Plant Health: Curb the Critters

Moles, voles, rabbits and deer. Sure, a shotgun could take care of your problem plant-nibblers, but you’ve got to keep your employees safe and your neighbors happy. Instead, save your bright-orange vest and the firearms for hunting season and check out these samplings of products to deter unwanted animals away from the nursery.

Deer and Rabbits

Manufacturer: Liquid Fence
Product: Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent
Uses: Trees, shrubs, flowers, vines and edibles
Active ingredients: Putrescent egg solids 24.65 percent; garlic 2.96 percent; sodium lauryl sulfate 0.61 percent; potassium sorbate 0.49 percent
For more: www.liquidfence.com


Manufacturer: DeWitt
Product: Deer Fencing
Uses: Plot perimeter
For more: www.dewittcompany.com


Manufacturer: Bobbex Inc.
Product: Bobbex Deer Repellent
Uses: Trees, shrubs and ornamentals
Active ingredients: Meat meal, fish oil, putrescent eggs and garlic.
For more: www.bobbex.com


Manufacturer: Repellex USA
Product: Repellex Deer & Rabbit Repellent
Uses: Trees, shrubs and ornamentals
Active ingredients: Dried blood, pepper and garlic oils
For more: www.repellex.com


Manufacturer: Tree World Plant Care Products
Product: Plantskydd Rabbit & Small Critter Repellent
Uses: Trees, shrubs, ornamentals, vines and edibles
Active ingredient: (soluble powder concentrate) Dried blood (porcine and/or bovine) 99.84 percent
For more: www.plantskydd.com



Moles, Voles and Small Pests

Manufacturer: Messina Wildlife Management
Product: Mole & Vole Stopper
Uses: Trees, shrubs, ornamentals, vines and edibles
Active ingredients: Castor oil 46.66 percent; mint oil 5.62 percent; sodium lauryl sulfate 0.02 percent; others 42.08 percent
For more: www.messinawildlife.com


Manufacturer: Plant Pro-Tec
Product: Gopher & Mole Repellent
Uses: Applied underground
Active ingredients: Garlic oil
For more: www.plantprotec.com


Manufacturer: Woodstream Corp.
Product: Havahart Critter Ridder (skunks, groundhogs/woodchucks, dogs, cats, squirrels and raccoons)
Uses: Perimeter; trees, shrubs and ornamentals
Active ingredients: Oil of black pepper, piperine and capsaicin
For more: www.havahart.com


Manufacturer: Shake-Away
Product: Shake-Away Javelina Repellent (also labeled for wild boar and feral pig)
Uses: Apply to property perimeter
Active ingredients: Coyote urine 5 percent; limestone 95 percent
For more: www.shake-away.com


Manufacturer: Contech Enterprises
Product: ScareCrow motion-activated sprinkler
Uses: Nursery or plot perimeter 
For more: www.contech-inc.com