Controlling Animals in Organic Gardens

The most destructive pests in gardens are the larger ones -- birds, deer, rabbits, moles, mice, and so on. There is no doubt that the most effective control is to prevent them reaching the crops by physical means.

Animals

Animals such as porcupines, frogs, and toads should be encouraged in any garden because they feed on pests. Other animals such as deer, rabbits, moles or mice, must be kept out because they feed on the plants or undermine them. Good fencing will deter deer and rabbits, but the only solution to mice and moles is trap them.

Deer

If you live in the country near woodland, deer can be quite a problem because they eat most vegetation and strip bark from trees in winter. They can jump a 10ft fence, so building one tall enough is expensive. An alternative is an electric fence. These are sold in many hardware and farm-supply stores. Or check a mail-order catalog specializing in garden supplies.

Rabbits

Rabbits are a problem in many rural gardens because they eat almost anything. There is only one way to control them effectively. No trapping will keep their numbers down; they have to be fenced out with wire netting. It is important to use 1 in mesh netting and bury it at least 6 in, with 2 ft 6 in above the ground.

Erecting rabbit fencing
Hammer fencing posts into the ground. String two strands of wire between, one a third of the way up the posts, the other near the top. Fix wire netting to the strands, burying the bottom 6 - 8 in in a trench, curving away from the fence base.

Mice

Mice eat everything from tulip and lily bulbs to carrots and rose and holly roots. They are not usually a serious problem, but if entire rows of larger seeds such as peas or beans disappear, suspect mice. They dig them out and carry them away, and rarely leave a visible trace. You can either trap them with a conventional mousetrap or acquire a cat.

Moles

These animals can be a particular problem because not only does their burrowing damage plant roots - sometimes even leaving the roots suspended in mid-air -- but they also eat large numbers of worms. They undermine lawns and borders as well, leaving large mounds of earth and uneven soil sinkage.

Moles are almost impossible to keep out of the garden. Smoke seems to drive them off only temporarily, and the trick of making their tunnels uncomfortable by filling them with holly leaves simply makes them dig elsewhere.

If all else fails, the only reasonably effective method is to trap them, though it goes against the grain because they are very attractive creatures and do destroy harmful grubs. Barrel traps are the most effective and at least the moles are killed instantly. The position of the traps must be marked with a stick or colored marker so you do not forget where they are, and can check on them daily.