Hey everyone! I just stepped out into my garden and found that something has completely dug up two of my new rose bushes in the flower bed, leaving huge holes. I'm not sure if they're going to survive. I've seen a few potential culprits: a cat that has been around, a fox that makes the occasional visit, and the constant presence of squirrels. This has been driving me absolutely crazy! I'm looking for any suggestions on how to protect my flower beds and pots. I thought about using ultrasonic devices, but I'm not fully convinced they actually work. I've tried cayenne pepper, but that only lasts until the rain washes it away. Am I looking at having to cover everything with wire? Do spikes actually help? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
If it's mainly digging you're trying to prevent, I've found that putting wire mesh around the plants works really well until they’re established. Just cut pieces of wire, make a hole in the middle for the plant, and place it over. After a while, you can take it off and save the mesh for future plants. It’s a bit of work, but totally worth it!
Have you tried using chicken manure or fish emulsion when planting? Those tend to attract foxes, so I've had to stop using them because they dig up all my plants. It might be worth considering if you want to keep the foxes at bay!
No, I just used regular peat-free compost.
You might want to mulch with holly leaves if you have access to some! It's a natural deterrent that can help keep some animals away. Just make sure you prune from a bush that someone doesn't mind losing a bit from. Good luck!
I actually have a small holly bush, so I’ve covered the bed with holly leaves for now. Thanks for the tip!
I get that! I'm also trying to avoid any cat mess, but the digging is the big issue because it ruins the plants.