It seems inevitable — wherever there are humans, there will also be pests. And although these animals might seem cute in your backyard, they can ruin your gardens – and your hard work. Pests can cause a variety of damage, from eating your plants and vegetables to creating holes and tunnels all over your property. Identifying garden pests is the first step to controlling them. After you ID what pests are bothering you, learn how you can use an electric fence to save all your green-thumb efforts.
Garden Pest Identification Tips
While animals may visit your garden throughout the day or night, the best time for identifying garden pests is usually at dawn or dusk. Sit by a window offering a clear view of your garden and see what animals find their dinners in your garden.
Some animals are nocturnal, and you will rarely be able to see them, so be sure to check during the day for droppings, which are a telltale sign of their presence. Reliable garden pest identification can often occur simply by describing the size and shape of the droppings to a local wildlife expert. Holes in the ground in and around your garden usually indicate animal activity. Many animals also leave their unique calling card. Below you will find tips on how to identify some of the more common garden pests.
Most Common Garden Pests
Depending on where you live, the common garden pests you may have to contend with can include:
- Deer — While they may be pretty to look at, deer are notorious garden raiders and can wipe out your vegetation quickly. Signs that you might have a deer problem include the presence of hoof prints in the soil that resemble an upside-down heart, and with pebble-shaped droppings.
- Rabbits — Although rabbits typically do not cause as much damage as deer, a rabbit problem can be difficult to eliminate due to the animal’s prolific breeding. You might have a rabbit issue if you spot nibbled leaves and stems and small round droppings.
- Squirrels and Chipmunks — These burrowing rodents are common garden pests that can cause significant damage by dining on seeds, roots, and bulbs. Uprooted bulbs are a sure sign of the presence of one or the other (or both). You will also likely come across their burrows; ground squirrel burrows run horizontally while chipmunk burrows tend to be vertical.
- Raccoons — These masked bandits will eat just about anything. They will think nothing of digging up your garden in search of worms. A garden that looks like an excavation site can indicate a raccoon invasion.
Protect Your Garden with Zareba®
Keep Garden Pests at Bay
These garden pests might seem like nuisances that you’re going to have to deal with forever – but don’t worry, we have the solution for you. A simple electric fence built around the perimeter of your garden or flowerbed can solve the problem quickly and humanely.
Most of the time people use electric fencing to keep things in, but an electric garden fence can also keep the pests OUT of your garden. With our Garden Protector Kit, you have everything you need to set up a fence in minutes. It works as a deterrent but also conditions those animals that get gently shocked not to come back.
Once you know what pest is destroying your garden, you can set your fence up according to the best specifications for deterring that animal. To learn more about how to set up your garden kit and keep animals out of your garden, check out this article.
Your Fencing Needs
By using our Garden Protector kit, you can be sure that animals will not be reaping the benefits (or food) from your garden. On our Facebook Page, tell us how you keep pesky critters out of your gardens. Plus, sign up for our e-newsletter to get exclusive deals and stay up to date with our products and advice.
