After putting so much work into getting your garden up and running, it makes sense that you’d want to take steps to protect it from pests, the elements, and any nefarious individuals who might vandalise or steal from your precious plot.
Of course, you don’t want to be doing all that back-bending labour just to have your harvest destroyed by a few rodents or a mischievous teenager looking for trouble. Regardless of what you’re trying to safeguard against, here are several simple things you can do to keep your garden intact and thriving year-round:
1. Install Fencing to Keep the Critters Out
It should go without saying that every garden should be surrounded by adequate fencing, but choosing the right type of fencing is important as well. Slatted fence panels are particularly effective at keeping pests out because they have smaller openings than typical picket fences. You could also consider adding an additional layer of chain link or chicken wire fencing for extra protection. Ideally, you’ll want to create a strong barrier that keeps animals out while still letting angular sunlight in.
2. Use Pest Deterrents
Sprinkling natural pest deterrents around the exterior of your plot is a great way to keep the roaches, rodents, and other pests from wandering into your garden. Some gardeners even use predator urine (i.e. – wolf urine) as it has a remarkable ability to deter smaller animals. This might sound extreme, but it’s readily available in many hunting and fish & game shops.
3. Add a Simple Surveillance Setup
Adding a simple 1-camera surveillance setup to your garden is a cheap and easy way to make sure you’re able to check on it at all times. You can link the video feed to your mobile device and check up on your garden via the internet while you’re on the move.
Fortunately, IP cameras and DVRs have become incredibly cheap in recent years, so anyone should be able to afford a simple yet effective surveillance setup for their garden. Another benefit of having eyes on your garden is that you’ll be able to see where pests are getting in and address any weaknesses in the garden’s security in retrospect.
4. Consider Getting a Greenhouse
Building a greenhouse can be a fun project that leaves you with a more protected and efficient garden overall. With a greenhouse you’ll be sealing out pests, vandals, thieves, and other nuisances, while also protecting your plants from harsh elements like torrential rainfall. Plus, another one of the benefits of a greenhouse is that you also have the option of adding supplemental lights that can provide additional lumens after the sun has gone down. Plants in their vegetative cycle can greatly benefit from extended lighting during the shorter days of the season.
The Importance of Adequate Garden Protection
In closing, leaving your garden unprotected will leave open the possibility for intruders and mishaps of all kinds, and having to watch all of your hard work go down the drain due to a lack of a few simple security measures would be devastating to say the least. Thus, to protect your efforts and ensure a bountiful harvest, be sure to implement at least a couple of the security tips given above in your home garden.
