Florida is home to a diverse ecosystem. You can find almost any animal you think of roaming around the state. While animals are important to the environment, sometimes they can be a nuisance.
If you have a garden in your front or back yard, you might notice some of the wildlife coming onto your property. Oftentimes, flowers, fruits, and vegetables attract certain animals. The things you are growing might be susceptible to damage from animals in the neighborhood.
While it can be difficult to get wildlife to stay away from your garden, there are ways to prevent damage. For example, you can set up fences around the perimeter of your garden to keep animals out. You can also install motion-activated lights and sprinklers to scare the animals away.
If you continue to have a wildlife problem after using at-home tips and solutions, it might be time to consider professional help. Companies like Nuisance Wildlife Rangers can trap and relocate animals that are damaging your garden.
Tips for Protecting Your Garden From Florida Wildlife
In Florida, you might find animals like raccoons, deer, voles, skunks, and opossums frequenting your garden. While it can be exciting to see wildlife in your backyard, they can also cause damage to your plants. For example, they might see your crops as a food source, causing them to eat the plants and destroy your garden bed.
Some easy tips for protecting your garden from wildlife in Florida include:
Choose the Right Plants
Like people, animals can be picky eaters. If you choose the right kinds of plants, you can prevent animals from being attracted to your garden in the first place.
For example, most animals do not like strong-smelling flowers like lavender, peonies, or sage. They will also be deterred if you have prickly plants, like rose bushes or cacti. If you want to grow fruits and vegetables, use strong-smelling or prickly plants as a barrier by planting them around the border of your more attractive plants.
Install Fencing
Physical barriers can keep animals out of your garden for good. You might want to consider installing a fence around your garden beds. The height of the fence you need depends on what type of animal you are dealing with.
For example, to prevent animals like rabbits from accessing your garden, you need a 2-foot tall fence. On the other hand, larger animals like deer require a fence to be at least 6 to 8 feet tall.
You can also use raised beds to prevent smaller animals from being able to reach your plants. Additionally, chicken wire can be used as a makeshift fence if you are not interested in buying a pre-made one.
Locking Up Compost
If you are composting, you want to make sure you are locking it up. Animals like raccoons might be tempted to rifle through your compost in search of something to snack on. Thankfully, there are compost bins you can buy that come with a locking mechanism that keeps a wide variety of wildlife species out of them.
Motion-Activated Deterrents
Animals can be deterred from entering your garden by using motion-activated sprinklers and lights. When they approach the garden, the lights or sprinklers will turn on, spooking them away from your plants.
Using Plant Coverings
Plant coverings can protect your garden from animals who are looking to eat them. You can use bird netting, chicken wire, garden fabric, landscaping mesh, hardware cloth, or tree guards to protect your garden.
Covering your plants also protects them from harsh weather, giving you an added benefit to using them.
Maintaining Your Garden
Trimming and maintaining your garden regularly will prevent animals from nesting in it. For example, if you have bushes that are getting overgrown, they are the perfect location for animals to hide their young.
By keeping your garden maintained, you prevent wild animals from being able to use them as a hiding spot. Additionally, you should always pick up fallen fruit or vegetables that might attract animals who are looking for food.
Contacting a Wildlife Removal Company
Lastly, if you are dealing with frequent wildlife issues in your garden, you might need professional help. If you are growing native plants, you might be especially susceptible to visits from animals. Thankfully, a wildlife removal company can help you prevent animals from returning in the future.
We can trap and relocate any animals that have made your garden their home. After this is done, we can help you set up preventative measures that keep animals from coming back. For example, we can assist you with creating a fence around your garden, installing motion-activated lights, and more.
Get Connected to a Professional Animal Removal Service
If you are dealing with critters messing up your garden, it’s time to consider professional help. Wildlife removal companies like Nuisance Wildlife Rangers can trap and relocate animals away from your home, keeping you and the animals safe at the same time.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can solve your wildlife problems. We will provide you with a complimentary assessment to determine what services you’ll require.
