New garden - a couple of problems

Apologies if either of these problems has been aired before. I've been growing fruit and veg for some years now but I have just taken on a new plot after a house move and have encountered two problems I've never had before. Firstly, I wish to plant some strawberries for next year when I have cleared the ground. The gentleman on the neighbouring plot has some but loses them to squirrels. He nets his plants, but the animals just chew through the net. Might a metal-mesh cage be a solution? Are they obtainable or should I build one from scratch? I want to feed my wife and myself, not vermin. Secondly, although I have cleared and planted an area for vegetables, I have just started clearing the area for fruit. My neighbour keeps bees and I find that I am getting stung (13 times yesterday alone). I have heard that diluted peppermint oil on exposed skin makes a good repellant. Can anyone confirm this or advise on any other repellant? I don't want to discourage the bees from my plants, just from myself.

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner

You can get metal mesh cages as in rabbit hutches, but you'd probably find it much cheaper to build one from stuff from B&Q or similar.

Not sure about the bees

 

@Spruce might be able to help regarding the Bees

 

Welcome to GC @DavidC1951

I can't help you with the framing but a metal one sounds good. I have all my veg kept in frames, home made, due to where I live, it keeps everything out but only made from fine mesh which probably won't help you.

With regard to bees and wasps Peppermint essential oils is the one.......

Directions:

1. Peppermint mixture:

Combine equal parts of peppermint essential oil and water in a dish.

Rub a very small amount on your hair, arms, wrists and ankles or socks.

Do not to apply undiluted active ingredients to your skin. Do a skin test for irritation before applying.

It won't harm the bees but it will stop you getting stung

 

Many thanks for all the replies. This morning's work on the new fruit patch resulted in two stings, but my wife drove into town and brought back some peppermint oil, so I will make up a batch and use it tomorrow.

My neighbour is sure about the squirrels - he caught a couple of them under the net yesterday. I must say that I have grown strawberries before in an area with more than its fair share of both rodents and squirrels with few problems but a pest-control man in the next village says that squirrels can get a taste for strawberries if there is little other food for them. Keeping them out is about the only way to deal with them short of a 12-bore.

 

Hi

I dont keep a full colony in the garden any more because of what you have mentioned (stung) my neighbours would moan and one side have kids so its just a no no .
To be honest just as well you are not allergic or friends and family are not either ????

I would moan if it was me !!!! getting stung constantly and believe me 13 in one day is not good for you , nothing I know off that will stop bees stinging.

How close are they to your garden ?

Spruce

 

Thanks, Spruce. At the closest, they are about fifteen yards from my garden. Thankfully none of us is allergic, although my grandson does come up in blotches if bitten by midges. So far he hasn't been stung and stays away from that part of the property - more with the intention of avoiding being roped in to do some digging than to avoid being stung, I suspect. I went down to do some more clearing and to water some veg yesterday evening and tried the mixture of peppermint oil and water. It seems to work.