Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, can do serious damage to gardens by digging burrows and feeding on vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Their destructive habits can quickly ruin a garden, but there are ways to deter these persistent critters and protect your plants. This guide covers proven techniques for keeping groundhogs from invading your garden and destroying your hard work.

Prevent Groundhogs Before They Arrive

The best defense is a good offense when it comes to protecting your garden from groundhogs. Here are some proactive steps you can take to make your yard less attractive to them in the first place:

• Remove food sources. Eliminate any fallen fruits or vegetables around the garden that could attract groundhogs. Also refrain from leaving pet food outdoors that could draw them in.

• Install fencing. Surround your entire garden with fencing that extends at least 3 feet high and 6 inches underground. This prevents groundhogs from burrowing under or climbing over.

• Apply repellents. Using castor oil, predator urine or hot pepper spray around the garden's perimeter can deter groundhogs from entering. Reapply after heavy rains.

• Add lighting and noise. Motion-activated lights and sounds can make a garden seem less appealing to groundhogs looking for a quiet, dark place.

Deter Groundhogs After They Arrive

If groundhogs make it into your garden, you'll need to take swift action. Here are ways to scare them away and stop additional damage:

• Use humane traps. Box traps or enclosed snares allow you to catch groundhogs alive and relocate them. Check local laws on trapping wildlife first.

• Install scare tactics. Items like scarecrows, shiny pinwheels, aluminum pans that clang, or radios help startle groundhogs and keep them away.

• Let dogs patrol. Allowing dogs access to the garden teaches groundhogs to avoid the area. Their scent and activity helps deter.

• Block burrow holes. Use wire mesh, rocks, or plywood to seal up any burrow entrances groundhogs have dug in your garden.

• Smoke them out. You can pour smoke cartridges or bombs into their burrows to safely flush them out. Just be sure to seal the hole afterward.

Removing Persistent Groundhogs

For especially stubborn groundhogs that won't leave your garden alone, more aggressive measures may be needed:

• Call animal control. Many animal control departments will humanely trap and remove problem groundhogs for you.

• Hire professional removal. Wildlife removal services are experts at safely trapping groundhogs and releasing them far away from your garden.

Conclusion

Groundhogs can quickly devastate a garden, but a mix of deterrents and removal tactics will keep them away from your fruits and vegetables. Focus first on prevention by modifying your landscape to be less appealing. For those that persist, scare strategies and live trapping allows you to humanely remove the problem. With a little diligence, you can outsmart these greedy garden invaders.