Donât know what critter... could even be a roaming dog IF you are using organic amendments that contain blood meal, fish emulsion, or other interesting âfoodâ... My dogs made quite a mess of some newly planted pots a few years ago when I added a granulated organic fertilizer at potting time...

 

Beth

Z5 northern MI

From: J*@aol.com

Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 9:50 AM

To: p*@hort.net

Subject: Re: varmints

 

Hi, Kitty:

 

Woodchuck (ground hogs) can do extreme damage but I'm not sure if they're nocturnal. They love vegies but I haven't had any mess much with perennial foliage. I would think raccoons, skunks and opossums could do any of the pot damage you described. Skunks generally leave a scent wherever they go and can set up housekeeping for a long time even with large dogs around. You may have more than one animal tearing things up.

 

Have you used any cocoa hull mulch or fish emulsion in the pots or bed?

 

I presume this new bed you describe is the same one that had you nearly prostrate after creating it a few weeks ago. Doesn't it just figure it would have to be that one?

 

Wish I could be of more help.

 

Joanie Anderson

 

 

 

In a message dated 7/13/2011 6:15:08 A.M. Central Daylight Time, kmrsy@comcast.net writes:

I've always had indoor-outdoor cats until now and attributed the lack of
garden destruction to them.
Now I have indoor cats that I worry about letting out for fear they mightn't
come back, get lost.

Recently something has been tearing up my nursery pots.  Digging holes and
sometimes completely removing the plants. This morning I found an entire
corner, about 3 sq feet, of a new bed all torn up.  And I noticed mud in the
water dish I leave for a stray cat that sometimes comes by.  That last item
I know could be raccoons.  But raccoons have never gotten into pots or tore
up beds.  I once had a skunk tear up some new plantings looking for grubs
but he moved on after only one night.  Whatever this is it is returning each
night for more destruction.

Any ideas?  What can I do that won't cost me an arm & a leg?

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5

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