants to get you started. (We are relying upon you to help us by adding to this list!)

Annuals: Begonias, Artemisia, Nicotiana, Cosmos, and Marigolds
Shade Perennials: Astilbe (my personal favorite), Helleborus, Ferns, Dicentra (bleeding heart) and Vinca
Sun/Part Sun Perennials: Nepeta (Catmint), Yarrow, Peony, Iris, Rosemary, Lavender, Bamboo, and Goatsbeard
Bulbs: Lily of the Valley, Daffodils, and Hyacinth
Rule of thumb: if it is highly fragrant, it is less attractive.

Okay, let’s say that you really, really, really want to use other plants. What can you do?

There are sprays, but they must be reapplied regularly, e.g., after every rain and some make your garden smell like rotten eggs.
Motion sensors on outdoor lights can help.
Large dogs will keep them away, but deer like to eat at night. Deer have killed smaller dogs.

Jeff and I tried everything, even a large German Shepherd; and while we won some battles, every summer we lost the war. We could miss one rainstorm or be gone for a week’s vacation and the garden would be ruined. One year they ate all the English Ivy that covered our garage. Finally we invested in permanent deer fencing. It was worth every penny.

Lesson: If you really want to keep deer out, invest in deer fencing.

Join the Conversation: What have you done? What other plants have you been successful with?

Groundhogs

These critters were our biggest problem. They ate our flowers indiscriminately. Flowers that they avoided one year; they ate the next. But they could be counted on to devour our sun perennials, especially Rudbeckia (Black eyed Susan), Daylilies and Loosestrife.

We tried everything. Trapping them (they had such extensive burrows that it was impossible), a paint gun (they were too fast), filling in their burrows (they built new ones) and chewing gum (a farmer’s trick that didn’t work). It was not until we got our large German Shepherd that we conquered them. Some moved away and others became part of the soil. It was worth it. After a few years, they never returned, even after our beloved German Shepherd, Abby, passed away.

Waist high containers was the solution for one Hummingbird vegetable gardener!

Join the Conversation: Have you had success with these pests? Please let us know.

Voles & Moles

These varmints are harder on vegetable gardens than perennial gardens. One of Hummingbird’s vegetable experts told me a story about how she and her husband had a row of beautiful, fragrant climbing peas. One morning all had disappeared, literally disappeared, only holes in the ground remained.

Their only solution was to plant their vegetables in containers.

Join the Conversation: Do you have a problem with these guys? Do you have any solutions?

Bunnies

They are as ubiquitous as deer and can slip through any fence. They love tulips and bulbs; but are not too bad with perennials. But they are the foe of every vegetable gardener.

Once again our Hummingbird experts found a solution in waist high containers. They placed the containers on their deck or porch.

Another solution is our pets, dogs and (some) cats. Bunnies don’t stick around to make friends with them; and since they usually feed at dawn and early evening; my dogs have been an impressive deterrent.

Join the Conversation: Do you have a problem with these cute little fluff balls? What did you do?

Squirrels

More of a nuisance than a problem, just expect to see a lot of planted hickory, walnut and other trees.

The Bugs and the Worms

One Hummingbird gardener’s tomatoes were decimated overnight by horn worms. The only solution was to pick them off the vines daily. At maturity, they will plant their eggs in the soil and you need to replace the soil.

Slugs are my nemesis. They devour my hosta and marigolds. Slugs like beer, but so do my dogs. I have found the most effective organic solution was to get up early, pick them off and drown them in soapy water. Our toddler used to join us for “slug picking.” We handed her a trowel of slugs and she would place them in the bucket of soapy water saying “Go swimming swugs.” One of many lies that we would tell our sweet little innocent daughter.

Okay this is a long list of nemeses. But, don’t give up hope. Remember, this will be the year!

What to do next: Update your plan, address your nemeses, and select plants and seeds for this year.

Next week we are going to talk about Sun, Part Shade and Deep Shade. How to pick your plants and why sunlight is something that you can’t “cheat.” Or you will get burned, literally.

Join the Conversation: Tell us your locale and what has worked for you.

Garden for the Seasons will publish every week, on alternating Fridays and Sundays. Be sure to come back!

Editor’s Note: Please consider sharing your own stories about your garden. Click here to submit an anecdote, a short paragraph, a photo or question… we would love to hear from you! Angela will be weaving your contributions into this ongoing series. Hearing from YOU will make this gardening column like none other.