Garden devastated within weeks - holes

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by Marek, Sep 30, 2016.

  1. Marek

    Marek Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi all! I am new here ( found some similar topics throughout google, but didn't wanted to mess in other's topics ).

    It started as one-two small "holes" appearing every night/early morning. Yesterday we came back from our holiday ( 7 nights) and I... am just speechless ;/ I can see some squirrels , magpies, foxes in the area - not directly in my garden, but I can see them from time to time, but I just can't believe, that squirrel or magpie is able to make such a hole! This is Bristol area ( Kingswood). Both my neighbours are ok - looks like only my garden is affected. I would like to ask for some idea/help before installing CCTV. Four peoples are living here, and no trace of any animal etc!! So annoying ;/

     
  2. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    Squirrel, fox or rabbits I guess. A badger would make bigger holes. I suppose it could be an enthusiastic magpie after leatherjackets
     
  3. Marek

    Marek Apprentice Gardener

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    My friend just said she has same ( similar) holes made by dog. Is it possible that some dog could remember good spot to "dig" ?
     
  4. Jiffy

    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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    We have the same, badger will make holes like that, if the holes are being done at night then badger and may be a fox
     
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    • daitheplant

      daitheplant Total Gardener

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      One of my clients has the same problem, which is caused by a fox.
       
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I have squirrels that make similar holes, at this time of year they are burying food in the garden.
       
    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      We had similar done by badgers. I deterred them by spraying diluted Jeyes Fluid on the area and around the perimeter of the garden. It took a couple of applications done over two weeks. Apparently they don't like the smell. don't know if I would deter foxes and squirrels as well.

      @Zigs told me about the Jeyes Fluid treatment :blue thumb:
       
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      • Phil A

        Phil A Guest

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        My Daughter lives in Brizzle, (Southmead) Built up area, full of urbane badgers. She feeds them sometimes.
         
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          A friend of ours feeds the badgers (loads of them) and they really love sandwiches. So she gets stale sandwiches from the coffee shops.
           
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          • Marek

            Marek Apprentice Gardener

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            Hi . Thank you very much for all your comments and suggestions. After few months I just couldn't stand this and finally I've installed cctv... 2nd night after installation :
             
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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              Did you try the Jeyes Fluid treatment? :)
               
            • Palustris

              Palustris Total Gardener

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              You also need to find the point of entry and block it off. We lost almost all of our (like thousands)Tulip bulbs to them. I have had to put wire net fencing all the way round to stop them getting in. You should be able to see their paths. They are creatures of habit, so you need to break that habit somehow.
               
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              • silu

                silu gardening easy...hmmm

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                So are Deer! As per flaming usual most of my Camellias are now both leaf and flowerbudless:yikes:. I put Clematis netting round them but the Deer just pull it off the shrubs.They have had a good go at the Aubretia and browsed over most of the rest of the garden. Given up with so called deterrents like human hair which had zero effect. Would cost a fortune to fence the garden high enough to keep them out so just sigh/swear and accept it's part of living in the countryside:)
                 
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                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  We have a deer fence at the back. They still, occasionally, get through from the neighbours but it's not so easy for them nowadays as the plants between us have grown well enough.

                  We ran wire netting where the badgers were coming through and, after we started spraying the Jeyes as well, it stopped them trying to get round the wire.
                   
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                  • noisette47

                    noisette47 Total Gardener

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                    Hi silu, I tried hair to deter deer as well, with equally disappointing results. A combination of CDs and bars of cheap, smelly soap does work, though! The CDs glint, even at night, and the smell of the soap repels them. The other very effective deterrent is to place scarecrows made to look like French hunters around the garden, complete with fake guns :-)
                     
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