Keep them critters out!!!

Over on my facebook page I've had many requests asking how to keep fur critters domestic and wild and also creepy crawlies out of the garden. I've been doing my research and have compiled a few ideas on how to keep them buggers out of your garden without using any chemicals!

Slugs:
Coffee- take old brewed coffee and put it in a spray bottle spray on your soil surrounding the garden and the  slugs will stay out.

Beer Can Trap- Take an old beer can and cut in half, bury it in the soil up to the rim and put some beer, sugar water, soda pop and the slugs will be attracted to it and fall in and drown. You can also use tuna cans for this. Remember to discard the can and contents and replace regularly!

Salt- My grandmother will swear by Hawaiian salt keeping them suckers out!! Line the garden bed with it and fear no slugs!! Note: DO NOT PUT IN YOUR GARDEN. If you have raised beds place around the outside of the bed to keep slugs out... salt can be fatal to your garden, you may not have slugs, but you also may not have a crop to harvest either.

Cats:
Chicken wire- used in many ways.. you can make a cage around your garden or if you want lay out our soil then add a layer of chicken wire to the top of your bed to keep cats from using your garden bed as a litter box.

Coffee Grounds- Keeping coffee grounds in with your soil also can deter cats.

Cayenne Pepper - Sprinkle some of that spice on the outer rim of your garden bed.. I have been told this can work, and it can fail.. some cats are just that stubborn. If you are willing to try it let me know how this one works out!!

Give it it's own space- If you have the room and time.. and if the cat is yours, give the cat it's own outdoor litter box, a small sandbox or even a dollar store litter box filled with litter or sand the cat may be up to using that more then your bountiful garden!.. If the cat isn't yours and you don't know who the cat belongs too I recommend getting a trap from your humane society and getting that cat a home. I know in my area there are more stay cats then owned cats and it is sad how many die on the streets, if each one of us can get a cat off the street to stop it from reproducing more feral kitties won't that help? Just a thought!

Birds:
Bird netting- I know bird netting can be hard to work with but using some pvc you can make a removable cage that is easy to work with!
Here is a link to some plans

Rocks - take a bunch of those garden rocks and paint them to look like lady bugs and strawberries, place them in your garden prior to your fruit coming in and by the time your fruit comes in the birds will be tired of trying!!

Wild Animals. (Deer, Moles, Voles, possums..etc):
Dogs- Having your furry pet around should keep them guys out of your yard, I have followers who swear by it!

Motion Sensors- Motion sensored lights, and/sprinklers. (this can work for them kitties too)

Traps- For possums/raccoon's trap em and remember to re locate at least a few miles away from your home so they don't come back.. I usually make a trip to the woods to get a little mud on my tires to relocate away from the city!

There are other inhumane ways of dealing with moles and voles which my dad has used because moles are such buggers and all our other methods of deterring them had failed.

Hair- yes you read that right.. human hair... deer don't like the smell of us human kind apparently we stink! Sprinkle some around your garden to keep them away!

Bacon- Line the outside of your garden with bacon grease.. them long eared friends don't like the smell, keep them out of your salad garden.

Cayenne- as well as your cats, this will deter coons away from your garden as well.


If you have a request for a certain critter you want to keep out of your garden please ask. I hope that this helps some of you who are looking for remedies to keep them critters away!!!

27 days till spring!!! Who else is itching to get some dirt under their nails? Have a great day y'all!!