Gardening in Cottage Country Part Three

By: Sharon Martin

A rabbit hanging out in the garden. Photo: Vicki Larkin

Armed with my greatest weapon the Internet, I set out to win this war. I spent countless hours searching and investigating the latest and most sophisticated methods in controlling the enemy. I was up against moose, rabbits, squirrels, snails and slugs. I tried several strategies over the next few weeks and the results are in!

Pesticides and poisons of any type were strictly taboo.

The best method for controlling snails and slugs was placing a ring of wood ashes around each plant. Wood ash is quite alkali, with a very high Ph level. Snails and slugs do not like travelling over it as it irritates their mucus linings. Just sprinkle wood ash around the plants. The wood ash can also act as a fertilizer but when heavy rains occur you have to reapply the ash as it easily breaks down after rainfalls.

I tried using beer in a shallow container but the frothy brew only attracted a few of the slippery fellows.

The culprits that destroyed my nasturtium beds were next on my list - squirrels. Apart from invading my bird feeders I enjoyed their antics in and around my garden but I also caught them digging up my spring bulbs. Cayenne pepper was the weapon of choice but proved to be impractical, as the cost was a factor.

Again back to the Internet for instructions on building a live squirrel trap. Catching squirrels is fun! Using peanuts in the shell as bait, I waited...string in hand attached to the wire door. The fresh roasted smell was too much to resist and as the little creature darted inside I let go of the string and I caught my first of many squirrels. The next step was a quick trip in the car far away from my garden to release the frightened squirrel. This method did not eliminate all the squirrels but it decreased the number to a manageable level.

Although I had seen moose tracks around my garden I assumed they were infrequent visitors. The sudden disappearance however of a large cauliflower one morning was a mystery and I blamed it on the moose. Placing a thin rope with plastic streamers attached to trees near the vegetables worked well in deterring the moose.

Peter Cottontail was next on my list. Over the past few months I observed several rabbits feeding on the edge of my lawn. They seemed to enjoy the wild strawberries but always visited my garden for dessert, namely cabbage. Placing a ring of blood meal around my cabbage plants worked for a little while but ultimately the only option I had left was to place a wire mesh fence around the perimeter of my veggie patch.

There are virtually hundreds of methods and solutions to eliminating and controlling garden pests. I don't think I won the war but I did not lose either. The knowledge attained at the click of a mouse and the experience of putting the information into practice is in itself very rewarding.

How boring my "Morning Walk a Bout" would be without the glimpse of a furry tail disappearing in the underbrush or the constant chattering of a squirrel!

Stay tuned next month for a feature on Lasagne Gardening in Newfoundland

+ Surviving Yesteryear : A Glimpse to the Past - New!
+ American Convair B-36
+ April in Newfoundland and Labrador
+ Autumn Reflections
+ Destination: St. Anthony Part One
+ Destination: St. Anthony Part Two
+ The Fighting Newfoundlander
+ Gardening in Cottage Country Part One
+ Gardening in Cottage Country Part Two
+ Gardening in Cottage Country Part Three
+ Geocaching in Cottage Country
+ Heritage Tree
+ The Jenniex House in Norris Point : A Must Visit
+ Kayak Adventure
+ Keeping a Pond
+ Lasagna Gardening in Newfoundland and Labrador
+ Memories of Pack's Harbour
+ Mummering on the Rock
+ NL's Super Food : The Wild Blueberry
+ Random Island Charter
+ Rare Birds
+ 'Tis May 24 & We Gotta Get Away...
+ The Resilient Poppy
+ There's Four in our Trio
+ Sad or Blue? Embrace Winter
+ Sandwich Bay Meets the Puffin Post
+ Setting Up Your Own Bird Cam
+ Winter Birds