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Rats eating my seedlings
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Posted by noralynnleech (My Page) on Tue, Jan 27, 09 at 13:55
| I live in Williamsburg, a neighborhood in New York City, and have a small garden in my backyard. For the first two years, I had no problems planting seeds in my little garden, but the past two years, none of my seedlings have made it. They come up and then mice and rats (we've seen spotted them in the garden at 6 am several times) come by and eat all of the leaves off every single seedlings. None of my seedlings have made it, even with second plantings. I do have a wire 2' fence around the garden. Any ideas of how to die with the rat problem? It would have to be somehow non-toxic, since my dog and neighborhood cats have access to my backyard and garden and could get into rat poison. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Rats eating my seedlings-Fat Cats might save you
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| I am in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. I have had no problems with rats at all! I am so sorry to read that you are having a problem! We do have some mice, and a lot of wild cats, feral cats, here. When I first moved in about 3 years ago, the cats drove me nuts! They had gotten into my little breezeway and we had to rip the floor out because of all the peeing they'd done. They also made messes in my garden, that I sometimes uncovered while digging. I tried a lot of ways to get rid of them, but nothing really worked, completely. They and I have since made peace with each other. I always wear gloves while digging and don't always shoo them away anymore, because I realize they scare away rats! There are people in , I think Prospect Park Brooklyn who want to get rid of their wild cats. I saw an article in one of the local papers about it, I really forget where. MAYBE you could go and get some of them and start a feral cat pack over where you are. Feral cats can be a bit problematic, but they sure beat rats! |
RE: Rats eating my seedlings
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| I think I would feel too sorry for a pack of feral cats and would try to tame them and feed them. : ) Once in a while I see cats back there, but I think they are my neighbors house cats going for a stroll. Anyone have any other ideas? I saw an ad in a Jung Seed catalog for "Bobcat's Urine" which is suppose to naturally deter rats. I just worry that city rats have evolved to not fear bobcat scent, since they have been living in the city for so many generations. |
RE: Rats eating my seedlings
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I don't think feral cats want or need to be tamed! I wanted to do that too, help them, or move them, as do the people the Prospect Heights, but those who have been there longer say the cats should be left alone.
Why not try the bobcat urine? Or rat poison? Rat traps? Have you talked to anyone at 311? Maybe if you complain they might put more poison in your area. In my experience one has to complain a lot, and often, to get anything done. I protect my seedlings from squirrels, who just want to dig them up, not eat them, by putting broken pottery around them and string sort of woven across pots.I also try to keep seedlings inside until they are strong enough to withstand the squirrel onslaught. Good Luck !
Audrey |
RE: Rats eating my seedlings
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I had a similar problem a few years ago when they tore down a building adjacent to my patio.
How much area are you talking about? Have you tried wintersowing? (There is a wintersowing forum on GW)
I know, I know... "metro garden" readers will begin to notice that I think wintersowing is the answer to everything from world peace to scurvy... but it is pretty great, the seedlings are protected by the containers until you see they are strong enough. They also get stronger quicker with the wintersowing method.
Sometimes if I have direct sown seed in the ground, I will put a "greenhouse" around the seed so that when it sprouts it is proteced. You can make them out of milk jugs, soda bottles, almost anything. They can look unsightly at first but by the time it is warm enough to enjoy the outdoors, the seedlings should be stong enough to take the greenhouses off them.
Hope you find something that works.
Peace
George
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RE: Rats eating my seedlings
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| I am going to try winter sowing. Great idea! |
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