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Centennial, Co.

My pumpkins were destroyed last season by mice. I am skeptical of using poison this year. Any suggestions? (Other than sticking to container tomatoes!!!) :( We have neighbor dogs that I worry about. Help!
Thanks!

3/24/2015 2:17:26 PM

New England

dryer sheets

3/24/2015 2:35:52 PM

Littlerock, WA

I put my baby fruits onto large squares of conveyor belt material that lets water through, but mice can't chew through it. It's called mill fabric. Most rodent problems come from them burrowing under the fruit and chewing. In the fall last year, I had rodents chewing on the bottom edges of the fruit. I plan to put dollar store snakes around my pumpkin and maybe even the fake owls.

3/24/2015 4:43:09 PM

Central NY

U could try an electronic noise emitter(a good one)...or a couple cats

3/24/2015 4:57:51 PM

Colorado

get a bunch of cheap wooden mouse traps-you can really drop the population if mice are the problem -voles try burying a coffee can flush with the garden soil,fill 60% with water suspend some peanuts over the opening.

3/24/2015 4:59:35 PM

France

The cat's !! Its a good méthod

3/24/2015 5:51:55 PM

50 Acres

I spread cayenne pepper and moth balls around my pumpkins. But a nieghbours cat also patrols the garden.

3/24/2015 6:12:55 PM

norway , maine

toy snakes and decoy owls work...you just gotta keep moving them around

3/24/2015 6:49:51 PM

South Hero, VT

Rat bait, mothballs, traps, and my neighbor's cat. It's done the job for the past 3 years.

3/24/2015 6:54:50 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Last year I thought the flood would have drowned all the mice and didn't put out any poison. Big mistake as a mouse took out my only surviving AG. I will be using fox urine to repel them and poison to get the ones that aren't scared off by the fox.

3/24/2015 9:14:08 PM

Waterville,Ohio

Take five gallon buckets and cut small slits in the edge big Enof for the mice to fit through. Put d-con under the bucket weigh it down with rocks.
You can also use tent stakes to hold it down

3/24/2015 9:20:33 PM

Upa Creek, MO

As suggested, sand on mill fabric. Then take a white sheet to cover the pumpkin and tuck it under every edge EACH day as the pumpkin grows. You can really tuck it under if on sand, but it's critical you adjust everyday. I have had zero mice problems in 4 years. I also have used the old school traps as needed. I won't use poison since I'd be poisoning any hawks etc that eat the mice after eating poison.

3/24/2015 10:23:26 PM

need to find some real alley cats ears torn half off cats that will bite
I have some cats wonder thru patch who knows where they come from corn fields near by maybe there ugly and mean more than once I seen them jump in air pounce down and get a mole and run away heres a tip cats cant resist a pile of sand if you know what I mean

3/24/2015 10:42:12 PM

Central Illinois

I put wind fencing in a plastic barrel over the winter it had a net bag full of mothballs in the bottom, there was a huge mouse nest next to it when I looked last week, so I am not convinced that moth balls work.

3/25/2015 7:58:15 AM

Hanover,Ontario,Canada

I have spent Feb and Mar outside Dade City Florida. The home owners here use a miniature windmill weather vane to keep the moles out of their lawns. I guess it is the vibration that works in this case. Anyone else had any experience with this method?

3/27/2015 10:28:10 AM

Wisconsin

I use a product called Terad 3. It gives mice a lethal dose of vitamin D and is not likely to cause any secondary poisoning. Put the bait blocks inside of 1-1/2" PVC pipe cut about 8 inches long. Place the pipes right along side of your pumpkin. It protects the bait from the elements and other animals. It also gives the little buggers a "false sense of security" while eating it. Good luck

3/27/2015 8:10:37 PM