You got rabbits,voles,wood rats,mice,and anything else that wants take advantage of the new water supply you are providing.Dont forget the two legged critters either. The first thing you do is go out in the fall into a jungle that no one in their right mind will even thick of entering.
1.clear out little pockets big enough for 5- 10 plants in each spot(think big plants),Clear out the undergrowth by pushing it out away from your selected areas. This creates your first wall of protection by thickening up the areas around each grow spot,Since it is in the fall the winter months will let the area grow back a bit ,still leaving your spots for spring.
Your plants will get eaten no matter if they are 2' or 10' tall if not protected.Unfortunately I have experienced the joy, a long long long time ago.
follow these steps and you will only have to worry about those pesky two legged varmints.Dont tell any one NO ONE. and keep your trail covered and your areas thick with brushy overgrowth or even drag in dead brush from elsewhere.
After pushing the brush out from your selectedspots run 4' tall chicken wire around the outside of your cleared spot aginst the brush ui just pushed out..Bury at least a foot of it in the dirt.Use the wire with 1/2" holes or you will wishyou did. Do this in the fall also,take live branches and weave through the wire to hold it in place as well create a more camoflagoued area.By next spring this spot will be perfect and each year after this spot will be good to you if YOU DONT TELL ANYBODY.
Dig the spot down about two feet and push the dirt out like the brush.Dig holes big enough to drop 15 gallon buckets in,before you put the buckets in throw lots broken glass in the whole,stick your buckets in each hole and
then fill withyour soil mixture,leave the top foot unfilled.
Take a roll of 2' metal flashing and cut 16"- 20" long pieces.Roll each piece so you now have a 2' tall by 4-6" around tube for each bucket,paint it green and brown.These then get about 8- 10" buried with the rest sticking up out of bucket,with your plant inside the tube,pat dirt around the tube so it is solid in the bucket,then fill bucket the rest of the way.
This keeps rats and rabbitts and the dreaded VOLES from killing ya. I had 3-8'ers 4-10'ers and two six footers setting up real nice in early sept and then one day they were alluntouched(so it looked) but wilting more each day. VOLES ate the membrane all the way around each stalk about one inch off the ground and about a two inch wide swath.This is why i started the metal flashing.NO incidents since.
I also take small plastic cups , fill with water and drop rat poison in .Then place the cups at the entrance to the rats nests.I have to go right now . But will send you a pic or drawing if you like later. REMEMBER THE TWO LEGGED CRITTERS ARTE THE WORSE,TELL NO ONE WHERE YOU GO WHEN YOU GO OR ANYTHING. 3AM is the best time to go.More bullett proof info soon.
