Groundhog Day 2025

 I must admit, I love groundhogs! While it probably has to do with my birthday being near Groundhog Day, and I don't have groundhogs getting into my garden daily, I love the critters. All the critters. But groundhogs, deer, etc. are garden-eating machines.

 

Will he see his shadow this year?

Herbs work great as repellents, but no repellent will work 100% of the time. We say, "deer repellent, not deer proof." If your critters are hungry enough, they will eat it.

 

As he grows, this 4-foot fence won't keep him out

Some of the best advice I have ever heard is that if they know that food is there, they will go to it, so you must break the habit of them going to it. Start with this:

 

Animal Stopper has a lovely herbal scent

1. Use a repellent. My favorite is Animal Stopper because it smells like herbs. But I've also had success with Liquid Fence and Bobbex. Other options include fencing, netting, decoys, and motion-sensing sprinklers.

 Be consistent with using the repellent and switch every year or two so they don’t get used to it. Break the habit of the animals using your garden as a buffet.

Do we have animal repellants? The answer is a resounding yes 

 

2. Plant "resistant" plants. Again, no plant is animal-proof, but texture and scent play a big part in deciding what is edible and what is not. Herbs work great! Lavender, rosemary, sage, mint, chives, basil, oregano, thyme…in fact, most herbs will work as a resistant plant. The same smells that attract us repel the critters. 

Many herbs are perennial, coming back year after year. 

Most herbs prefer sunny spots with well-draining soil. Some herbs, like mint and oregano, can handle some shade. Determine if the light the area will provide will be enough for the plants. You can mix the ornamental plants with resistant plants to help protect them. 

Sage, Thyme, and Rosemary

 Stop in and pick up a copy of our Deer Resistant Plants handout, and this year, let’s keep the critters out of our gardens.