Pests in the Garden

Since planting the garlic, over the last couple of weeks I have had some issues with something pulling up the seedlings.  To say it was annoying was an understatement!

 

I had a look online for what it could be.  Initially I thought it was a cat, but as cats generally don't like garlic and I didn't find any droppings, I thought it may have been birds. However, the ground was scratched up a little and I didn't think birds could do that... so I came back to cats.

 

While looking online, I came across the idea of using some plastic forks in the garden to help deter cats... I figured even if it was birds, then it should hopefully work with them too.  I didn't want to go down the pesticide path, as I don't like the idea of using chemicals in the garden, especially if it will be food that we will eat. The forks seem to work quite well, and there have only been two instances of finding the garlic pulled out.

 

Forks in the garden - they do help!

 

 

However, it has since extended to pulling up some of the bokashi remains; mostly onion peels and egg shells, but it is so damn annoying.

 

I finally came to realise that I was going to have to go down the "ugly" path... and get a bird net. No matter what the animal is that is getting in there, the bird net should keep them out... birds or cats. I have propped them up by using stakes, but they don't seem to stick in the ground very well (hard clay really sucks!) so I have used the fence and one of the trees to help.

 

Bird netting - and ugly but necessary evil

 

Hopefully, all this will work, but only time will tell...