|
|
Post by susan on Nov 21, 2012 21:50:01 GMT -5
Since Mike isn't working he has the time and energy to help with the garden more, so this year we put a whole lot more effort into getting it ready for winter. He went through with a swing blade and cut down all the high weeds, pulled up all the tomato cages and trellises, then mowed it with the hand mower that has a bagger on it. Today he tilled it. We're hoping that by getting rid of all the weeds and turning the soil those nasty little voles won't have as good a place to live. I've also left the gate wide open so Sarah and the other cats can go in and hunt. I figure they'll probably potty in that soft dirt, but I guess that's my price to pay for them having access to the critters.
Susan
|
|
|
|
Post by Granny Smith on Nov 21, 2012 21:52:04 GMT -5
Susan, did a fence keep the cats out before? A fence wouldn't even slow down any cat I've known.
|
|
|
|
Post by Valerie on Nov 21, 2012 22:09:40 GMT -5
We had one cat who use to leap completely over the electric chicken fence, just so he could potty in the chicken yard! He quit doing that when he accidentally got closed in the chicken coop all night, though.  |
|
|
|
Post by susan on Nov 22, 2012 9:20:34 GMT -5
I have a fence of 2ft chicken wire. It's mainly to keep the ground hog out, but the cats are too dumb to know how to go over it unless they're being chased by a dog.
Susan
|
|
|
|
Post by Granny Smith on Nov 23, 2012 21:26:20 GMT -5
I'm surprised the groundhog doesn't dig under it. The ones around here are big and horrible.
|
|
|
|
Post by susan on Nov 24, 2012 8:50:34 GMT -5
Last spring Mike cleared all of the honeysuckle vines off of the west end and cleared the brush back in that side outside of the fence. It looked nice, but that's where Mr. Groundhog lives. Sure enough, the garden starts coming up and he got under the fence and ate the few pinto beans that came up. I stuffed a piece of broken cement block under it, then used tent stakes to hold down the fence in that area. He hasn't come back yet and the vines have grown back. I told Mike to leave the vines as long as they are on the fence and not encroaching on the garden.
Susan
|
|
|
|
Post by Cyngbaeld on Nov 24, 2012 9:13:59 GMT -5
I read once that mice won't cross a wide strip of gravel with no weeds. That might be true of voles since they are only field mice. Don't think it will stop gophers or groundhogs.
|
|
