#naturalpestcontrol — Public Fediverse posts

My email to my neighbor, fellow community gardener, and selectboard member:

"Hi ____,

So, I was locked out of Facebook, so I can't communicate with the group. But if you could, please pass on my message...

On at least two occasions pretty recently, I found the gate open at the Community Garden. What I suspect happened is that the local deer saw that the gate was open and helped themselves to the pumpkins (judging by the tracks).

After getting a taste, I have a feeling that now they are jumping the fence, or somehow getting through the front gate (in between the wires).

I went around and set up white cloth tags soaked in coyote urine, and also sprayed all the wooden stakes. I'm not sure if those will be a deterrent, but I figured I'd try.

I think what needs to happen long term is more string "fences" need to be set-up on the inside of the fence, to help baffle the deer (3-D fencing). Or maybe some mesh fencing (which would be more expensive).

Anyhow, I'll plan on refreshing the tags if they work, and maybe someone could remind folks to make sure the fence is closed when they are done?

Thanks again for helping make this happen! And hopefully, we can keep the deer away from the remaining pumpkins (they were so cute)."

#SolarPunkSunday #CoyotePee #CoyoteUrine #DeerDeterrent #NatureBasedSolutions #NaturalPestControl #CommunityGardens #CommunityGarden #CommunityGardenAdventures

I put up some #CoyotePee tags at some strategic spots around the #CommunityGarden, and also sprayed all the wooden posts. TBH, #CoyoteUrine isn't the worst thing I've ever smelled. Sortakinda reminded me of hanging out at the dog park!

#NaturalPestControl #DeerDeterrent #DeerControl #SolarPunkSunday #GardenPests

So, whether #Coyote pee will work as a #DeerDeterrent depends on whether the local coyotes hunt the local deer. Where I live, that is the case, so I'm going to try some fabric dunked in #CoyoteUrine and tied in strategic spots to see if that works against the #Deer in the #CommunityGarden . I think long-term, we need to put in a 3-D fence, which I'll post about in a bit. Judging by the tracks I saw in the pumpkin patch, it definitely looked like someone jumped over the fence (and the fence was a bit lower in one spot).

Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Apply Coyote Urine

"Most people buy predator urine, apply it once in a few obvious spots, and then declare that it did not work. The product is not the problem. The application is.

"Coyote urine is a genuine, potent biological deterrent, but it only performs when it is placed correctly, at the right height, in the right zones, and refreshed on the right schedule. Once you understand how to apply coyote urine the way wildlife actually experiences it, the difference in results is significant.

Read Your Property for Animal Signs Before You Apply

Spraying randomly without knowing where animals are moving is the single biggest waste of product. Before you open a bottle, spend 10 to 15 minutes walking your property and reading the evidence wildlife has already left behind.

Signs that tell you where to focus:
● Tracks in soft soil, mud, or frost near fence lines, garden edges, and outbuildings.
● Worn paths or flattened grass indicate repeated travel routes.
● Scat near feeding areas, denning sites, or along walls.
● Digging, especially near turf edges, garden beds, or the base of structures.
● Chewed plant material, stripped bark, or disturbed mulch."

Learn more:
https://www.thepeemart.com/blogs/news/how-to-apply-coyote-urine

How Long Does Coyote Urine Last?

December 19, 2022

"Coyote Urine Usually Lasts For a Week Or Two

Urine degrades fairly quickly when outside, which is why coyotes frequently mark their territory with pee. It’s often inconvenient for us to spread urine outside every day, but it is important to do it frequently to keep the scent strong.

[...]

How Long is the Shelf-Life of Coyote Urine

If it’s stored in a sealed container away from heat and moisture, it can last for multiple years.

[...]

What Animals are Affected by Coyote Urine?

If you’re trying to ward off animals from visiting your yard, coyote urine can usually deter common coyote prey like rodents, raccoons, rabbits, and cats.

It can also deter white-tailed deer, which are occasionally preyed upon by coyotes. But it’s not a surefire way of getting rid of deer, who will munch on plants regardless of urine scent if they’re really hungry.

Results with deer also depend on if they are used to having coyotes around as predators. In some areas, coyotes have easier prey to catch and rarely go after deer. Deer in these areas will likely not be scared of coyote urine."

https://outdoorsmecca.com/how-long-does-coyote-urine-last/#how-long-is-the-shelflife-of-coyote-urine

#SolarPunkSunday #HomeGardens #PestControl #DeerControl #Rabbits #Gardening #GardenPests #CommunityGardens #PredatorUrine #PredatorPee #CoyotePee #NatureBasedSolutions #NaturalPestControl

California Garden TV: 4 Weird Products That Actually Work in the Garden https://www.allforgardening.com/1867040/california-garden-tv-4-weird-products-that-actually-work-in-the-garden/ #AspirinForTomatoes #AspirinInTheGarden #BestGardenProducts #BoneMeal #CaliforniaGardenTV #DiatomaceousEarth #GardenHacks #GardenIdeas #GardenProducts #GardenSecrets #GardenSupplies #GardenTips #gardening #GardeningForBeginners #GrowMoreTomatoes #gypsum #ImproveClaySoil #NaturalPestControl #OrganicGardening #SoilImprovement #TomatoFertilizer #TomatoGardening #VegetableGardening #VLog

The 4 Most Surprising Products I Use in My Garden https://www.diningandcooking.com/2719797/the-4-most-surprising-products-i-use-in-my-garden/ #AspirinForTomatoes #AspirinInTheGarden #BestGardenProducts #BoneMeal #DiatomaceousEarth #GardenHacks #GardenIdeas #GardenProducts #GardenSecrets #GardenSupplies #GardenTips #Gardening #GardeningForBeginners #GrowMoreTomatoes #gypsum #ImproveClaySoil #NaturalPestControl #OrganicGardening #SoilImprovement #TomatoFertilizer #TomatoGardening #VegetableGarden #VegetableGardenVideos #VegetableGardening #VegetableGardeningVideos

Note - #AsianLadyBeetles, another #InvasiveSpecies, actually feeds on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid! A reason to shoo the beetles outside if they are in your house!

#Maine [and #NewEngland] - Help Track a #Hemlock Pest

February 26, 2026

"#HemlockWoollyAdelgid (#HWA) is an #aphid-like invasive insect that feeds on and can kill hemlock trees in Maine. To find HWA, look:

- On hemlock trees. In North America, HWA is found only on hemlock trees.
- On the undersides of hemlock twigs. At this time of year, HWA is covered in white tufts of wax and is easy to see. Look for discrete 'woolly' masses.
At fallen twigs on top of the snow, as this will give you a picture of what is happening high in the crown. Unless you are in an area where HWA is commonly found (such as southern coastal towns), please let us know if you find it.

Unless you are in an area where HWA is commonly found (such as southern coastal towns), please let us know if you find it. "

Wikipedia: "Accidentally introduced to North America from Japan, HWA was first found in the eastern United States near Richmond, #Virginia, in 1951. The pest is now found from northern #Georgia to coastal# Maine and southwestern Nova Scotia as well as areas of western #Michigan near the eastern #LakeMichigan shoreline. As of 2015, HWA has affected 90% of the geographic range of #EasternHemlock in North America."

Read more [includes photos for identification]:
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/about/news/news.shtml?id=13343953

#SolarPunkSunday #HemlockTrees #SaveTheTrees #Forestry
#Stewardship #InvasiveSpecies
#InvasiveSpeciesWeek #NaturalPestControl
#NewEngland #EasternCanada
#Massachusetts #EasternSeaboard #MaineDepartmentOfAgricultureConservationAndForestry

It's that time of the year! And now I've been transporting #AsianLadyBeetles from the upstairs (where kitty spends a lot of her time), to the downstairs where I grow plants because ALB's eat #Aphids! Now, of course, they could crowd out #Ladybugs if they get out of control, so I won't be saving every single one of them. But still...

Multicolored Asian lady beetles

Quick facts

- The multicolored Asian lady beetle has become a nuisance in Minnesota.
- They cluster around buildings in large numbers during fall in search of protected sites for the winter
- Control measures should only be used to prevent entry of Asian lady beetles indoors.
- Multicolored Asian lady beetle and other lady beetle species feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects that can damage plants in agricultural crops, gardens and landscapes.
- These are beneficial insects to farmers and gardeners.

Asian lady beetle as a household pest

Multicolored Asian lady beetles can be a nuisance when they occur in large numbers inside homes.

- They do not infest wood, destroy fabrics, eat food or damage other property.
- These lady beetles cannot sting and do not carry disease.

Some concerns with multicolored Asian lady beetles are:

- Some can bite hard enough to break human skin, causing minor, short-lived discomfort. These bites happen when the beetles are searching for moisture or food.
- They can secrete a strong-smelling yellowish liquid from the joints of their legs. This liquid can stain light-colored surfaces.
- Exposure to dead lady beetles in buildings can cause allergic reactions in some people"

[Not mentioned: They can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested!]

Learn more:
https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/multicolored-asian-lady-beetles

#SolarPunkSunday #NaturalPestControl #LadyBeetles

Taking a break to water the plants using #rainwater. Keeping one's #RainBarrel clean is essential to having good rainwater! And I've found that if mosquitoes are an issue, a light layer of olive oil (I save old, rancid olive oil for this purpose) can smother mosquito larvae. Natural dish soap does the same thing, without causing harm to plants.

Now, this article mentions using goldfish in one's rainbarrel. Ummmm... But, vegetable oils and natural soap will work (and so would #BTDunks )!

How To Control Mosquitoes In A Rain Barrel

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/mosquito-control-in-rain-barrels.htm

#SolarPunkSunday #NaturalPestControl #RainwaterCollection #Gardening #ClimateChangeGardening #RainBarrell