How to Keep Your Garden Safe Against Pests and Wild Animals?

Gardens make wonderful additions to properties. They can improve the looks of a place, and taking care of a garden is a great outdoor hobby. Though gardens require a certain amount of dedication and old-fashioned know-how, the time, thought, and effort that go into them are returned many times over. At the same time, gardening can be a therapeutic and satisfying experience. Of course, gardeners are up against numerous hurdles, like the weather. Pests don't make matters any easier, either. Some pests can destroy weeks or months of work before you even realize they're there. 

Keeping Garden Pests at Bay

With so many potential pests out to take their toll on gardens, figuring out how to keep them out is certainly difficult. What works for some is completely ineffective against others. Take a look at the following tips from Northland Fence to help protect your garden from unwanted intruders. 

Use Fencing

Fencing can keep some types of pests out of the equation. Certain wild animals that would simply walk into your garden and help themselves can't jump over or dig under fences. On the other hand, some pests can easily crawl through the gaps in fences or burrow under them. Consider using chicken wire to cover any gaps in your fence. That might be enough to keep certain invaders from getting inside. If you bury a portion of the chicken wire, it might also keep out some burrowing critters. 

Light and Sound

Some creatures invade gardens at night because they have an aversion to light. Posting motion lights or floodlights in your garden could discourage them from wandering in during the times they're most active. Other animals are afraid of sound. You could hang wind chimes in your garden to frighten them away. They also make beautiful additions to gardens and offer something pleasant to look at and listen to. Alternatively, you could place a radio in your garden and keep it playing. 

Companion Plants

Unfortunately, fencing, chicken wire, light, and sound do little to keep bugs at bay. Those types of pests require more in-depth measures. Though insecticides are a possible solution, many people dislike using potentially unsafe chemicals on their flowers and vegetables. Companion plants could be a safer, more effective alternative. Some plants deter certain types of bugs and may even lure in helpful varieties. They can also benefit your garden in many other ways. 

Home Remedies for Garden Bugs

Several home remedies can also help get rid of bugs without harming your plants. Mix a tablespoon of dish soap with a quart of water and spray it on the plants to ward off insects. Adding a cup of vegetable oil to the mix may further discourage bugs and can even immobilize them. At the same time, adding pureed garlic or cayenne pepper powder to this solution will deter even more insects. 

Saving Your Garden the Safe, Simple Way

Keeping a garden healthy requires a lot of work. Having bugs or wild animals render all that effort in vain is certainly frustrating and disappointing. Fences and chicken wire are a couple of options for keeping some animals out of a garden. Light and sound can ward off others. Additionally, using companion plants and certain home remedies can aid in getting rid of the pests those other solutions aren't effective against. Don't let pests stop you from gardening or ruin your harvest. These safe, simple measures may be all it takes to protect your labor of love.