Welcome back to the Gopher Patrol blog and part two of our short blog series. We’ll pick up where we left off last time by looking at some helpful hints to keep rodents like gophers, rats, mice, and more out of your garden and away from your home.
In case you’re just tuning in, here are the tips we shared in part one:
- Know the signs to look for that tell you that you have rodents in your yard, which include:
- Tunnels in the ground
- Droppings that look like dark-colored grains of rice
- Plants that disappear overnight
- Actually seeing the creatures in action
- Remove their water source
- Empty bird baths at night
- Turn off water features and fountains
- Cover ponds
- Shut off sprinklers and exterior faucets at night
WAYS TO KEEP RODENTS OUT OF THE GARDEN
Here are a few more tips to keep unwanted critters out of your garden.
CHECK RODENTS’ FAVORITE GARDEN HIDING SPOTS
Rodents of all kinds will search for areas that resemble their natural woodland or prairie habitats in your yard and garden. First, they will want quick and easy access to food and water, but they will also look for places where they can be active but while avoiding the watchful eye of predators. Here are some common places to check for rodents. If you notice signs of rodent activity, it may be time to clean up these areas and/or call in the rodent removal pros.
- Firewood Piles – Rodents, like mice and rats, favor stacks of wood where they can build comfortable nests. One way to prevent an infestation of your firewood stack is to re-stack the wood every so often.
- Compost Piles – Compost piles are great for creating nutrient-rich soil for your garden, but they are also one of the top destinations for mice and rats. Properly managing your composter in a container that can be efficiently sealed can keep rodents from turning your composter into a free buffet.
- Sheds and Storage Bins – These are necessary for keeping all your gardening supplies stored safely, but when improperly managed, these can turn into rodent hotels. Routinely check for mounds in your shed and consider investing in one that has a solid bottom for additional protection against rodents. Additionally, check for and seal off any entryways in sheds and outdoor storage bins to prevent infestation.
ELIMINATE THEIR FOOD SOURCES
This one is a bit tricky, but it can be done. Of course, nearly all of the vegetation in your garden looks like an all-you-can-eat buffet to hungry rodents. The trick is cutting them off any access to your garden. While garden fences may not always look attractive, small wire fences really do protect your flowers, plants, veggies, and fruits from being chomped on by gophers and other rodents. Here are a few more tips for removing potential food sources from the equation:
- Clean up bird seed that falls on the ground from bird feeders.
- Store bird feed in sealed, metal containers in the garage or shed.
- Use garbage cans and recycling bins that can be sealed tightly to prevent entry or spills when tipped or blown over by the wind.
- Clean up any and all pet food from your yard, including food, treats, chews, and other snacks.
- Bring in all pet bowls at night to avoid attracting rodents to your yard.
KEEP A TIDY YARD
If you keep your yard clean and neat with regular maintenance, you’ll have a much easier time keeping rodents out of your garden. The best thing to do is to remove any potential they might have for shelter. Here are a few tips:
- Keep your grass short.
- Pull weeds regularly.
- Limit piles of dead organic materials.
- Discard dead plants and rotten vegetables and fruits out immediately.
- Throw out old piles of wood.
- Tend to the composter frequently.
- Spray down the lawn and garden with a hose.
- Seal any holes in fences or yard structures.
- Fill in holes in the yard.
CALL IN THE PROS
The key is to be aware of what’s going on in your garden and in your yard as a whole. Being attentive to anything that could allow rodents to thrive in your yard is one of the best ways to keep them out. If you do have rodents and you want to get rid of them, Gopher Patrol has you covered. We offer a wide range of rodent removal, control, and prevention treatments that can be customized to meet your needs and address your specific type of rodent problem. From one-time treatments to monthly treatments, our rodent control company can remove pesky rodents from your Southern California home and keep them from coming back. Call today to get started!
Not located in San Diego, Riverside, or Los Angeles? No problem! Gopher Patrol covers a wide service area, providing pest and rodent control to the following communities in Southern California: Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino, Pasadena, Rolling Hills, Riverside, Ventura, Calabasas, and beyond!
