Guarding vegetables and fruit from pesky animals can become a constant battle. Many a time, this fight calls for backup of ingenuous and clever strategies. Depending upon the kind of furry enemies that are likely to enter and eat your garden produce, security measures like wire netting and plastic covering can fool and foil.

The outer fencing of the garden requires regular checks to see if any fresh digging has created inroads for rodents, woodchucks, even hare or small foxes.

The diligence and grit these garden-raiders display is amazing. Keeping in mind the vital cycle of pollination, small fruit bearing plants like strawberries and tomatoes can be protected with chicken wire meshing that still allow bees and butterflies to enter and do their busy dance. Birds may still use their beaks and hence damage the fruit at a later stage but shimmering danglers will reflect and scare them off.

Further, you can discourage squirrels and chipmunks from using your fence to scurry down and wreck havoc with the cucumbers, zucchini, melons or cabbage by leaning and draping a skirting of wire mesh outwards from the top of the fence. This way, they will find it difficult to climb over and will flop down due to their own body weight. Make sure, however, that the branches of big trees from a neighbor's yard, do not hang conveniently low over your fruit beds and vegetable patches. Much smaller insects such as caterpillars, cutworms and aphids can also be discouraged by plastic sheets on frames that get anchored down and keep them from easily creeping in. These coverings will require removal from time to time for free pollination. Pesticides also deter but should be used to a minimum.

If you like Gardening....These pages might also interest you:

Allium Directory, Amaryllis Directory, Begonia Directory, Crocus Directory, Daffodils Directory, Dahlia Directory, Hyacinth Directory, Iris Directory, Lily Directory, Tulip Directory

Also see:

A Love Affair With Gardening, Charming Camillias, Firescaping, Gardening for the Family, Garden Rodents, Garden Catalogs, General Gardening Tips. Gardens in the Shade, Hot Summer Cool Garden, How to Plant Leeks, Involve Your Children, Outfits for Gardening, Photograph Your Garden, Plant Care Basics, Using Leaves as Compost, What to Avoid Buying Guide, Cheap Garden Ideas, Creating Garden Berms, Garden Fragrances, Garden Lessons, Gardening for The Challenged, Gardening is Great, Gardening Math, Gardening Tools, How to Use Peat, More About Gardening, Love affair with Lilacs, Organic Gardening, Slow Down and Enjoy, Smart Plant Shopping, Tips for Beginners