Groundhogs are basically woodchucks that have a huge appetite. They can eat a whole garden very quickly. Are you also worried these relatives of squirrels are going to eat up your plants? Have groundhogs hogged up a significant portion of flowers in your garden? Are you trying to find ways to get rid of these creatures and protect your plants?

The tips given below are some ways to protect your garden:

  1. Fencing

The most basic form of repelling any unwanted guest is to set up a fencing system. Groundhogs can usually jump to heights and tunnels which are at a low level, so you need to establish tall and good fencing to make sure groundhogs do not enter your garden and eat your plants.

  • Use a wire of chicken which is preferably 6 feet tall or more. Also, get five-foot posts.
  • Level the wire deep (12 inches) into the ground so that groundhogs cannot create tunnels.
  • Bind the fencing to the foot posts except for the one that is on top. That way they will not be able to climb on it.

  1. Relocate

Have you ever tried to set a trap for the mouse in your house? Did you know the same trap can be set for groundhogs as well? Well, yes! Ever since traditional times, catching and releasing of animals have been a popular way of repelling these creatures by making them lose their path towards you.

  • Remember that groundhogs are wild creatures.  To implement the catch and release method, you need to take all adequate self-protection.
  • Try to wear gloves that are sturdy and ensure that you pick the trap only with its handles.
  • Spend a good amount of time to wash these traps to wear out any human odor.
  • Groundhogs have a strong sense of smell so any human scent on the trap will only make them not come near your trap. Groundhogs are smart. They might use their mind in playing around with a weight on your trap to know the trick you are using against them. Hence, try to put some heavyweight on the trap so that the groundhogs are not able to fool you.
  • Be human enough to keep an ample amount of food and water in the trap so that the groundhog is not left to starve for days.
  • Further, wash the trap since the animal might excrete in your trap once you set them free in a remote location.

  1. Garden Maintenance

We all know that in order to drive out all ill elements like germs and bacteria, cleanliness and self-maintenance are important. To drive away groundhogs, you might as well have to adopt the same technique

  • Do not have idle wooden piles in your garden. Remove all dried bushes or any place that might serve as a shelter to these creatures.
  • Organic repellents can be used to prevent groundhogs. These products are available in the form of granules and vegetables so you can purchase them.
  • It is important to know that these repellents are to be applied to the stems and leaves of your plants and not anywhere else.
  • These animals are shy and will avoid noisy places. Use functional products like wind chimes, pinwheels, Swiss bells or any functional noisy products to ensure these creatures stay away.

TIPS

  • Groundhogs do not like humans so you can scatter human hair or clothes in your gardens.
  • You can also use sprinkle pepper on your plants as if they do not like a certain taste, they will leave your plants alone.

How do I keep groundhogs from eating my plants?

Buy chicken wire (at least six feet tall) and five-foot posts. Bury the wire twelve inches deep to prevent tunneling. Attach the fencing to the posts except for the top foot. Bend that away from your garden to keep groundhogs from climbing over it.

What smells do groundhogs hate?

Plants as deterrents

Plants with strong fragrances, such as lavender, will keep groundhogs out of your garden. The Farmers’ Almanac says groundhogs also dislike the smell of these herbs: mint, sage, basil, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme, chives and oregano.

What is a natural way to get rid of groundhogs?

5 Natural Ways To Get Rid of Groundhogs
  1. Epsom Salts. Epsom salts sprinkled near or around the burrow entrances or exits will keep the groundhog away.
  2. Castor Oil.
  3. Human Hair Clippings.
  4. Soiled Kitty Litter.
  5. Offensive Scents.

Will Epsom salts deter groundhogs?

Epsom Salt– One way to deter groundhogs from eating your plants is to sprinkle Epsom salt on the soil. Groundhogs do not enjoy the taste of Epsom salt, and they will be discouraged from eating the plants.

What can I use to keep groundhogs out of my garden?

Groundhogs hate the smell of garlic and pepper. To deter them from ever returning to your garden, crush some garlic and pepper and throw it into their burrows. Do this day after day until they flee. You can also make a garlic and pepper spray to spray your vegetables.

Will vinegar keep groundhogs away?

Mix ammonia with washing detergent, vinegar, hot pepper and soap and pour the mixture down each hole. This may have to be repeated for a few days until the groundhogs go away. Apply ammonium mixture around the fence to prevent groundhogs from coming in. This may have to be repeated if it gets washed off.

Does baking soda eliminate groundhogs?

Unfortunately, as there are mixtures like baking soda and confectioner sugar with a dash of water that can rid your property of ants, there are no kitchen solution remedies to get rid of groundhogs. You can create lethal traps meant to kill groundhogs.

What will eliminate groundhogs?

Smoke kills the groundhog while it is inside the burrow. The easiest way is to buy gas bombs and fill the burrow up. They get sold at garden centers and online. Make sure they are inside the hole before fumigating.

How deep do groundhogs dig?

They dig burrows that can be 6 feet (1.8 meters) deep, and 20 feet (6 m) wide. These underground homes can also have two to a dozen entrances, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

Will human urine deter groundhogs?

Groundhogs do not like the smell of human urine. A gross, but highly effective repellent is to collect urine in milk jugs and pour a bit at the entrance to the burrow every few days.

Will bubble gum eliminate groundhogs?

Noel Falk, the “Plant Doctor” had recommended using “Double Bubble” brand bubble gum to eliminate groundhogs. Supposedly groundhogs love this particular brand of bubble gum, but once they eat it, it gums up their insides and ultimately kills them.

How long does it take bubble gum to eliminate groundhogs?

If ground hogs are eating the gum, they will bring the empty papers to the surface which make it easy to see that you are getting results. It will take 6 or 7 days before it will kill the hog and he will usually come out of his hole to die in close proximity to the hole.

How many groundhogs live in a burrow?

The average groundhog excavates over 700 pounds of dirt digging just one den, and a single groundhog may have four or or five dens scattered across its territory, moving in and out of them as crops and weather change.

Will ammonia get rid of groundhogs?

Sudsy Ammonia or Cloudy Ammonia is commonly used to repel away the groundhogs. If you do not want to buy it from a store, you can always make the repelling solution at home. Mix two tablespoons of detergent in a quarter cup of water. Pour the solution made at home or purchased from the store in the burrows.

Does Irish Spring soap keep groundhogs away?

Dial deodorant soap, and Irish Spring soap contains “tallow” which repels deer. Drill holes in the soap so that you can run a string through the soap to hang them from trees, or the fence erected to get rid of groundhogs.

Do groundhogs like peanut butter?

Groundhogs are vegetarians, though they will eat insects in times of absolute necessity. Since they enjoy plants so much, most baits are derived from berries, greens, and other sweet juices. Sometimes companies will include human foods like peanut butter, since they have strong scents and include a lot of sugar.

Can groundhogs dig through concrete?

Groundhogs prefer to dig their burrows against structures that provide overhead stability; in Michigan, this usually means around foundations, under sheds and decks, under brick pavers, patios and anything with a concrete slab. Because the hole opened up against the foundation, this allowed water to seep in.