Tired of watering, I planted my last gomphrena and my precious “Pinball Wizard” carnation. It’s not the best time, I know.

I thought that watering them weekly (after establishment) was a lot better than watering them daily. I didn’t realize the bigger threat would be the mysterious creature that has dug up them up.

When people talk about animals damaging their plants, they typically are referring to deer. We may not realize our green landscape may draw other plant damaging creatures, as well.

We should know to cage our trees to protect them from deer and porcupines. But smaller plants can be caged, too.

There are more attractive options such as cloches, which are bell shaped cages, covered with a fine wire. For a longer shape, like that of a raised bed, you can build a frame and wrap it with chicken wire.

To avoid completely enclosing the plants, consider an electric fence. How high to put the wires depends on what you are trying to repel. A simple wire at three to four inches will repel armadillos. Wires set at five and 10 inches will repel normal racoons. For clever racoons, set a second fence about a foot away, with wires that alternate in height from the first fence.

I do not think an electric fence would be sufficient to keep deer out. They are too hungry. Small creatures like squirrels or rabbits can slip under or hop through at just the right spot for a wire electric fence.

If trying to protect plants from these, try a fence made with electric netting. Use the kind labeled for chickens, at least two feet high.

If a fence is aesthetically unpleasing, try a motion detector water sprinkler. These activate when a varmint or someone else’s pet is in the area, startling the creature with a surprise burst of water. I can imagine thirsty animals intentionally setting these off this year, so they are better saved for when it is wetter.

To protect a fruit tree, we not only have to protect the trunk, but the crown as well. Netting will block the greatest variety of creatures but isn’t user-friendly.

I used leftover bale wrap to net my blackberries, but I didn’t have the plants properly trellised, so they got tangled in the netting and there were many holes which the mockingbirds quickly found.

Fruit that was just barely inside the net got scavenged as if the net wasn’t there. I was more successful the year prior when I netted my tomatoes. Like this year, the fruits on the end got pecked, but the fruits on the inside of the canopy were fine.

If you’re only worried about squirrels and racoons, baffles can prevent them from climbing further up. Baffles can be just a slick piece of metal at least 24 inches long, temporarily fastened around a tree, or a cone that they cannot reach across. They need to be installed six feet or however high as you can to prevent the animal from jumping over them onto the tree.

Squirrels and racoons can divebomb fruit trees from nearby fences, roofs or trees, so don’t bother with a baffle if one of these are in range. 

Hanging CDs in trees, bars of soap, human hair, dog hair, and ultrasonic repellers do not work consistently to repel wildlife. Repellant sprays will work in greener times, but need to be reapplied every one to two weeks, and the spray formulation you are using needs to be changed every now and then.

Kites and fake owls for repelling birds from crops can be effective, but need to be moved often so the birds think it is real.

When we cannot protect the plant and the damage is frustrating, trapping and removal should be considered. City residents can contact animal control, and either have them trap the animal for you or sign a trap agreement with the city to catch it yourself. Those who live outside city limits, can use more permanent methods. Just keep in mind local hunting regulations and if it is a great spot, another animal will move in.

After replanting my gomphrena for the second time, I put a metal coffee can with the bottom cut out around it. Whatever it was dug around the outside of the can, but the plant wasn’t uprooted.

I repeated it with the precious carnation and had further success.

Now my plants only need to worry about the heat and me forgetting to water them again.

For any plant-related questions, feel free to call me at 830-997-3452 or email Elizabeth.mcmahon@ag.tamu.edu.

Fredericksburg Standard P.O. Box 1639 Fredericksburg, TX 78624-4228 830-997-2155 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM M-F

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