Colorado Springs has some unique challenges for the home gardener and a dose of creativity is necessary to battle some of the external attacks on that coveted and highly anticipated harvest. The mystery of the disappearing vegetationcan drive even the most stable to antics displayed by Bill Murray in the movie Caddyshak.
One of the most intrusive and hardy critters yet to grace the eastern plains is a small burrowing sneaky beast known as the vole. It resembles a mouse but spends most of its time burrowing underground. In ground gardens are nothing more than a smorgasbord of yummy treats and their over zealous appetite makes them especially annoying and destructive. The typical crime scene is littered with clues as to the perpetrator at hand. Small round holes in the ground in- between rows of just ripening fruits and vegetables indicate the varmints have discovered the newest restaurant in town.
Brown and dying plants are the result of the root damage that occurs as well and can lead to total ruin of the entire plant besides the midnight raids on ripening fruit. Last but not least those spuds are toast nestled in their earthen beds. The best solution may be as simple as preventing access from below with the raised bed concept of gardening utilizing a strong chicken wire base as the barrier between beauty and the beast. Laying some weed cloth inside the bottom can also add protection from root damage and hopefully lead to a healthy harvest for the gardener and not the local vole population.
Redwood 2x6x12 planks with metal chicken wire across the bottom.
Weed Cloth inside bottom of raised bed garden
Both beds filled with peat moss, top soil, and potting soil and now ready for plants!
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