There are some types of furry critters that you may consider your friends such as dogs and cats. One of the many pleasures in life is being able to sit in your backyard and enjoy the sunshine while your golden retriever or German shepherd chases his favorite toy. Even your cat may want to come out and sun herself in the safety and security of your outdoor living space.
However, Virginia is home to quite a few other animals that you may not care to have trespassed on your lawn and in your vegetable gardens. You may find that large mammals and small mammals have taken up residence in your yard (or under it) and are wreaking havoc on the landscaping, lawn, and gardens.
At MowCow Lawn & Landscaping, we are the best lawn care service providers in Northern Virginia, and we pride ourselves on being able to care for all of our clients’ lawns, no matter the issues they are dealing with, including the presence of local wildlife in their yards.
If you have unwanted visitors in your yard who are devouring vulnerable plants and leaving gross pellet droppings in the lawn, our landscaping team can help! Contact us to find out how we can eliminate the large or small animals from disturbing your peaceful and serene backyard environment.
Common Types of Furry Critters and Garden Pests in Virginia
As a resident of Burke, Virginia, or the surrounding areas, you may have spotted some of the various wildlife species that call our state home. Some of the most common critters that tend to make their way into yards and garden centers throughout Burke, VA, include:
- Opossums
- Raccoons
- Rodents (mice and rats)
- Skunks
- Squirrels
- Groundhogs
- Coyotes
- Foxes
- Moles
- Muskrats
- Nutria
- Deer
Many of these creatures are more afraid of you than you are of them, but they are very good at sniffing out their next meal. Unfortunately, that meal often comes from your garden.
Keeping animals out of your landscaping and off of your lawn can be a fairly constant effort, but our team at MowCow Lawn & Landscaping has the knowledge and skills to keep these and other species away from your plants, vegetables, and lawn.
Ways of Keeping Critters out of Your Yard and Vegetable Garden
If you are looking for some quick ways to eliminate unwanted pests and smaller animals from your lawn, here are a few easy methods to discourage squirrels and other critters from visiting your home without an invitation:
Remove Bird Feeders
Many small mammals love to get the food you place in bird feeders. Although many feeders are up high, the animals tend to be great climbers and can reach the feeders that are feet high.
The best way to get animals such as squirrels to find other areas to eat their meals is by getting rid of the feeders meant for birds. Without the feeders, they have no reason of visiting you.
Use Food-Based Repellents
Because most of the animals that end up in your yard are looking for their next meal, that means they will be sniffing out the items in your yard.
If you use a spray bottle and spritz the plants or other feeding areas with solutions of hot pepper sauce or putting castor oil into their tunnels (especially in the case of gophers), they will be less likely to continue searching your yard for food. Coffee grounds can also be used in gardens to prevent rabbits from feeding on vegetables.
Eliminate Food Sources
As we have said, animals are looking for food. One of the most obvious ways of getting these animals to pass by your home is by eliminating the food sources that they have come to rely on. Things like food scraps in pet bowls should be taken inside every day, and your trash can lids should be securely attached to the bin so that the attractive trash inside is unattainable.
Make Chicken Wire Fencing
If you have a problem with rabbits eating your vegetables in the garden, you need rabbit fencing. But it is not enough to just erect a short fence and call it a day. They can easily dig under that type of fencing.
The fence which can keep a rabbit out will need to be at least 2 feet in height to prevent them from jumping over it and extending at least 6 inches below the soil. It should be made of wire mesh so that there is no risk of them squeezing through the fencing either.
Other Kinds of Deterrents
Depending on the kinds of animals that you are dealing with, you may have to go outside the box to find good deterrents. For instance, if you are dealing with mice or rats, you may consider getting a cat. If you are dealing with soil-based insects, you could think about utilizing beneficial nematodes in your soil or compost pile to deter those pests.
In other situations, you could consider spreading predator urine in the areas where an unwanted animal often forages for food or place some human hair in an area so that your scent is dominant and the animal will be turned off.
At MowCow Lawn & Landscaping, we are well-versed in all kinds of animal deterrents, and we will be happy to point out what could be considered a food source in your yard or what an animal may be attracted to.
Contact Our Expert Lawn Care Specialists
If you are dealing with unwanted animals in your backyard and want to find out ways of eliminating the problem, contact MowCow Lawn & Landscaping in Burke, Virginia. Our team has the knowledge, skills, and experience to keep your lawns and garden safe from a variety of animals so that you can watch each plant grow up healthy and vibrant.
Contact us today to find out more about the various animal wildlife common to Virginia and the best ways to keep them away from your precious plants.
