HOW TO CRITTER PROOF YOUR URBAN GARDEN

[@cindylou2313]

Details on how to make the hoop/chicken wire cover would be great ☺️

[@marilynberry9651]

So much less expensive than having a deer fence built! This is the video I've been waiting for! And it also protects against the other critters and insects! Loving it!

[@tomk2005]

The mesh won't let bees in to pollinate your tomatoes, peppers, etc, so the cover you choose depends on the crop you are covering.

[@kacornish1]

Tomatoes and peppers are self-pollinating and do not necessarily need bees for pollination. What you are saying would be true for squash or Mellons, however.

[@gissellewockenfuss9975]

perhaps not the easiest idea...but get a beehive and allow them access some of the day or easier yet plant flowers that bees cant resist

[@deepwaters2334]

Plant things like Oregano, basil, and Borage to keep pests away.

[@1TalldrinkH2O]

You have very good ideas and I need to implement some of them. I have very clever squirrels that open things and look for little cracks in my defenses. I had bird netting over my vegetables. The squirrel went around the edges every day to see where I didn't have it firmly attached to the ground and then snuck in and did naughty squirrel things. I made improvements and I told the main culprit not to get in my garden and her response was, "challenge accepted!!" I told her again not to get in my garden and her response was, "I will investigate your limitations right away!"

[@friend4life888]

"naughty squirrel things"😆

[@crushivintage]

The veggie mesh is a great tip. I have squirrels and voles eating stuff in the garden. I didn't even know it existed. Thank you!

[@litsci1877]

The insect netting is boss. I use it in my garden in Iowa -- I've got a big hoop house, and I don't like getting attacked by wasps and carpenter bees while I'm gardening, so I just covered the whole thing in netting and have an 8' peak, and I garden in there. You don't get the moisture or heat problems you wind up with from poly sheeting, and the fact that wind blows through it means the structure doesn't go over in high winds. It actually protects plants from sun scald, too. The beds inside the hoop house also have 1/4" hardware cloth at the bottom to deter voles. Last summer I also used half-inch hardware cloth around the low beds, and probably should do again before the rabbits figure out how to tunnel under the netting. Not a huge fan of bird netting unless you're okay with it being decorated with rotting bird corpses. They get tangled in there and then that's it.

[@teresamartin6580]

Do you have a picture of this? Would love to see it but don't know how

[@shakuntaladevi9297]

Chicken wire cover Bird netting Veggie mesh netting

[@Thisisit120]

I like your last idea the best. For a woman that will be the easiest for me to do thank you for putting out this video😊

[@lagardenz1546]

You're welcome! #letitgrow!

[@swansonchoo]

I love your chicken wire on hoops idea. I’m on the West Coast and my property has been plagued with Norway rats ever since I bought the house 25 years ago. I gave up a vegetable garden long ago because I’d put in all the hard work and be left with nothing, but I think your method might work. I wish you had spent a little more time on the details of how you made it and showed some close-ups. A close-up of the veggie mesh would be helpful, too. However, the veggie mesh won’t protect you from rats. They can chew through anything except metal. Finally, I bought a lot of bird netting to protect the fruit on my fruit trees, but no longer use it because I learned that birds can become ensnared in it and die - from the sun, thirst, and even predators. We need to come up with a means of protecting our gardens from birds that won’t harm them.

[@lagardenz1546]

Yes...bird netting has a big downside and I've since pulled back usage to smaller areas/plants to avoid bird ham. Rats and squirrels are the worst here in West LA (we moved 2 yrs ago) and I had to take on a bigger protection approach. If you check out my January 6th post on Instagram, you can see my critter proof drive way enclosure. 3 months in NO RATS/NO SQUIRRELS and safe for birds + room for pollinators. I'm really excited that all veg/greens are now protects and surprisingly it isn't a total eye sore. instagram.com/la_gardenz/

[@TroySwezey]

What if one put the vegi mesh over the chicken wire frame? This would eliminate the stress of the fabric lying on the plant and prevent squirrels and moths and ??? from damaging the crop. The only challenge is allowing bees to do their thing.

[@lagardenz1546]

It's a great combo but you just want to check what you are growing if they need pollination-it won't be helpful (no beneficial pollinator access) but if you are growing lettuces, kale, etc. you will be very well protected. Good luck with critters!! #savethegarden

[@tinal7573]

Thanks! Been looking all over for squirrel solutions. I've never heard of veggie mesh, thanks for the video.

[@seanduggan276]

Good luck with squirrel defense!!

[@tbyrd1515]

Thank you-very simple ideas to try!

[@seanduggan276]

Good luck and happy growing!

[@latigra4145]

Great video, thanks.

[@crushivintage]

tjamks for the lesson!

[@Thorpean]

Great video, loved and really informative! Gave me some great ideas. UK squirrels are hard to stop in veggie gardens....the wire mesh looks like the way to go!

[@seanduggan276]

Good luck-the wire is definitely a great deterrent. Veggie mesh is also worth a try.

[@SistahRev]

Thanks so much!! VERY helpful!! (P.S. I live near Philadelphia, but my Dad grew up in Brooklyn and I grew up in Queens!❤️)

[@M1STYWORLD]

Great to keep cats out too Thank you for sharing

[@lorrainegartrell1907]

❤not a negative. Great idea

[@FridaDina]

Great tips! Thanks.

[@1TalldrinkH2O]

Bird netting was the most effective for me but frustrating because I didn't have a frame and I had to pin the edges down. I told the squirrels to stay out and their response was, "challenge accepted!" Every day they walked around the perimeter of the netting looking for a weak spot and occasionally found one. The bird netting slowed down the bees from getting in to do their work because they didn't like bumping into the netting with their wings.

[@theclarendongroupii437]

Iguanas are the bane of my life. Is the veggie netting effective against the iguanas

[@1TalldrinkH2O]

@@theclarendongroupii437 Equantus can get fairly large and seem to be strong. They shouldn't be able to chew through it or anything so if it is pinned really firm it should it should significantly slow them down.

[@JB10008d]

can you mix the chicken wire rig with vegemesh attached to the chicken wire??

[@lagardenz1546]

Yes.. I did this a bit. Building hoops and just laying veggie mesh on top. It's a balance when I had problems with aphids I would cover with veggies mesh but I would remove once aphids issue had passed, so beneficial pollinators can do their work passing through chicken wire (Bees, etc). Good luck!!

[@raynayvalles583]

Macgyver squirrels! hahaha! Thanks for this video. Looking for new ways to build a garden cover so simple, even I can do it.

[@thelazynortherngardener7607]

Thanks!

[@JeffLeites]

The chicken wire and netting will keep the squirrels out, but rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter, and chew through the netting. Mice can get through a hole the size of a dime. I don't know about the veggie mesh, but I assume rats and mice can chew through it too. I'm having a terrible problem this year. :-( I'm going to try making an enclosure with hardware cloth for my peppers. Hope 1/2" is good enough. It cost a lot more than chicken wire.

[@seanduggan276]

Yeah, mice are tricky because they are so small. I found it really depends on the food I'm growing, most of the beds they ignored but for my compost bins I had to go to a pretty fin wire mesh (two layers) to make holes mouse proof. It really helped, still had a few rogue mice but was able to get prevent them settling in. Good luck, it's a battle.

[@seanduggan276]

Hi Jeff, Nothing is full proof. Chicken wire will keep out large critter but small mice will get throw. I would recommend giving veggie mesh a try since it also offers protection against aphids and other non-beneficial insects. Good luck!

[@litsci1877]

Hope it worked out -- I'd have recommended 1/4".

[@robinstephens6889]

Use 1/4 inch haedware cloth

[@kmac4124]

"something is eating my pepper and tomato "newly planted 2 days ago"...4/17/2022 seedlings during the daytime ...i'm losing my mind brother >...i'm gonna try that VEGGIE MESH !!! thank you !!!

[@seanduggan276]

Good luck Kenneth! #defend

[@apexpixel8708]

thanks helped alot

[@ericmendez8722]

Anyone concerned about lead in the galvanized wiring?

[@fulanichild3138]

My very first home-grown pineapple bloomed this year and produced a beautiful little softball size fruit. When it had turned mostly yellow, I decided to give it one more day to ripen. Imagine my disappointment when I found just the skin lying on the ground! I suspect raccoons, so next year I'll have to build a Fort Knox style enclosure. lol. Raccoons are strong and persistent.

[@lagardenz1546]

Racoons are tough, chicken wire has kept them out but man they are tenacious. Good luck. #fortknoxyourveg

[@mylittlerebornlove8851]

Will this keep cats away from the garden too?

[@seanduggan276]

yes-this should keep curious cats out too.

[@seanduggan276]

Yes. Unless you cat is carrying wire cutters you will be cat proofed. Good luck!

[@mylittlerebornlove8851]

@@seanduggan276 lol. 😂

[@2021-j2d]

Can pollinators still get in to do their business? I don’t want to keep them out. Just the birds from berries and mostly the damaging squirrels.

[@seanduggan276]

With bird netting and chicken wire yes, the veggie mesh no. So I only use the veggie mesh selectively, mostly for greens like lettuces/kale, etc

[@cherylbates9798]

Will this stop raccoons

[@lagardenz1546]

Unfortunately raccoons you'll need a stronger wire. I would recommend 2x4 welded wire which is stronger and I've heard is effective at keeping raccoons out. Good luck!

[@cherylbates9798]

@@lagardenz1546 thank you I am a new gardener and they are digging everything

[@kidcassidy8333]

Wonderful idea but I couldn't finish the video due to the lip smacking it started to irritate me lol but great idea

[@bradanderson4308]

The lip smacking was driving me up the wall. Only made it half way thru the video.

[@weknowhisvoice9296]

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[@michellebuffardi5487]

thank you! super helpful. I can't find you on Insta/FB -- how can I follow you or contact you? (I did subscribe, but looking for other socials)

[@seanduggan276]

Sorry for delay...we are now in Los Angeles..and can be found at LA_Gardenz.

[@dsb227]

Great tips! Thank you!

[@Katy809RD]

Great tips, thanks!