Protect your plants from these 3 common critters found in UK gardens
A biodiverse garden is a healthy garden, so if you find that yours enjoys regular visits from the local wildlife, you can rest assured that you’ve created a safe and flourishing habitat. Isn’t that a wonderful thing?
While biodiversity is always encouraged, it’s understandable if you’re worried about how the increased footfall (or pawfall, you could say!) might affect the more delicate areas of your garden. Some wildlife have a habit of digging around in beds and borders, using freshly laid soil as their litter box, or even eating young plants, which can be frustrating if you’re keen to maintain an attractive and thriving outdoor area.
Instead of driving animals away, you can preserve the level of wildlife in your garden while protecting your plants with a simple tool. Happy Plant’s Plant Protector is the no-chemical, non-toxic, 100% natural way to repel critters from your beds and borders. Completely humane, the Plant Protector is a simple bamboo coil that can be installed on the surface of soil in seconds, creating a physical deterrent for wild mammals, as well as pets (whether yours or your neighbours’), who may take an interest in your plants.
Here are three examples of common wildlife that you would expect to see in many UK gardens, and how they might interact with your plants.
Squirrels
Prolific in wooded areas, squirrels often venture into gardens where there is opportunity to gather food, such as from bird feeders and nests, flower beds, and even bins. These furry creatures have a taste for ornamentals, fruits and vegetables, including:
Apples
Pears
Tulip bulbs
Crocus corms
Berry fruits
Camellia and magnolia buds
While it’s impossible to stop squirrels from snacking on buds and fruits that grow on trees, you can protect your bulbs and surrounding plants from damage or squirrel theft with the Plant Protector. It may require positioning the Protectors closer together, but the squirrels will soon understand that it might be better to move on to their next destination, leaving your flower beds undisturbed.
Rabbits
We all know the story of Peter Rabbit and his penchant for radishes! While rabbits are adorable to look at and essential for ecosystems, they can inflict a great deal of damage to your veg patch in the blink of an eye, and they’re particularly fond of tender young plants.
Besides potatoes and plants in the onion family, wild rabbits will eat almost any vegetable plant. If you’re determined to protect your crops, the Plant Protector is the ideal solution. Fully flexible, it can be manipulated to fit into any shape of bed, including raised beds, trugs and pots, which can also be a target for rabbits if they sit at a low height.
Cats
Whether it’s your own cat, or a wandering feline from a home nearby, it’s almost impossible to prevent cats from entering your garden. If these slinky creatures get an urge to explore your space, they’ll do so whether they have to scale a fence or tree, slip through a crack in a wall or squeeze themselves through the spindles of a garden gate! This is especially the case if you have birds nesting in your trees or bushes, or mice and other rodents who scamper about behind your shed or round your compost pile.
When it comes to garden beds, many cats do have the instinct to dig around in the soil (especially if loose or freshly laid) and do their business. If it’s any consolation, they’ll try to keep the area ‘clean’ by covering up their leavings with soil again; however, you might be less sympathetic if you intend to garden there. In addition, if you’ve just planted some new plants, don’t be surprised to find them rearranged - defensive cats will often pull out new plants with their claws if they consider the area to be part of their territory.
The Plant Protector was created with inquisitive cats in mind. By installing these protectors in your beds, you can shield your plants (both new and old) and soil from cats. Like other animals, cats will see it as a physical barrier that they cannot cross, and so they will be resigned to finding a litter box elsewhere.
Deter pets and wildlife in the safest way
Happy Plant’s Plant Protector is safe for you, your family, and for pets and wildlife. Safeguard your plants while preserving biodiversity - your garden will thank you for it!
Read more about the Plant Protector and Our Story here