Racoons can wreak havoc on a vegetable garden.
Those sneaky bandits are at it again. Raccoons are night creatures that often feast in vegetable gardens, feeding on corn, tomatoes, grapes, raspberries and melons. They are tough to fence out since they are good climbers. However, with a few effective steps, you may be able to discourage raccoons from entering your landscape. If these fail, there are a few more permanent ways to keep the raccoons out of your home vegetable garden. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Move pet food and water indoors at night. Put trash in seal trashcans. Pet food and overflowing trashcans lure raccoons into your landscape where they are more likely to chomp on your vegetable garden, too.
2. Harvest your vegetables when they are first ready to pick. Then, clean up any vegetables that are rotting or have dropped to the ground.
3. Install an electric fence around your garden with two electric wires, one 4 inches above the ground, the other 12 inches above the ground. Turn the fence on at dusk and turn it off in the morning. Check with local ordinances about installing an electric fence and install it according to manufacturer directions.
4. Trap raccoons using a live trap, which are often available at your local animal control facility. Check with local ordinances to see if there are any rules about trapping raccoons. Canned fish can be used as bait. Set the trap and release the raccoon as indicated on the manual. Release it in an isolated area at least three or four miles from your home.
Tags: vegetable garden, above ground, Check with, Check with local, electric fence, inches above