Critter Intervention

Birds, squirrels, and other creatures are likely to get into your garden and either eat the seedlings or uproot them. After trying a variety of things that didn’t work very well, I started to make little cages using poultry wire. The wire I used was 3 ft. wide, and it has a sort of seam at each foot of the width. I cut the wire into strips the full 3 feet wide by a foot, leaving bits of the hexagon on either edge. I then cut 1 ft. pieces and, folding the longer strips into thirds, inserted the 1 ft. pieces and twisted the ends together to make a cube with one end open. These little cubes can be placed over the seedlings until the plants start to fill out and become strong. At some point, the birds and squirrels will usually leave them alone. They will probably give some protection against rabbits but not sure about woodchucks. In the spring, when there are strong rain storms, I also put some stiff plastic board on top with a brick, which then works like an umbrella to keep the small plants from getting pounded in the mud. It’s extra work, but in my small garden it really has helped the plants survive.