It can be quite frustrating to find out next spring that mice, voles, deer and other wildlife decided to use your landscape for their dinner.

 

There are several things that can be done now to help prevent this problem over the winter months.

Mice and voles may be small but they can do a lot of damage. Over the winter months under the cover of snow they can ruin a lawn or easily destroy fruit trees by eating the tender bark off the tree. If they girdle the bark around the trunk of a tree the tree will not be able to bring up water and nutrients causing it to die. Steps can be taken to help eliminate this problem.

 

Mice need shelter, food, and protection from predators in order to survive. By taking these away you will make it much harder for the mice to survive. First remove any grass from around trees and shrubs making it harder for mice to hide in and nest in. If you live near a forested area, create a one meter berm where all grass and debris is cleared, between the wooded area and your yard. This will make it more difficult for mice coming into your yard from the bushes as well as take away nesting materials. Fruit trees have tender bark that mice enjoy eating, especially in the winter under the snow. There are mouse guards available in the garden centre that will prevent the mice from getting to the bark of the tree. It is an adjustable plastic coil that wraps itself around the trunk of the tree. Start at the base of the tree at ground level and work your way up. It should go at least one meter up the tree trunk, so on big trees you may need more then one. In the spring the mouse guard is removed and can be reused again next fall. I noticed that there was a large mouse population this summer and this could lead to a lot of damage this winter.

 

Over the winter when the lawns are covered by snow voles will tunnel and eat the grass and next spring you are left with ruts in the lawn. To help stop this from occurring mow the grass short about 4-5 cm in the fall before the snow starts.

 

Last fall we planted some tulip bulbs along with other bulbs around the house. This spring the tulips did not come up because the squirrels ate all the bulbs. They did not eat the Fritillaria, daffodils or alliums bulbs all of which are deer and squirrel resistant. If you have a problem with squirrels and want to plant tulips perhaps placing some wire mesh over the planted area will help stop the squirrels from digging into the soil.

 

Deer and moose can also be a problem for yards and gardens. There are different options that can be used to prevent damage to plants. The most permanent one would be to construct a fence of at least 2.5 meters tall around your property or the area you want to protect and this will keep them out of your yard. This is not always an option as it can be expensive and also is not very attractive. If deer are a real problem year round you may want to choose plant material that they do not want to eat.

 

Plants that have thorns such as Barberry or are fuzzy such as Lambs Ears or have leathery foliage are not favourites for deer. Also bitter tasting or strong tasting plants such as chives, onions, garlic and mint. Deer seem to prefer some plants over others. Cedars, fruit trees, roses, pansies, crocus, tulips, hostas, are among some of their favourite food sources and you may want to stay away from these.

 

If deer are a seasonal visitor that only come in the winter you can protect your trees and shrubs, by covering them with burlap or reemay over the winter months. There is also a product available at the garden centre called ‘Bobbex’ which is a deer, moose, elk repellent. It is a foliar spray that is not harmful to plants, animals or humans. Consisting of natural ingredients that mimic predator scents and is awful tasting, it stops deer by scent and taste.

 

This fall, protect your landscape so that next spring you won’t be disappointed!