Blog | Furniture Maxi
Garden Furniture for Small Spaces
Garden Furniture for Small Spaces Imagine this, it’s a warm summer day with cool breeze blowing gently. You’re out in your garden with a cool drink in your hand, perhaps an iced tea or a mint lemonade, and you just kick back and relax as you listen to the birds chirping and watch a squirrel scutter about your lawn. Doesn‘t that sound inviting? Spending time in your garden is a great way of destressing and rejuvenating yourself. One way you can enhance your experience in your garden is by getting the right kind of furniture. That way, you can just lounge about on a comfortable patio chair as you enjoy the warm sun on your skin. Decorating your outdoor space with the right kind of decor can also help you create a cosy nook for yourself, while adding an additional space in your house where you can host your friends and family. The right furniture can do wonders for the aesthetic appeal of your house. However, this may be easier said than done, especially if you have a small outdoor space. In this case, it can be a little tricky trying to find the right outdoor furniture. Fortunately for you, lack of space doesn‘t have to mean an unappealing outdoor setup. In this article we‘ll tell you all about how you can stylishly decorate outdoor space by giving you tips on how to buy outdoor furniture, some inspiration and options on how you can set your outdoor space. We will also be answering some commonly asked questions, and will be providing you with a list of some of our handpicked garden furniture for you! So, continue reading to learn how to decorate your small spaced garden. Buying Guide for Garden Furniture When buying garden furniture for your outdoor space, there are are many options you can go for, from a single seater, to an ottoman, to even a dining set! However, there are some common factors you need to keep in mind when purchasing your space-saving outdoor furniture, for the best outdoor living experience possible. We’ve discussed all these factors below: Size: The first thing you definitely want to look out for when buying garden furniture for your small outdoor space is the size of your space with respect to the size of the furniture. Always measure your designated spot before buying furniture for it, and measure the furniture before buying it to ensure that it will fit nicely where you want it to, instead of being too big for the space, or making it look cluttered even if it can fit there. Here’s a good tutorial on how to measure space for furniture. Environmental Factors: The weather conditions of where you live are extremely important in deciding the kind of furniture you buy for your outside space, because not all furniture pieces can withstand all kinds of weathers. So, you need to ensure that the furniture you buy is weatherproof. Material: Going off of the previous point, it is extremely important to buy outdoor furniture made from materials that can withstand the weather situation in your region. For example, if you live somewhere very hot, then the weather can cause your wood furniture to splinter. Similarly, cold temperatures can cause plastic furniture to become brittle and crack. Maintenance and Care: Maintaining your garden furniture is very important if you want to preserve its aesthetic appeal and increase its longevity. However, this can be a difficult task if you have kids around the house or even a job that takes up a lot of your time. So, buy your garden furniture depending upon the amount of time you can devote to tending to it. Removable Features: Some garden furniture sets come with removable pieces. This can be a lifesaver if you end up damaging the furniture, or if it gets worn out over time. You can discard removable furniture pieces without having to throw away your entire furniture set. It also gives you more flexibility in how you want too present your furniture. For example, if your seat cushions have removable covers, then you can change those covers from time to time to renew things up a bit. Comfort Level: If you’re going to be spending time in your outside space, then you need to make sure that you’re comfortable there as well. For example, an egg chair may be a great way of saving some space on a small patio, but its useless if you don‘t feel comfortable sitting on one. If you feel like the seat cushions of your garden sofa set are too hard, then don‘t go for that set, there‘s no point in buying garden furniture you won‘t enjoy using. Quality: The quality of your furniture has an integral role in determining how long your garden furniture is going to last. Good quality furniture can last you a long while, however, it’s on the costlier end of the spectrum. Cheap furniture on the other hand, is more likely to be off lower quality, and may only last you a year or two and may cost you a ton in the long run, in repairing damages or even replacements. Product Features: What sets apart two identical pieces of furniture is the features they have to offer. For example, some rattan furniture pieces may come with storage space built inside of them, which can greatly help declutter your small patio space. Other features like finishing touches on products also matter, as they can impact the longevity of furniture. Aesthetic: Your personal style is an important factor in determining the garden furniture you buy. If your vibe is something that is soft and cosy, then maybe get a loveseat or an ottoman in there, but if you have a lively social life and want a more party-like setup, for example something that‘s appropriate for a fun BBQ with friends or colleagues, then maybe consider a garden dining set. the colors and accents of your garden furniture should also be a representation of your personal taste. Whether you get something sleek and chic or lively and fun should be determined by what your personal aesthetic is, and what you want the vibe of your space to be. Options for Small Garden Furniture Now that you know how to pick furniture for your outdoor space, the question becomes what can you pick to decorate and lounge about your small garden? There are many options you can go for ranging from bistro sets to garden benches and even outdoor dining sets for alfresco dining! It all depends upon your space, budget, and the vibe you want to go for. So, carry on reading this article if you want to know more about the different outdoor furniture options you have. Outdoor Dining Table and Dining Chairs A very common garden and patio furniture item is an outdoor table set. The patio set can be as big or as small as you want, with a chair set of at least 2 chairs. The dining tables are also small enough that they do not take too much space but still make for a cosy, intimate and elegant dining area. if you’re planning on having a date night in your home, then this can be the perfect spot. Just set a vase of pretty flowers on the table top, get some delicious dinner, and you’re good to go! Outdoor Sofas Outdoor sofas are a very versatile option when it comes to furnishing outdoor spaces. Even if your patio or garden is too small to contain a full-fledged lounge set, you can still use a variety of other sofa options to make your small patio feel like your living room. You have the options of corner sofas, loveseats, chaises, and you can even add a coffee table or a side table to complete the atmosphere. If you want to make yourself more comfortable in your cosy nook, then you can also bring out some ottomans or footstools. Some rattan garden furniture sets also come with storage boxes installed under their sofas, to make for additional storage space, which makes them a very practical option on top of a luxury one. Now imagine this, you‘re reclining on a comfortable rattan corner sofa, with your feet placed comfortably on a footstool, while a glass of your favourite cool beverage waits for you on the coffee table, as you enjoy the warm windy day. Sounds so dreamy doesn‘t it? Outdoor Chairs If you don‘t want to create a mini dining room or living room out in your garden, then you can always opt for simple chairs to keep there. Chairs are also a very versatile option because of the numerous types they come in. If you don‘t want to keep your chairs outdoor at all times, then you can get foldable chairs that you can set and take away at your own will. You also have the option of getting stackable chairs that you can pile up to declutter your patio space. Armchairs are also a wonderful option for garden furniture. You can also set your armchairs or garden chairs a small side table on your patio that you can set your chairs around whenever you choose to bring them outside. These garden chairs can also be used to create a welcoming environment around a fire pit as your roast marshmallows with your friends, or to just soak up some warmth. The point is, they‘re a great option if you want something portable that doesn‘t take a lot of space. Sunbathing Zone If your garden has a nice sunny spot in it, then you can definitely use it as a space for sunbathing in the right weather! You can bring in some sun loungers or even a day bed from Furniture Maxi, that you can just lie on and enjoy the warmth on your skin. Picnic Spot Your garden can serve as a great picnic spot with family and friends if you decorate it with the right furniture. A garden bench, and a garden table completed with a parasol to provide shade during a sunny day can make for the perfect picturesque picnic location. Frequently Asked Questions What are the pros and cons of rattan garden furniture? One of the biggest advantages of rattan furniture is how durable it is. Rattan furniture is weather resistant and extremely hardy, so we’re not exaggerating when we say that this furniture can last you generations if it is taken care of and maintained properly. Rattan furniture is also sustainable, which makes it great for the environment. Rattan does not lead to deforestation as it is made from vines that grow back quickly, allowing for tress and forests to stay intact. However, one of the biggest disadvantage of rattan is that it can loosen over time if not cared for properly, so if you get rattan furniture, you need to make sure you maintain it diligently. Don’t worry though, you can do that easily by following some diy tips online and watching relevant videos on YouTube. What is the difference between poly rattan and wicker rattan? Poly rattan is also known as PE rattan or polyethylene rattan. It is a manmade material as compared to natural wicker rattan. Another core difference between the two is that poly rattan does not degrade as quickly as natural wicker rattan does, as natural wicker is not weather resistant, so it can get damaged and worn out pretty easily when kept outside for long periods of time. Another difference is the cost, natural rattan is far more expensive than manmade PE rattan. However, both types of rattan are used to make stylish garden furniture. Our Recommendations for Garden Furniture The 5 seater set is great for creating a comfortable nook in your garden. It’s great for a small patio and can cater to a good number of people as well. It is made using high-end PE scratching rattan in black color, with grey cushions, that provide a very neutral feel to the set. It‘s important to note that the dining set needs to be assembled by the purchaser. The furniture set is made using high-quality PE rattan that’s waterproof as well. The set is two-toned and consists of four curved seats that can accommodate 8 people, and one round dining table in the centre. The set is very easy to maintain as all its cushions have removable covers. the dining set comes in three different colours. However, the dining set does not come assembled and needs to be assembled at the location. The garden dining set is an extremely stylish yet practical way of furnishing your small garden space. The dining set even comes with a parasol so you can enjoy a nice picnic or lunch outside with your loved ones even on the sunniest of days. While compact, the cube set can still seat up to 10 people easily. The entire furniture set comes fully assembled.
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Garden Party Ideas
Garden Party Ideas In the summer season, we all think about throwing the occasional garden party to sit back and relax for a bit and enjoy ourselves with our friends and family. When it comes to garden parties, there are so many different ideas you could go for. Maybe invite your friends and family for a fun barbeque or to play cards against humanity while throwing a lovely food spread? If you want to invite some people over and have a soiree, then look no further. We’ve got many fun ideas to help you glam up your garden and throw a party. You might already be familiar with a few of these garden party decorations, so let’s get into it! Garden Party Must Haves Have A Theme Choosing a fun theme for your garden party is the first step in deciding what sort of decorations you need. You can choose to have a broad theme but being a bit specific would help you get everything else together. It will help you while you pick out your tableware, including the tablecloth, crockery, decorations, bunting colours, string lights, and much more. Choosing what food items and drinks you’ll serve is also very important. All of this will be in accordance with whatever theme you choose for your party. Popular garden party themes include rustic farmhouse, beach vibes, and vintage tea parties. Decide Your Seating Seating arrangements are essential when deciding how else to decorate your garden. If it's a dinner party, you can easily have a long dinner table with your food and then have a drink station on the side. When it comes to the drink station, a mini garden bar decorated with fairy lights is a great idea. You can place a few seats at the garden bar along with a dispenser with everyone's favourite drink. For some fun, add a few different funky straws and glassware. Get Outdoor Lighting We all know lighting is an element that can bring an entire event together. Outdoor lighting is one thing that can be very tricky but plays a vital role in the success of a garden party. Outdoor lighting always helps uplift a garden party, whether it's a BBQ, a birthday party, or a reunion. Using string lights is a good idea but to make your party a bit more exciting, you can DIY spilling solar lights. This requires an old vintage kettle, led string lights, a washer, Shepard's hook, craft wire, and some tools. Using spilling solar lights could increase the decorative appeal of your garden and be a unique decoration for your dinner party. Using warm lights would help radiate warmth in your entire space and create an enchanting ambience as well. Decide The Food and Drinks Your choice of food is important when throwing a garden party. You can fill up a platter with mini sandwiches and burgers, make a great cheese board, and have a nice variety of cold drinks and juices. You can be innovative and go boho by introducing make your own food stations, which could include chicken wraps, salads, burgers, and so much more. Such a station would serve not only as a garden decoration idea but also as a fun activity for everyone. After all, being a host doesn’t mean you have to do it all on your own. Sometimes, you can take a back seat and let your guests make their own food too! Prepare The Music No party’s ever complete without music! If you’re planning on having an outdoor garden party, you should definitely have a nice playlist ready as well as good speakers for the event. The kind of songs you’d want to play depend a lot on the them of your event. If you're having a kids birthday party, you’d want age-appropriate songs popular for kids. If it’s a nice friend hangout, then something more laid-back would be appropriate. Prepare Your Tables and Tableware Give your outdoor table a fun touch by adding garden plants and flowers in vases for your party. You can use small pot plants or pitchers that are eye-catching and also go with the theme you have chosen or add a centrepiece to your table. If you want to create a warm atmosphere, you can uplift your table by placing a few battery-operated or real scented candles. This would really add to the aesthetic and create a wonderful ambiance for your outdoor party. You can also decorate your outdoor table by making platters. Lots of garden party ideas include the usage of cheese boards, BBQ platters, and much more. A platter can cover a lot of space on your outdoor table and look very appetizing for a BBQ party, dinner party, and other special occasions. Another critical element for your outdoor table would be tableware. According to the theme of the special occasion and the time of day, it is essential to find good tableware to brighten up the entire table. If you’re having a daytime event, like a tea party, we recommend using cheery colours to bring a relaxed charm to your event. For a dinner party, dark-themed crockery set is better suited. Throwing an outdoor party during the summertime can be a bit tough if you get harsh sunlight. An incredible idea to tackle something like this would be to use a garden awning, which provides shade against the mid-day summer sun during an outdoor party lunch. If you don’t want to splurge on a structure, you can use any old bedsheet as a garden awning. A cotton sheet with something like stripes would really complement an outdoor setting area and would be a perfect garden decoration idea. Why let the sun stop you from throwing an outdoor party? How To Make Garden Party Decorations Garden party decor is always available in stores or Amazon to help you fill up your outdoor space. However, to add a personal touch and make your party unique, you can dabble in some DIY decor. Here are some of our favourite outdoor garden party decor ideas: Crepe Paper Hangings For an outdoor tea party or a daytime garden party, you could make crepe paper hanging decorations with some carton, strings, and crepe paper. By using different colours, you can add a wow factor to your party and really incorporate your entire theme into the decor. Simply placing light bulbs within the hangings could also serve as great outdoor lighting. Painted Rocks When we think about our gardens, stones and rocks are an essential part of their essence and beauty. Adding beautifully coloured stones and rocks can really uplift a garden's aesthetic look and add to its style and charm. A fun way to add a personal touch to your garden is DIY rock painting. Not only is this a way to decorate your garden, but it is also a fascinating and therapeutic activity. You can create your own colour palette or theme with your garden rocks to compliment all the other decorations that you may have. Decorated Watering Cans Another exciting DIY project you can take up for your garden decoration is to paint your garden watering cans. You can add fun-coloured ribbons, beads, and much more to make it a lovely showpiece that can also be used as a garden tool. This is a project like this can also motivate and help your kids get into gardening. Place your customised cans in a place where you can show them off to all of your guests! Pretty Textiles One of the easiest DIY garden party decor ideas is to decorate your outdoor space with pretty textiles you might have lying around. If you have any outdoor rugs, make use of them by laying them in your garden. If not, you can use any home decor you might have outside. For a daytime party, try using textiles in nice pastel colours. Hanging Candles Want to make your outdoor party more intimate and special? Try hanging candle holders up at different lengths to create a warm ambience. You can use a wooden beam or hang them from tree branches. Try to use different coloured candle holders to add a nice touch, and remember to keep them at varying lengths. These hanging candles also make for a great photo-op. If you have a gazebo in your garden, you can make use of it by decorating it with candles too. Hanging Lampshades Another way to use your home decor for a backyard party is by making use of lampshades. If you’ve got any old lampshades lying around that you don’t use, simply hang them up in your backyard! Ideally, try to hang them right above your table settings to give your outdoor dining table an indoor feel. Flower Arrangements If you’ve got flowers in your garden, make use of them by making cute flower arrangements to use as table settings! You can make a big bouquet of flowers to use as a centrepiece for your table. Try and match the colours of the flower to the colours of your linen for a nice touch. You can also put individual flowers in mason jars or vases and place them all around the table. Garden Party Occasions Now that we have talked about all the elements that are involved in a garden party and different garden party decorations, it’s time to move on and understand what different occasions we can use these decorations for and how we can style our gardens for all the different types of parties and occasions that are coming up! Birthdays Do you want to avoid renting a place or going to a restaurant for your kids’ birthday? Well, you can! You can use your own garden to throw your kids a fantastic birthday party in just a few simple steps. Hosting a birthday party in the garden is becoming a popular trend for many families. You can get very innovative with all the little details. For a kid’s birthday party, it is important to choose the theme along with the colour scheme beforehand so that it compliments all other decors. Make sure you decorate the cake table well with pastries, cookies, and obviously the birthday cake, all with the same theme. Place a few birthday hats, whistles, and party poppers as well. You can also get an inflatable jumping castle for the kids or fit in a trampoline. Set up another small table for the themed goodie bags and make a nice photo booth with birthday themed props. Outdoor lighting really would help bring the entire party together as well. Place some lights on big bushes or tape them around the main wall. Wrap led or string lights around a tree. Use a birthday party banner, buntings, and coloured balloons for decor. Get some birthday themed table decorations, napkins, plates, and glassware to put on the party table with the birthday cake. Birthday cake is also an incredibly important element in bringing together a birthday party. It can also serve as a garden decoration idea. Placing edible flowers on the cake is also a great idea for any party theme, be it a movie-themed birthday or a typical dress up a birthday party. Outdoor Camp You can also give your outdoor party a camp vibe by using tents and loads of cushions. Make a DIY fire pit and place bean bags or wood logs around it. You can do a BBQ and play games and tell horror stories. The best part is, this theme works great for both kids and adults! Hand out some hot chocolate and marshmallows along with some comfy cushions. You can also use some of your living room furniture to fill up the space; however, for a theme like this, garden furniture would be the most appropriate. Having a couple of rattan garden chairs would definitely come in handy for an outdoor camp. They’re sturdy and comfortable, making them perfect for outdoor events. Your choice of is important for an outdoor camp! Get an excellent lemonade glass dispenser and fill it up with your guests' favourite summer drink. Make sure you place an ice bucket alongside too. You can serve an easy cool lemonade using fresh yellow lemons or could be a few fun flavoured slushes in raspberry and blueberry flavours. Giving out drinks in mason jars is a great way to put a fun spin on the usual summer drinks. Festivals Festivals are a big deal during the summertime, and a great way you can use your garden space is by hosting a fun-filled festival. It's easy to turn your garden into a place for a festival with these few tricks. Everything starts off with the entrance. It is essential to make sure your entry is bright and inviting. It should be welcoming to all your guests with a few fun props and surprises. Use loads of buntings to add and enhance the colourful themes. Next, opt for some flag buntings to place on each side and create a hanging decoration. Right next to these, you can also place paper-coloured lanterns and pom-poms. Moving on to balloons, you can opt for whatever shape and size you need and decide whether to get regular air-filled ones or helium ones. Balloons are a great way to label your party as a festival and let people know it's a party! A balloon arch or a garland is the perfect idea to perk up your entrance along and add a luxurious touch. Be creative and place some wristbands or paper tickets at the entrance to make it feel even more like a festival. Put a few tinsel sunglasses, face paints, and face glitter out and make a mini get ready station near the entrance with a stand-up mirror where people can apply some glitter or paint as well. You can incorporate even more activities for your outdoor party festival, such as a meditation area or a crafting station. If your guests are creative, why not get them to show their creativity during the festival? Movie Night Another great theme is an outdoor movie night! Turn your backyard into an outdoor cinema by using an outdoor projector. Simply set up the projector on a table and make it face a good surface to play the movie on. Usually, any plain white wall should do. However, if you don't have one in your garden, you can hang up a white sheet as an impromptu movie screen. Once you have your screen set up, make sure there‘s plenty of seating for your guests. You can use beanbags, large cushions, or set up outdoor sofas and chairs. A rattan sofa set is a perfect choice for an outdoor movie night because it’s spacious and comfy. Make sure you have lots of pillows and blankets so everyone is comfortable! Lighting for a movie night is also easy. You can use festoon lights and lanterns to create a lovely nighttime glow. Arranging for food and drinks also isn‘t difficult. Just make sure you have popcorn, crisps, and drink options available for everyone and you‘re set for a fun night! Conclusion When the warm summer months come and the sun is shining, you have to make use of your garden! Throwing a nice garden party is always a great way to connect with friends and family, so if you’ve been thinking about it for a while, now’s the time to finally host one. With our list of ideas, you’ll be well-prepared for any kind of party you decide to host. Just make sure you take care of all the garden party must-haves and try to DIY your own decor to save money.
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7 Ways to Attract Birds in Your Garden
7 Ways to Attract Birds in Your Garden While setting up a garden, you may manage to sneak in all sorts of insects through the fertilizers and plants you get. If you already have pets, they may also become a part of this new habitat, helping you create your very own ecosystem right in the garden. However, you may feel there’s still something missing. You’re right! No garden ever feels complete or content until it’s alive with birds. From wild birds to domestic ones, water birds to land species, or imported garden birds versus local birds, having different species and variety of birds brings its own charm to your garden. Whether its a common house sparrow feeding on bird seeds and fresh water, or the rarer species of birds, such as woodpeckers, songbirds, chaffinches, or any other relative in the splendid family of feathered friends, you may want different birds to deck those native plants and birdhouses to get your garden to look complete and inviting. Hands down, a silent garden looks gloomy, whereas a garden with chirping greenfinches and starlings brings lasting joy and contentment to your garden. Do birds naturally occupy a garden? Nature and life do find their ways across your concrete jungles. It may take some time to get blackbirds of goldfinches to occupy residence in your garden, but it isn’t beyond the bounds of possibility. However, birds follow their own instincts, so it’s hard to get a definitive answer as to whether or not finches and roosts find yours a bird-friendly garden, or the opposite. Sometimes, birds may naturally come to gardens even if you haven’t spent much time or effort setting them up. They like the sunflower hearts you get for them and immediately make themselves at home. At other times, you may struggle to bring even jays and hummingbirds to your meticulous garden. You may have bought jars of Nyjer and installed the fanciest bird bath you could find, but even the pigeon outside barely bats an eye. Birds are a complicated part of the animal kingdom. There are different types of birds, each with their own natural habitat and dietary preferences. Long story short, some birds will occupy some gardens more warmly than other birds and others garden. If you suspect all your garden grooming isn’t paying off, here’s everything you need to know to sort it out today. From seed mixes to suets to blue tits and nesting sites, here’s your a comprehensive tour around what makes a garden worthy of that dreamy swarm of colourful birds you wish to host one day! How to attract birds to your garden So, let’s talk about why we’re really here - to attract birds to your garden. It's important to prelude this one by understanding that birds are semi-sentient as per an impressive consensus from scientists. In order to attract birds you also need to understand the reasons why a bird may or may not enter your garden. Let's look at a few ways why those siskins you adore so much aren’t coming to you and how to fix it! 1. Make sure you have good bird food An essential reason for birds to come to your garden is the availability of food. Birds will naturally be attracted to places where food is readily available. If all bird food is the same in your eyes, this is a mistake. Just like us, birds also prefer a variety of meals. This isn’t to say they are picky eaters; varied food, in varied serving spots, at varied mealtimes, is more of a necessity. Those nuthatches, jays, and other variety of birds need different food groups in different forms to thrive in your garden. Days-old food, leftovers, chemical-laden food, or food contaminated with droppings won’t sit well with any of your feathered friends. If they don't find these sources, you’re bound to lose even the common birds, let alone the more exotic ones! So, make sure you're putting out high quality bird food in different areas of your garden - and that you’re putting out this food periodically throughout the day! One way of attracting birds to your garden is by setting up a feeding station with various bird feeders, including hanging feeders and ground feeders. The type of food you place in the bird feeders is also important as we said. You can place commercially available bird food or seed mixes, including sunflower seeds in the hangers as it is more convenient. However, if you have a lush and green garden, its ecosystem is bound to have lots of natural food for birds to feed on. In addition, small insects such as mealworms, attract birds, especially blackbirds, starlings, and robins, into the garden naturally. So by planting native flowers, you will inadvertently increase the population of small insects that birds often prey upon. This will cause more birds to come to your garden in search of food. 2. Have a steady water supply How do you ensure your bird visitors get a steady water supply? Many avid bird watching enthusiasts keep out a tray of water as the standard water feature and expect wrens and thrushes to occupy it constantly. If this is the case with you, the birds in your area will, at most, go only near the water source to check out the water and then leave after a few sips. This is partially a reflection of your lack of efforts at keeping a suitable water supply available for the birds, and partly because an uncovered water dish can do little to prevent contaminations once you fill it and keep it outside. You can put out a birdbath to attract birds to your garden. Make sure you clean the birdbath regularly and that the water inside it is clean. 3. Provide shade and nesting Unlike humans who shift houses, birds cannot relocate their families or nests. They prefer spaces that provide ample shade, secure housing, and sufficient spacing for entire bird colonies. If you have a garden with little to no trees or bird houses, were will the birds find a space to rest? It’s important to remember that keeping your garden green and abudnant in food sources is only one part of making the garden a natural bird habitat; birds prefer to stay in, or at least near their nesting spaces while looking for food. If your garden doesn't have a place for house sparrows or finches to breed, sleep, and eat, it isn’t fit for them to permanently relocate. Birds are also one of the most susceptible species to be affected by adverse weather conditions. Although bad weather conditions affect all animals, birds are by far the most affected species. This is because adverse weather conditions make it extremely difficult for birds to go from one place to another. Flying in a storm is quite difficult for a bird, especially if it belongs to a small species such as finches, blue tits, and sparrows. Although birds naturally coat their feathers with an oily substance excreted from their pineal gland to make them waterproof, other factors such as low temperatures make it hard for birds to travel during the rain. So, if you notice birds missing from your garden during stormy seasons, don’t blame yourself or your garden for it. Instead, you can encourage birds to stay in your garden during such circumstances by creating sheltered areas for them to rest. So, ensure that you have plenty of space or birds to build their nests. You can even keep nest boxes or bird houses to help them create a home. 4. Stay consistent in your efforts When you decide you want to host birds, you need to think of them as conscious living beings with a memory. They need to find fresh food, a water feature, and a nesting space in the same places as they always have. In other words, you shouldn’t keep changing the garden settings at every whim because that will disrupt the birds’ peace and sense of security. If you are indecisive about which bird foods to buy and where to serve them, the birds will find it difficult register your place as a regular hangout in their memory. If you forget to refill the bird bath and clean nests and trim the grass, the garden will soon lose its charm, meaning you will lose the birds, too. An inconsistent maintenance would also indicate there’s something fishy in the garden, such as loopholes which could invite a predator inside the birds’ safe space! So, stay 5. Keep your garden clean Birds cannot clean up after themselves. They may scratch a feather or two, and rebuild their nest if a few branches fall off, but nothing more than that. Bird droppings, stray feathers, and a load of lice can take up a permanent space in your garden if you don’t clean it regularly. These elements also pollute the birds’ diet and housing. Birds are also tiny creatures that do not fare too well when it comes to fighting off diseases. As a result, birds often go into hiding when they feel ill and will not emerge until they recover completely. They will also avoid places that may seem like disease hotspots to them. Hence, birds can be missing from your garden if it is is not clean enough for them. If your birdhouses, water sources, or hanging feeders are dirty, the birds will actively avoid your garden out of fear of catching diseases and eating spoiled food. So, make sure you’re cleaning your garden regularly. 6. Keep your garden free predators Predators are another major problem with most domestic bird gardens. As homeowners, you may want your garden to house more than just one species of animals; so you might have dogs, hamsters, squirrels, cats, or other domestic animals living in the vicinity of birds. The thing is, birds are highly sensitive to predator’s presence. Cats, dogs, and a variety of larger birds prey on smaller garden birds. So if you have these animals as pets, or even if there are any stray or pet animals in your neighborhood, the birds may feel like they are a bait instead of the guest, resulting in an abandoned garden! This doesn’t mean you can't keep other animals in your house. Just try to keep them away from your garden! 7. Check for moulting season Different birds may have breeding seasons spread throughout the year. During this season, their body and social conditions undergo various hormonal changes that make social life unbearable. They may develop lice, lose their feathers, or experience fatigue. Molting is a process that all birds undergo. During the process, birds will shed most of their feathers to make room for new ones. Molting helps birds regrow their lost or damaged plumage. It is a natural process that is highly beneficial for birds. Though it may cause pain and discomfort initially, molting helps birds refresh and regrow their feathers. Since molting is uncomfortable, most birds prefer to spend their time in hiding. For this reason, if you suddenly find that your favorite garden bird only seems to be making rare appearances, with half of its feathers missing, do not be alarmed. It is very likely that the bird is undergoing molting and would prefer to be alone during this time. Different birds molt at different times, and these timings may not be synchronized. Additionally, the time taken to molt may also vary between different birds. So if you are experiencing an inexplicable short-term decline in bird sightings in your garden, this could very well be the reason. There is not much you can do to help birds when they are molting. But, you can make them more comfortable and encourage their stay in your garden by making the environment as favorable for them as possible. Conclusion Birds are an excellent addition to any garden. They give your garden a magical look with their whimsical appearance and exude a sense of peace and tranquility by simply being there. Birds are a biological marvel and can help bring you closer to mother nature. Additionally, having birds in your garden is a great indication of a thriving and ecologically balanced backyard. As you can see, there are numerous reasons for attracting birds to your garden, and the techniques required for it are relatively simple. You do not need extensive planning or lots of monetary investment to encourage bird growth. A few simple measures taken over time can change your yard's conditions drastically and turn it into a bird-friendly garden. By creating a favorable environment for birds and resolving factors that may cause them to flee, you can easily attract them to your garden.
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Best Colour For Fences In Small Gardens
Best Colour For Fences In Small Gardens We’ve all seen those ideal pictures of a house with a large garden and the perfect garden fence. However, no landscaping is complete without a proper fence around the boundary. Whether you have a small garden or a large area, a nice fence can help achieve the ideal garden look! You’ll also be able to effectively mark your outdoor space and lay better claim to your property. However, one of the most common issues people have after installing a fence is that it often makes their garden look too small. That can occur due to an oversight in garden design, or you just weren’t particularly careful when picking the size. It isn’t the end of the world, though. You can still rely on fence paint to make your garden look larger. A lot of people use the same sort of trick with rooms, so it wouldn’t be far off to suggest that it’d work for gardens. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about picking a fence paint color that makes your garden look bigger Why does fence paint colour matter? Many people tend to underestimate the importance of the garden fence paint when setting up their outdoor space. Most people want to go for the traditional garden feel that a white picket fence manages to provide very effectively. While others will simply try to match the fence paint with any outdoor decking that might be present in their house. These are both valid techniques, but white fence paint may have the opposite effect if you have a small garden. It’s also important to ensure that the fence paint matches up with your garden furniture. You don’t want to end up having a fence that clashes with the rest of the furniture in your garden. Also, if you’re attempting a DIY, it’s important that you know how to paint effectively. If you feel like you’re going to do a messy job, it’s best to leave the painting to the professionals. Now that you have a fair understanding of why picking the right fence colour matters. Let’s move on to the various colour options that are available. What colour fence paint makes a garden look bigger? Many people are under the misconception that a white picket fence will make your garden look bigger. However, that’s often not the case. While there are plenty of colours that will make your garden look bigger, white isn’t one of them. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular colour choices and why they’ll make your garden look larger. Green The fact that green is among the colour fence paints that make your garden look bigger should surprise no one. It’s no big revelation that green would blend effectively with your garden rather than breaking it up. If you really want to give the impression that your garden stretches on forever and gives a larger-than-life look, then green hues are the way to go! The colour green is also a great choice because it doesn’t restrict your creativity. There are so many different shades to choose between. You should also take the primary shade of your garden into account when picking the colour. If you want a more traditional look from your garden, then a lighter shade of green will work wonders. However, dark green will also work well if you want a bolder look. All shades of green will complement the existing shade of your garden and simultaneously make your garden look bigger. Green is also a fairly neutral colour and will work with most of your garden furniture and decking. There’s no colour that clashes horribly with green, so it’s a fairly safe bet for your garden fence. Black It might seem like a bold and aggressive choice to some. However, black is a fairly neutral tone. The colour will make your garden look much more open as the greens and different colours will stand out effectively. Due to the colour having a bit more edge than lighter tones, a black fence can make your garden feel more open and modern. It’ll provide a lot more definition to your outdoor space as well because the perimeter will become evident. It’ll also ensure that the garden is the focal point of your outdoor space. Bright colours can often end up taking away from your garden space. A black fence will certainly help define the space. A lot of people tend to stay away from a lack of colour scheme because they start worrying about their decking and garden furniture. But, as we’ve mentioned before, that’s generally not the case. Black is a neutral tone and will help elevate the small garden look. Your dainty little garden will effectively turn into a modern space. Suppose your garden ideas revolve around a lot of colours and many different flowers. In that case, a black background will definitely make the multiple colours pop. Light Blue Not everyone is a fan of dark tones in their garden, which is why light blue is a great colour choice. It’s a light and airy shade that's reflective like most bright colours. However, the hint of blue helps add more depth to the colour. The additional depth is what’ll make your small garden feel much larger. It’s also the ideal colour for a garden fence if you live in a coastal area. You can have a fun DIY job and paint the fence light blue and white. There are several options available, and you don’t have to worry about matching. Light blue works well with both lighter and darker shades of furniture. You might have to find a decking that compliments the colour to get the best possible look, though. A light blue fence is a good idea if you enjoy hosting outdoor events. The colour has a calming and fun quality that can help elevate the atmosphere at barbecues or other outdoor events. Light blue can make your space feel relaxing, open, and airy. If you have a garden shed, then it’s a good idea to paint it the same colour to ensure it matches the fence. Cream Fans of more traditional colour schemes will for sure enjoy the look and feel of a cream fence. A cream fence paint colour will help give your garden a bright and rustic feel. A cream shade will work brilliantly if you enjoy a more traditional feel out of your garden. Not only will it make your garden feel more open, but the shade will also serve as the ideal backdrop for your flowers. If your garden has a lot of colourful flowers, then the cream will really make their colours prominent. It’ll definitely make your garden a favourite Instagram spot among your friends. Aside from helping the colours pop and give your garden a more airy vibe, the cream will also provide a sense of tranquillity to the space. Its neutral tones will help create a very relaxing atmosphere. If you want your outdoor space to be a place where you can relax and enjoy a book in the garden, a cream shade is a way to go! Natural Wood Shades Another effective way to make your garden look bigger is by using more natural wood shades for your garden fence. These will make your space look more open while providing a decent backdrop for your flowers and garden as well. Natural wood shades will also save you the trouble of repainting every now and then. Sure the colour might eventually fade, but it won‘t deteriorate at the same rate. They're an ideal long-term fence choice if you don‘t experience a lot of rain. Another advantage to using natural wood shades is that they match well with anything. So whether you‘re using cool grey furniture or white, everything works well with neutral wood tones. Cool Grey Another modern choice for your fence colour paint is a cool grey tone. The colour retains the depth of grey, while the cool tone helps provide a more open feel. It‘s a misconception that darker tones like grey will make a garden space feel more enclosed. However, it couldn‘t be further from the truth when done tastefully. A shade will make your garden area feel more sophisticated. Suppose you manage to pair the decking and garden furniture well. In that case, your garden will give off a classy vibe. If you have a shed area, you can really elevate the look with some hanging baskets that have cute climbers. You shouldn‘t be afraid of dark colours when trying to make your garden look bigger. They work exceptionally well with a number of other colours and will look exceptional if you have more garden accessories. For example, something like a fire pit works really well with darker tones. Soft Pink A soft pink or Cuprinol shade is quickly becoming fairly popular in modern homes. If you have a small garden area and you want it to feel bigger, this soft shade of pink is a great option. The benefit of light colour shades like these is that they‘ll blur the garden's boundaries. Because they don‘t have a very bold presence, it often becomes challenging to determine the actual perimeter of the garden. As a result, that can help make the whole area seem much larger. While Cuprinol is a fairly neutral tone, that‘ll work well with most colours. However, those that are feeling a bit daring can definitely go for lighter pink. It can provide the same impact, but it definitely stands out a lot more. Avoid Bright Colours These are some of the shades that work well at ensuring that your garden area feels bigger. One common characteristic that all these colours share is that none of them is bright. Brighter shades and tones are easy to spot and can easily define your garden's perimeter. On top of that, brighter colours often give the effect that they’re coming closer to you! When you’re using darker or softer shades, it has the opposite impact. It doesn’t mean you stay away from brighter colours and just stick to dark grey. It’s completely safe to pick bright colours, but it’s essential to ensure that they’re safer tones. Other Tips to Make Your Garden Look Bigger Aside from painting the garden fence, there are a few other tips that can help you make the garden look bigger. Following these tips in combination with a new fence colour can really make a difference to the size of your garden. Here’s a breakdown of the few methods that you can use to make your garden look bigger. Eliminate any Clutter If you’re dealing with a small garden area, one of the factors that can make it look smaller is a lot of clutter. It all starts out with one pot, and then you end up buying multiple. Then, add in a few benches and a statue, and you’re left with barely any room to move around. It can be tempting to fill up your garden with intricate furniture, but it’s important to remember the distinction between cosy and claustrophobic. For open spaces, it’s always better to have minimal amounts of furniture. That can help effectively ensure that your garden looks much more open. If you want your space to seem as large as possible, the best idea is to go for a more minimalist aesthetic. Then, if you can maintain lower amounts of clutter, the garden space will remain open. Keep the Furniture Small If you want your garden to look as large as possible, it’s a good idea to keep the furniture small. A large fountain in the middle of your garden will completely overwhelm your small garden. A large bench or very large pots will also make the space seem much smaller. Ideally, you should invest in garden furniture that’s compact. Folding furniture is an even better idea. You can store away the furniture when you need to make your garden look bigger. Larger Plants Help While larger furniture might be problematic, larger plants can help expand the overall area and make it seem much larger. A lot of small plants in multiple little pots will create a lot of clutter. On the other hand, a few large plants will provide a much classier aesthetic. They’ll also make it seem like there’s a lot more garden in a smaller area. Invest in some Garden Mirrors A fairly modern way of making your garden look larger than it is is by using mirrors. You can make your garden look significantly larger by strategically placed mirrors. Using these mirrors around the corners or other points in the perimeter to make everything seem larger. They’re one of the best ways to effectively make your garden larger. Invest in Vertical Space Another effective technique you can use to make the most out of your garden area is taking advantage of the vertical space. You can make the most out of the area by planting tall and thin trees. Another option is to use hanging baskets in a nice colour to get the best possible results. If you have a shed or a roof, then you invest in climbers and learn more about how to effectively grow a vertical garden. Take Advantage of Natural Light An alternative option that you can use to make your garden look larger is by taking advantage of natural light. You can do this by using lightly coloured paving stones or tiles. Even rocks can help reflect everything properly. Light colours can definitely play a reflective role and make everything seem very open. Change the Layout You can also make a difference by changing the entire layout of the garden. Essentially, you can just hide your garden behind another area to make it seem larger. It can give the sensation that your garden is an area that you should explore. Be Smart About Storage If you have a small garden area, then it’s not a good idea to invest in a really large storage shed. You can’t leave your garden tools and excess furniture lying around, so what options are available? While something like wheelie bins can do the job, they can ruin the aesthetic of your garden. Alternatively, you could hang up some shelves to help with garden storage and get some cute containers. Not only will it improve your storage options, but it’ll also make your garden look cuter. How to paint your fence yourself? One of the best things about doing your fence again is that it’s fairly easy to make it a DIY project. It’s fairly simple and non-complex. If your fence is already installed, then there’s no need to take them out. Instead, you can start painting while they’re already in place. On top of that, all you need is to get some primer. Use the primer on the fence first to ensure that the paint sticks properly. Using primer in the first place is unnecessary, but it’ll definitely help the coat stay in place better. After installing the primer, the coat of paint will stick on much better. Once you finish up the painting, you’ll need to wait for it to dry first. When it finishes drying, you can put up a second coat for better measure. The second coat will help create a much nicer finisher. Once the second coat is dry, just paint over a protective covering to make everything last longer. Make sure that you apply the paint evenly, though. If you don’t feel confident enough in your skills, then it’s always a good idea to hire a professional. It can be challenging to get the shade you desire without painting properly. Conclusion If you have a small garden, it doesn’t mean that it‘s the end of the world. There are plenty of colour options that you can pick to make your garden seem larger. It’s a good idea to stick with larger, more neutral tones, so you get the best possible results. Aside from that, making sure that you don’t have a lot of clutter in your garden, taking advantage of vertical space, and strategically placing garden mirrors can bring your space to life!
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How to Get Rid of Ants in the Garden
How to Get Rid of Ants in the Garden Ants are one of the most common insects to exist on this planet. There are more than a thousand species of ants that can be found all over the globe. Like most garden pests, ants live peacefully in the garden without disrupting their natural environment. But, if their population experiences a boom, such as during the summer months, you begin to notice a new nest every few meters in your garden. Then, it is time to take matters into your own hands and carry out ant population control. But before you embark on your ant-killing spree, you should know more about these intelligent creatures that seem to have invaded your flower beds out of nowhere. After all, nature creates a delicate balance that must be maintained for your garden to flourish, including accepting some of these garden pests in acceptable numbers as permanent yard members. Understanding Ant Nests In Your Garden Ants are one of the most organised species on the planet, with complex hierarchical systems that can beat even the most disciplined and well-organised human army. Ant colonies contain a Queen, worker ants, soldiers, drones and even larvae. Believe it or not, ants are a standard and healthy part of your garden’s ecosystem. So no matter how hard you try, you will likely not be successful in removing all the ants from your garden forever. Nor is it suggested that you do so as it may disrupt the delicate balance of your garden’s biota. On the contrary, ants encourage biodiversity in your garden so that the plants, critters and small animals form a healthy internal ecosystem. Ants create balance by killing certain predatory insects such as ladybirds, caterpillars and termites and eating their eggs and larvae while encouraging the growth of other small creatures such as aphids and whiteflies. In addition, they are natural pollinators and can fertilise and aerate your soil by encouraging movement between the different layers of soil so that your garden grows lush and green. However, with all the positive attributes we have associated with ants, you may wonder why removing them is necessary? Although ants help your garden grow, hordes of ants may also cause significant damage. Ants are a sucker for sweet things. So much so that they protect and farm insects that produce sweet secretions such as honeydew. Additionally, ants protect smaller insects such as aphids, mealybugs and whiteflies from attacks by larger insects, such as ladybirds and lacewings. These tiny insects, when left unchecked, can eat plant leaves and harm them. Besides this, if an ant population is flourishing near shrubs or plants with delicate roots, they may infect the plants and harm the shrubs. So if you see an ant nest near your favourite flower, you must think of ant nest extermination tactics. Additionally, having numerous ants nest in the middle of your newly landscaped garden can quickly destroy its beauty. What’s more, once the ant infestation in your garden becomes large enough, they will slowly start moving toward your house and kitchen in search of sweet foods. You must remember that ants often collect in areas where they find plenty of food. So if you have a particularly gruesome ant infestation, then there may be a more severe underlying problem, such as infestation by smaller insects, that you might be missing out on. So before you go on an extermination spree, it is best to address the root cause of the ant infestation. However, if you have decided to earn the nickname ant killer, you might as well be good at your new job. Following are some fool-proof ways to eliminate an ant infestation in your garden. Ways To Get Rid Of Ants In The Garden There are numerous ways to rid your garden of ants, but you must be precise and conservative in your approach. Simply spraying a potent pesticide all over your garden may do more harm than good, so it is best to plan your strategy of exterminating ants before carrying it out. Planning crucial in ant extermination is that the success of your method relies on several factors, including the type of ants you want to get rid of. About 30 types of ants are commonly found in the United Kingdom. These include black ants, fire ants, carpenter ants and wood ants. Therefore, methods that work well on a specific species may not be effective on others. For example, practices commonly used to exterminate fire ants, such as the sugar/boric acid or borax mixture method, will be less effective on carpenter ants as they are not as keen on sugar as fire ants. However, instead of trying numerous methods together to achieve quick results, it is advisable to test one method thoroughly and only move on when it fails. Since ants live in colonies in an ant nest, it is best to target the nest instead of killing individual ants on the surface. This way, you will effectively wipe out the entire colony and lay rest to your ant infestation issue. There are two common methods of exterminating ants: natural methods and a chemical methods, and the techniques in each method have been listed below. Natural Ant Extermination Methods As the name suggests, the natural method relies on organic matter and natural substances compared to chemicals. But, it is less potent than the chemical method and may require re-application of the substances. Though more effective, the chemical method can be dangerous to your garden and your household. Hot Water One of the easiest ways to exterminate ants from your garden is by pouring boiling water down the ant’s nest. If there is more than one nest, you must repeat this process individually with all of them. Ants in the colony will instantly be killed when they come in contact with the high-temperature water. To ensure that the water reaches deep into the ant nest, you can slightly excavate the nest. Or you can locate the entrance and pour water in through that. You may have to repeat this method to wipe out all the ants over a few days. Oil and Dishwashing Soap Solution A mixture of dishwashing soap, oil and water can be lethal when sprayed upon ants. This DIY mixture soaks into the exoskeleton of the ants and causes them to suffocate. Put the mixture in a spray bottle, so it is easy to dispense when killing ants on the surface. But, for this method to work on ant nests, you must use copious amounts of the solution and pour the liquid into the ant nest through their entry and exit holes. Here’s a video that demonstrates this. Sugar and Boric acid/Borax Mixture Boric acid or Borax contains the same active ingredient, but it is used in different formulations. Although Borax is an effective ingredient in killing ants, it may cause toxicity to pets and children if it is ingested. So you must be careful to use the substance judiciously while exterminating garden pests. To wipe out an ant colony with this method, you must make a paste out of sugar or sweetener mixed with borax and leave it near the ant colony. Ants will be attracted to this sugar and eat some of it while carrying the rest back to their nest to be consumed by the colony members. Since borax is lethal for ants, they will perish and die after a while. Nematodes Nematodes are natural enemies of ants. They hunt and kill ants by entering their body and releasing a flood of ant-killing bacteria. Since nematodes are natural predators of ants, they try to run as far from these small worms as possible. So spraying nematodes in and around the ant colony will likely cause them to flee away from their nest in search of a new home. Another advantage of using nematodes is that they act as natural predators for most pests that are harmful to plant life but live symbiotically with plant-friendly organisms and predators. However, before using nematodes, you must keep a few precautions in mind to ensure you get good results. Firstly, you must mix the nematodes with water according to the specified ratio mentioned by the brand, and second, you cannot use them under extreme temperatures or direct sunlight. Simple White Vinegar White Vinegar is a potent ant killer. The acid in the vinegar acts instantly to eliminate the ants. To use white vinegar to eliminate ants, you must soak the ant nest in the liquid. You can use a spray bottle to do this, but the most effective way would be to use a jet spray. Unlike boiling water, vinegar does not harm plant life or the earth. But, since this method is not as potent as some of the chemical methods listed in the article, you may have to repeat it a few times to eliminate all the ants. Diatomaceous Earth Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a potent insect killer and can be used to treat a wide variety of critter infestations. The substance is made from sea creatures known as diatoms. It contains sharp edges that abrade the exoskeleton of insects, killing them instantly. Food-grade diatomaceous earth can poison and dehydrate insects and small animals in the garden. So you must be careful with its use as its excessive use may cause harm to the biodiversity of your garden. However, if you plan on using diatomaceous earth, you should ensure that the ground is completely dry. Wet conditions significantly affect the efficacy of diatomaceous earth. Spices If you want to adopt a more humane approach to getting rid of ants from your garden, you can use natural insect repellants. Spices are one of the most common and potent insect repellant methods. Spices used to repel ants include cayenne, cinnamon, and curry powder. You can simply sprinkle the spices in or around the ants' nest and watch them scurry away in search of a new home. Essential oils Certain essential oils can also help to repel ants. This is because ants are averse to smells, including lavender, peppermint, catnip, pennyroyal, garlic and rosemary. You can use essential oils from these plants, plant them or use their dried and crushed leaves as an ant repellant. Orange Peels Using fresh or dried peels from citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons is another common way of keeping ants at bay. Ants despise the smell of citrus and stay clear of the area that smells of them. So placing these peels strategically around an ant's nest can help eliminate the entire colony. Chemical Ant Extermination Methods Chemical methods of exterminating ants are much more efficient and permanent compared to natural methods. In fact, ant-killing chemicals are commonly found in all supermarkets for a relatively low price. But, while using chemicals and pesticides, you must ensure that you use them in modest quantities. Using high concentrations of professional-grade chemical pesticides can poison your plants and groundwater. This is especially dangerous if you are growing edible plants that you will consume later on, as they can absorb the toxins. Following are some common chemical methods to exterminate ants. Ant-killer gels Ant killer gels can effectively wipe out an ant colony without causing much damage to your plants. The ant killer gels work similarly to the borax and sugar mixture. The ants are attracted to the sweet poison-laden gel and carry it back to their colony to be consumed by the rest. Resulting in the extermination of the entire colony. Ant-poison powder Ant poison powder, though highly effective, must be used with care. Since it can easily seep into the ground, it is recommended to use poison powder mostly on hard surfaces. Additionally, you must also restrict the area where you use ant-poison powder if you have pets or small children, in case they ingest some of it. Professional extermination services If all your efforts have gone in vain, and the ant infestation seems to be going strong, then you can always enlist the help of a professional team. Professional exterminators can carefully wipe out all the ant nests that are bothering your garden. The chemicals they use are concentrated, but a thorough knowledge of their use ensures that the team does their job without adversely affecting your garden. Conclusion Love or hate them, you must admit that ants are an interesting species. Although ants, in general, are harmless, when they form large hordes, they can quickly turn into garden pests that are capable of causing significant damage to your yard. Use the methods listed in our guide to controlling your ant population efficiently. Once you are successful in your mission, you can move on to other factors to improve the look of your garden. Such as getting a new garden set so that you can enjoy the evening breeze outdoors.
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6 Ways On How To Keep Cats Out Of Garden
6 Ways On How To Keep Cats Out Of Garden You’ve just done up your garden and used all your landscaping expertise to create a masterpiece straight out of your dreams. So naturally, everyone loves and appreciates your horticulture skills. But to your dismay, the list of admirers includes your neighbourhood cats. That's right, your garden is an excellent target for any pet, stray, and feral cats in the area, to lounge around or to use as a means to answer nature’s call. After all, the soft grass and cool soil will make your garden the perfect playground for cats. As a result, you may find cat poop, cat urine in your freshly made garden, or worse, your precious flower beds dug up and destroyed. To avoid such catastrophe, pun intended, you can use some safe but sure-fire ways of keeping feline visitors at bay. Here is a list of some tried and tested methods to help keep your garden cat-free. 1. Build A Barrier The best way to keep a cat out of your garden is to build a physical barrier that prevents them from getting in. The more difficult it is for feline visitors to get into your garden, the more they stay away. Fencing Using a garden fence is the most low-cost and straightforward method of keeping a cat out. However, most cats have no trouble climbing on top of low fences. For this reason, if you are installing a fence to keep cats out of your garden, look for chain link fences that are at least 6 ft high and have a 2 x 2 inches mesh. You can even use an overhang of 2 ft for added security. Low voltage If a regular fence is not a strong cat deterrent, you should consider a low voltage fence. The important point to be noted here is that the voltage used is low, so cats will not be harmed in any way. Even if you raise the wire 4 inches from the ground, cats will still steer clear of your garden. However, you must ensure that you keep small children away from such fences. Re-inforced fencing If you don’t want to spoil the look of your garden by installing a large fence, you could simply reinforce your existing fence and make it more difficult for cats to get into—some methods of reinforcing your fence with additions such as roller bars. You can add roller bars on top of your regular garden fencing and they help prevent feline visitors from entering your garden by making it hard for them to climb the fence. When neighbourhood cats try to jump on top of your garden fence, they will roll right back down with these rollers. 2. Repel Them With Smells Cats have an acute sense of smell that they use for several reasons. Aromas play a large part in cat behaviour, and you can easily use this quality to deter cats from your garden. Following are some ways you can use scents to keep cats from entering your garden. Cat deterring plants Since you will be planting various flowers, vegetables and herbs in your garden anyway, you can include a few known plants that make cats steer clear of your garden. Although some of these plants have a strong odour, some are quite pleasant for humans to smell. So you must alternate and pick out plants that best suit your garden and do a terrific job of keeping cats away from your garden. Some cat deterrent plants include Lavender, Geranium, Rue, Lemon thyme, Absinth, pennyroyal, rosemary, Roses with thorns and a particularly potent smelling plant commonly referred to as the "Scaredy Cat Plant" or Coleus canina. However, the one drawback with this plant is its smell resembles a skunk, so you do not want to have too many of these around your garden. Essential Oil If you do not want to spoil the look of your garden by planting plants that do not go with the theme of your garden, just to keep cats away, then you can achieve the same effect of using smells to deter cats by using essential oils. You can sprinkle essential oils such as lavender, rosemary, lemon grass, citrus, citronella, and eucalyptus oil onto the soil to ensure cats stay far away from your garden. Since the oil smell may dissipate after some time, you may need to repeat this step every few days to take full advantage of it. However, since essential oils are readily available at local supermarkets and are not too expensive, this is a cost-effective and easy way to keep neighbourhood cats out of your garden. Citrus peels This is another cost-effective and easy hack that you can try at home. This may also be the healthiest option we offer in this guide. First, you must eat your favourite citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons and grapefruits, and save their peels. Fresh or dried citrus peels, especially lemon peel, when scattered around strategically in your garden, can help keep garden pests such as cats at bay. Cats find the smell of citrus fruits particularly distasteful and stay away from areas that smell of it. Sprinkle Herbs, coffee grounds, tobacco, or your hair Herbs such as dried rosemary, lavender, and rue retain their smell for some time and can be sprinkled across the soil as a cat repellant. However, dried herbs tend to lose their smell relatively quickly, so this method is not very effective in the long run. But, used coffee grounds, cayenne pepper and pipe tobacco retain their smell for longer. So if you don’t mind taking the time to sprinkle your coffee grounds from your morning coffee around the garden every few days, this could be an excellent method of keeping cats out of your garden. Besides, this little trick is an excellent treat for humans. After all, who doesn't like the aroma of coffee wafting through the air with the morning breeze? Another common, slightly odd way to keep cats away from your garden is by sprinkling some of your hair, from your hairbrush to the soil. This practice will leave your scent around the yard, essentially marking it as your territory. However, this method works better with feral cats that do not like human company compared to domestic pet cats that do not mind being surrounded by human scent. Commerical cat repellent There are numerous cat repellant sprays available on the market. These can include both chemical and natural sprays. To avoid ingestion of toxic substances and ensure no animal is harmed, it is always best to use a natural cat repellant compared to a chemical one. Natural cat repellants contain urine from predatory animals such as coyotes and foxes. Since animals mark their territory through urine, spraying predatory animals’ urine will indicate the presence of a dangerous animal to cats and help keep them away. But, you must be careful with how much natural cat repellant you spray around the yard before it starts reeking of urine. You can make a homemade version of a cat repellant spray using essential oils and other substances as well. Wash away the old cat smell Cats like to mark their territory and usually do this with their urine. So if you can smell cat urine around your garden, it is very likely that a cat has declared the area as its own, and you will visit it often. So if you want to encourage your feline visitor to go elsewhere, you must first remove any lingering smell of cat urine from your garden. To do this, you should wash the area thoroughly or put water over it. Follow this step by spraying some diluted white vinegar solution to eliminate the smell completely. 3. Lay Rough Ground If you are tired of cats digging up your garden beds or ruining your flower arrangements, you can discourage them from walking over your yard by making the ground textured or rough. Following are some ways you can accomplish this. Chicken wire You can embed a locally available chickenwire into the soil. This is best down when you are just laying down the swedes or before the plants have grown. The plants can quickly grow in through the holes in the chicken wire. However, you can make the mesh bigger with the help of cutters. The chickenwire makes the ground textured, and although it is not harmful to cats, nor does it hurt them, it does feel uncomfortable on their soft paws. So cats tend to avoid areas where the chicken wire has been put into the ground. Lattice fencing on the ground An alternative to the chicken wire would be lattice fencing. However, the concept remains the same. So you place the lattice fencing on the ground and partially cover it with soil. Plant seeds in and around the hold of the lattice, and over time your plants will conveniently grow through them. But, the numerous holes and gaps in the fence make it uncomfortable for cats to walk on and keep them away from your garden. Rough materials such as pebbles, pine cones, textured mulch If the chicken wire or lattice fence does not work well for your garden, we have yet another alternative you can try. Since the idea is to make the ground rough and uncomfortable for cats to walk on, you can always opt for things such as prickly pine cones, pebbles, and even textured mulch scattered on the ground. Cats do not like to play or dig in prickly, uncomfortable areas, so this is one way you can deter them. 4. Take Help From Technology Technology has come a long way, and now you can find devices that help you easily solve the most common problems. So it goes without saying that there are indeed some devices that can help you keep cats away. These are mentioned below: Motion-activated sprinklers It's a truth universally known that cats hate water. You can use this quality of theirs to your advantage and install motion-activated sprinklers in your garden. The sensors in modern-day sprinkler systems are highly sensitive and triggered by even the slightest movement. So when a cat wanders into your garden to dig around or play, the sprinklers will become activated and spray the cat with water. Soon enough, your cats will have learned the hard way that there is no escaping jets of cold water in your garden, and stay well away from it. If you don’t want to go for expensive sprinklers just yet, you can simply spray cats on the prowl with a garden hose or spray bottle as well. However, this method is tedious and laborious and may not be successful. Ultra-sonic device If you do not have pets in your house or the neighbourhood, you can get an ultrasonic device to keep cats away from your property. Ultra-sonic devices emit high-pitched sounds that have too high of a frequency to be picked up by human ears. But, sensitive cat ears quickly pick this noise up with ease. Cats, dogs and other animals do not particularly like the high-frequency sound emitted from the device and try to stay as far away from it as possible. So if you have a cat problem in your yard, you can use this device to stop cats from coming to your garden. 5. Get A Puppy If you are not animal averse and only have an issue with a cat destroying your garden, a little-known way of keeping them away is by getting a puppy or a dog. Dogs and cats have been enemies since the dawn of time, and if you have a noisy puppy at home, cats will have to think twice before encroaching on the puppy’s territory and risk being chased. But, having a puppy poses its risks for your garden. Unless you train your dog well, you will likely find dog poop or urine in your garden too, and the puppy may destroy your garden beds as well. 6. Strike A Deal If all else fails, and the cat in question has been triumphant in laying waste to your plans of keeping it at bay, then you can throw in the towel, call it a day and strike a deal with the feline felon. Now that you have accepted the cat as an unwanted yet persistent guest, you can take measures to minimise the damage caused by it while accepting its presence in or around your yard. There are two ways you can go about this. Firstly, you can make a kitty sandbox near your yard. Make the sandbox spacious enough for a cat to play or do its business comfortably so that you can lure it away from your garden. Another way to keep the cat from spoiling your precious plants and flower beds is by allotting a designated area in the garden itself. You can make this area relatively easy to access and fill it with cat-friendly plants to encourage your feline offender to stick to one part of the yard and leave your precious flowerbeds alone. Some cat-friendly plants that you can plant in this area include: Catmint Catnip Valerian Cat thyme Spider plant Conclusion Cats, although cute, can prove to be a menace in the garden if they get into the habit of digging and destroying your flower beds. Once a cat has decided that it prefers your garden as its favourite lounging spot, it is very difficult to stop it from entering again and again. However, the methods we have listed above will prove to be quite helpful in keeping cats out of your garden. Without a cat to mess up your garden, you can focus more on placing a lovely garden set to enjoy sunny afternoons outdoors.
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How To Get Rid of Moles In The Garden
How To Get Rid of Moles In The Garden One thing that people often take for granted is how hard you have to work on your garden. To flourish, a well-maintained lawn requires a decent understanding of landscaping and dedicated trimming. While people might think they’re cute, moles can actually do a significant amount of damage to your garden. Whether through their molehills or their constant burrowing, they‘ll do a number on your garden. However, that doesn’t mean you completely lose hope. There are several different ways you deal with a mole infestation. From effective mole traps to completely eliminating their food source, here’s everything you need to know about dealing with a mole problem. What Are Moles? For those that are unfamiliar, moles are ground-dwelling carnivores or insectivores. These guys generally tend to stay away from your garden plants and flowers. But, they‘re still a significant danger to your garden. They‘re typically found where soil contains high quantities of organic matter. If you have a very large mole infestation, it might also indicate other issues. It might mean that your soil contains a large amount of grub. These moles definitely enjoy eating other ground-dwellers like earthworms. What do moles look like? Moles are generally between four to seven inches long. They feature paddle-shaped feet and have long claws. They’ll use these long claws for digging. They have an elongated head and snout with small eyes. One of their most unique features is that they have no external ears. After digging through the ground with their claws, they can move easily thanks to the fur that features no grain. They’re fairly strange-looking creatures, so you’ll immediately recognize them. Why are moles a pest? While they do get rid of other common pests, that doesn’t mean they will do your gardens any favours. Moles can dig up to a speed of four meters per hour. That can often lead to them creating a complex tunnelling system. The problem with moles is that they enjoy staying in dark environments. As a result, they end up disturbing the surface, which completely ruins the mounds of soil around the garden. What are the symptoms of a mole infestation? Due to the fact that moles rarely come from out of the ground, most people won’t ever spot them. Yet it’s pretty easy to identify whether you have a mole infestation or not. One of the most clear-cut signs of a mole problem is the molehills they’ll leave in your garden. These are fairly easy to identify. Aside from that, they’re burrowing activities underground may leave some of your plants or flower beds displaced. They may not seem as dangerous as some other pests, but they’ll cause you a few headaches. That’s why learning to spot the signs of a mole infestation early is crucial in effectively dealing with your problem. When their population reaches high levels, it can lead to different issues. Why are moles attracted to gardens? While moles are a reasonably common pest, not many people know why they choose to infest gardens. Understanding what attracts these voles to your garden is a good way of dealing with the infestation. Here are a few reasons why moles find their way to your garden! Food One of the main reasons why moles are attracted to gardens is because they’re full of critters. In addition, moles are insectivores, and fertile soil tends to be a great breeding ground for all sorts of food. Shelter Alternatively, gardens tend to be a decent shelter for moles. There aren’t usually tons of animals to worry about. Most domesticated dogs aren’t bred to hunt out moles and will often just be surprised by them. It serves as an effective shelter for them. Cool Environments Lastly, moles look for cool environments, and the grass on top helps make the underground much cooler. The periodic watering also helps keep the temperature down and makes the environment perfect for critters. Moles can often eat almost half their body weight when it comes to insects! How to get rid of a mole infestation? There are many ways that you can effectively get rid of moles. We’ll break down every known and effective method, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Acute sense of smell Moles don’t see very well and use their incredibly acute sense of smell to navigate and find prey. While this may help them find their prey, it leaves them vulnerable to an effective counter mole tactic. You can get rid of them by putting something that smells bad in their tunnel systems. There are plenty of substances that you can use to deter moles. Some of the most popular choices are coffee grounds or cayenne peppers mixed with castor oil. One of the disadvantages of using this method is that you’ll have to cover many of their tunnels to effectively deter them. It can be quite laborious. Additionally, moles are often smarter than people give them credit for! They’re always capable of digging more tunnels if the food source is too attractive. Eliminate the food sources One of the main reasons why moles are attracted to your garden in the first place is because of grub. Worms and insects are present in any fertile soil, so naturally, moles will come hunting. There are quite a few products available in the market that will effectively help eliminate moles. However, some solutions like insecticide will provide immediate results. While more natural remedies might take slightly longer. Once again, relying solely on this method can often provide mixed results. The moles can often find other insect species to hunt underground. It can be difficult to completely remove moles using this method alone. Strong Smelling Plants Due to their super-strong sense of smell, moles also struggle with flowers with a strong scent. Therefore, flowers like daffodils, marigolds, and others belonging to the allium family will effectively deter moles from entering. If you need an immediate solution, you can purchase these flowers from your local garden store. It’ll save you the trouble of growing them while combatting the moles at the same time. Dig A Boundary Moles treat your garden as a hunting ground, and their main burrow will be far away. You can protect your garden by digging an artificial boundary. You’ll need to dig a trench around your property that’s two feet deep and six inches wide. After digging, you’ll have to fill up the trench with a protective barrier. There are plenty of objects that you can use to fill up the trench. Something like rocks or a wire mesh will work as a very efficient deterrent. While it might be time-consuming, it’s an effective long-term solution to the mole problem. Modern Technology Making your garden a disruptive place to live is also an effective pest control method. Rather than searching for mole tunnels and mixing castor oil, you can purchase a sonic spike. A sonic spike will effectively transmit electronic pulses. These pulses will be at a frequency that irritates the moles. Don’t worry, you won’t be able to hear them. However, it might not be effective enough to function as the sole deterrent. Keep a well-maintained lawn Moles are attracted to cool, protective spaces. If there’s a lot of coverage in your garden, then it’s highly likely that moles will find their way inside. To prevent that from happening, keeping a well-maintained lawn is a good idea. Ensure that the grass is cut short, and don’t use any thick layers of mulch. It’s also a good idea to remove any sort of wood stacks that you might have or piles of organic debris. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on how much you water the garden. If you add too much water, it becomes a breeding ground for the grub that moles love. A well-maintained lawn can definitely prevent future mole infestations. However, they won’t be able to effectively get rid of a severe mole infestation. Artificial Droughts Staying on how much you should water your lawn, manufacturing an artificial drought is an effective mole repellent. It’s a good idea to keep your lawn on the dry side. That way, you’ll effectively limit earthworm activity and discourage moles from entering your garden. Once again, if you have an existing mole infestation, you’re better off looking for another solution. Conventional Mole Control Methods If you want a sure-fire way of getting rid of the moles in your garden, then there are a few conventional methods available. You can order a pest control service for these methods, or you could do the work yourself. It’s a good idea to use these techniques when you start seeing initial signs of moles in your vegetable garden. That way, you won’t have to end up trapping or killing a significant amount of moles. While it’s always better to use more humane methods of controlling mole activity, sometimes the home remedies won’t work effectively. Traps Mole netting aside, plenty of different kill traps are available in the market. Once you place these traps in their tunnel systems, you’ll eradicate the mole population effectively. To get the best results, you need to identify the most active mole runways and target them. You’ll have to remove the dead moles from the traps, though, so it’s best to prepare yourself. If you don’t feel like you have enough experience, the best idea is to go for a pest control service. The professionals may be a bit more expensive, but they’ll provide you with the best possible results. Baits If you don’t want to deal with removing dead moles, then there’s another option available. You can bait the moles with poison baits. These are designed to look like earthworms and other insects that moles would enjoy. Place these bait into active mole tunnels, and they’ll die from the poison in around 12-24 hours. You won’t have to worry about disposing of their dead bodies either. However, using this method does present a risk if you have other animals. An animal that consumes a poisoned mole might also pass away of secondary poisoning. To avoid any unfortunate incidents, it’s best to hire a professional to deal with these sorts of situations. More often than not, some of the home remedies that we mentioned should be more than enough to help deal with your mole problem. Conclusion A mole infestation is definitely not going to be the end of the world for your garden. There are plenty of solutions available, from home remedies to pest control services, and you can deal with the problem quite easily. Once you manage to rid yourself of the mole infestation, it might be a good time to check out some new garden sets! These will help you get the most out of your lawn and help you enjoy the summers.
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How to Keep Rats Away from Your Garden?
How to Keep Rats Away from Your Garden? Imagine this, it’s a warm sunny day, great weather with lovely wind, you go out to enjoy the day in your garden, but you find out it’s infested with rats! Your lovely plants and bushes are suffering because of the vermin and you don’t know what to do about it. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you completely covered. In this article we have talked about how you can detect if you have a rat problem in your garden, why it’s important to make sure you get rid of the rat infestation, and how you can get rid of it. So, if you’re worried that there might be rats scuttling around in your lovely garden, then continue reading this article. Why You Should Get Rid of The Rats in Your Garden Let’s start with why it’s important that you don’t have rats in your garden. This way, even if you don’t have a rat problem right now, you’ll make sure the pest stays away from your garden for good! Dangerous Diseases The biggest reason why you should get rid of rats from your garden is their ability to spread various dangerous diseases. One of the most serious disease rats can cause is Leptospirosis, which can ultimately lead to Weil’s disease. Other diseases spread by rats include hantavirus and rabbit fever. Having rats in your garden is a big health risk for you, your family, and even your pets, so make sure you get rid of the vermin. Rat Bites Having a rat problem in your garden puts you and your loved ones at an increased risk of coming in direct contact with the a rat, and getting bitten by the rodent. Structural Damage Rats can be harmful to the structure and beauty of your garden. They can cause damage to construction materials like wood, bricks, concrete, and even some metals. As a result, they can cause harm to your garden infrastructure like fences and garden sheds. Now that you know some important reasons why it‘s advisable not to have rats in your garden, we can move onto the next topic, that is: How to Detect Signs of Rats in Your Garden Rats are sneaky, nocturnal animals, so it’s unlikely that you’ll run into them during the day. So, it can get difficult to tell if you do have a rat infestation on your hands or not. Fortunately, there are some obvious tell-tale signs of rats living in your garden. All you’ll need is 10 to 15 mins of your time to thoroughly investigate your garden and its surrounding area. Below we have given a complete list of indicators that suggest there might be rats infesting your garden. Read the list, and if the signs start checking off, then know you have a problem to deal with. Rat Droppings Coming across rat droppings in your garden is one of the biggest tell-tale signs that rats are scurrying around your property. Rats are able to produce up to 40 droppings per night because of how much they defecate. Rat poop is dark brown in colour, and resembled a large rice grain that 9-14 mm large. If you come across such faeces in your garden or anywhere near your property, then it might be a giveaway sign of rats in your garden. Rat Nests Rats need nests to multiply and take care of their young ones. They prefer to build nests in dry places that are hidden from predators and have food sources nearby, such as sewers. An example of such a source can be bird feeders, so if you have any in your garden, try hunting for a nest in that area. The nest may look like piles of wood stacked on each other. Rats are also attracted towards clutter like cardboard waste, paper and cloths. Burrows Burrows are another living spot for rats and their presence in your garden is a giveaway sign that rats might be living in your garden. In fact, coming across burrows may also suggest the kind of rats that are there in your garden. Brown rats are known for their fast and efficient digging skills. A burrow is a space to hide, save food, and raise their young ones for this species. Burrows are commonly found in places that have easy access to food. Such convenient spots may include, places close to the compost bin, inside the garage, near a garden shed, and under decking or other kinds of shelters. Bite Marks on Garden Hoses Rats have commendable gnawing abilities due to their extremely strong enamels. Rats are able to chew through most materials that are present in your garden, such as bricks, asbestos, cement, cinder blocks, aluminum, plastics, wood, and even lead. Finding evidence such as damaged wood or torn food packaging can be a very strong sign of rats in your garden. It is very easy to distinguish rats using bite marks because of the rodent‘s impressive ability to eat through almost anything, and also the fact that rats have very distinct bite marks that are easy to recognize. Footprints in the Dirt One surefire way of detecting rat activity in your garden is through their footprints. Rats tend to live in dirty and contaminated areas, and move around a lot. So, it‘s inevitable that they will leave behind an easy to track trail of footprints wherever they go. Another similar means of detecting rats in your garden is by looking for rat pathways. Rats make such pathways to shorten the distance between their nest and the food source. Increased Pet Activity Pets like dogs and cats are more sensitive to sounds than we are. So, they are more likely to detect rat activity in your garden, and try and get a hold of the rodent. If you find your pet stuffing their nose in cervices more frequently and longer than usual, then you can suspect rats in your garden. How to Get Rid of Rats in Gardens Now that we know how to detect rats and why to get rid of them, let’s get onto how you can get a garden without rats. Remove Food Sources As we discussed away, rats build their nests in places that have easy access to food. If you have pet food, like bird feeders in your garden, then that may be what’s attracting rats to your territory. Rats feed on the grains that fall from such feeders. So, either get rid of these feeders, or replace them with secure squirrel-proof ones that can still feed birds. Keep an Eye on Crops Your crops may be what‘s attracting rats to your garden. The rodent will eat about any fruit and vegetable out there. So, keep an eye out for your crops and make sure you don‘t accidentally eat anything that a rat might have bitten into. Also, remove fallen fruits from your garden to reduce the rats‘ food sources and drive them away. Remove Water Sources Just like food, rats also need water to survive. However, this doesn’t mean you should get rid of your scenic garden ponds or bird baths. Just make sure you remove excess water sources like dripping pipes, and that you secure drains and add baffles to the drainpipes. Protect Your Compost Bins To deter rats from your compost heaps and bins, you need to stop adding food scraps to it, and start keeping it moist by adding lots of green and brown materials. You can also moisten the heap by regularly watering it. You can also keep rats away from your compost bin by installing chicken wire around its base. You can also utilize electrical wires to help kill the rats that come in contact with it. Plant Plants that Serve as Repellants Certain flowers like daffodils, lavenders, marigolds, and herbs like sage, black pepper, cayenne and oregano help effectively keep rats away from your garden. Peppermint Oil Peppermint oil is a non-lethal repellent that keeps rats away from the property. Just add a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball and spread it on areas you want rats to stay away from. Do this on a weekly basis. Rat Traps Rat traps are a great tool to help you get rid of the rats in your garden and garden shed or greenhouse. First you need too equip yourself with protective gear like gloves and masks to avoid contact with rat excretions. Then you have to find all the nests and burrows in your garden and shed. If you‘re trying to kill the rats in your garden shed then you need to find their entry points in the shed, such as holes in the shed door. Remember that holes as small as coins can also serve as entry points. Cover these holes with rodent resistant expanding foam they will not be able to gnaw off. Finally, set up the traps inside, and around, your shed. There are many different types of traps you can buy, for example snap traps with springs, that instantly kill the rat that enters. However, know that all rat traps work with food bait. Peanut butter is said to be one of the best food baits for rats. Once you have a dead rat, make sure you dispose it safely, because even inhaling the air around it can be very dangerous. Here’s a great video on how to use rat traps. Rat Poison Another way of getting rid of the rats in your garden is rat poison. The poison comes in different forms like bars, blocks, granules, pellets and chunks. All these poisons have different effectiveness and efficiency when it comes to killing rats. Just make sure you place the poison strategically and in a place where your pets and children don‘t come in contact with it. Pest Control Services If you feel like the situation is out of your control, or just simply don’t want to get your hands dirty, then you can always hire professional pest control services. The rat control services can eradicate the rat population from your garden and guide you on how to prevent more infestations according to your garden’s needs. Now that your garden is completely rat free, how about a new garden set to enjoy the great weather outside?
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10 Ways To Keep Foxes Out Of The Garden
10 Ways To Keep Foxes Out Of The Garden Foxes are undoubtedly one of the most intelligent and stunning creatures roaming the face of the earth. They are known for their agility, speed and cunningness. However, if you live in a town, in the countryside, or are surrounded by nearby wooded areas, chances are you have encountered a fox. The creatures are pretty charming to observe from a distance but can quickly turn into a menace when they invade your garden or house. As you may already know, once a fox has gotten used to hanging around your home, only serious, well-thought-out strategies can help you get rid of it. But, you need not fret yet; we have some quick and easy tips to help you fox-proof your garden. Understanding Foxes Before we move on to ways to get rid of foxes from your garden, we must take some time to understand these mystical wild animals that have somehow managed to become pests in urban areas. Foxes are generally found in wooded areas, but with civilisation growing and encroaching upon various natural habitats, numerous wild animals are spotted in urban areas. Foxes are nervous creatures that usually don’t come into heavily populated areas unless they have an ulterior motive. Most of the time, this happens to be food or a nice place to lounge. So if you leave your bins uncovered, have plenty of leftovers thrown out, or have a number of small pets, then you may attract some sly urban foxes. Although foxes are intelligent creatures, they are also quite skittish and avoid confrontation at all costs. Also, foxes hate water, loud noises, sudden movement, and certain smells. So if you have a fox problem, you can use these qualities to eliminate foxes from your garden. How To Deter Foxes From Your Garden Foxes can attack your pets, dig up your garden and flower beds, leave faeces, and chew through hosepipes. In short, Urban foxes are not the ideal garden visitors that they might lead you to believe they are. Additionally, these crafty creatures are highly adaptable and agile, so they can usually find a way around your feeble efforts to keep them at bay. However, that does not mean all hope is lost, and you need to call pest control. We have put together some practical ways below for you to protect your house and garden from pesky foxes. Remember, not every method is bound to be successful with your unwanted guest. So before you give up, you should try all of the approaches mentioned below, and be persistent in your efforts to ensure the animal leaves your garden alone. 1. Blocking their entrance and exit points The best and most humane method of keeping foxes away from your garden is making it difficult for them to get in the first place. One way of doing so is by having a boundary wall or a solid fence all around your house. But, since foxes are known to climb fences of up to 6 ft with ease, you will need additional reinforcements. These can include anti-fox spikes, wall rollers, and fences that are bent away from your garden. These modifications will act as fox deterrents by making it difficult for the foxes to get in. Another thing you should consider is that foxes are brilliant diggers and have no trouble digging under your fence to get in. So to prevent this, you can have one to two feet of concrete so that foxes can't dig their way in. 2. Do Not Feed Urban Foxes Foxes are always on the hunt for food sources, so if you deliberately leave out food every now and then for your little fox friend, then you must know that this friendship will last for a long time. Foxes will recognise your garden as an easy food source and come there often searching for it. Additionally, if they do not perceive any danger in your garden, they are likely to bring their fox cubs with them too! So if you don’t want your garden turning into a playground for foxes, it is best to hold back the urge to feed them. 3. Electric Fencing If a regular fence is not doing the job for you, you can consider switching to a low voltage electric fence. These fences do not cause significant harm to foxes, but the slight discomfort they feel when they come in contact with it is more than enough to scare them away. However, if you have other small animals in the area, such as hedgehogs, you should make some modifications to the fence to ensure they are not harmed. You should keep the fence about 15 cm from the ground to ensure hedgehogs can pass safely from underneath. This is because, unlike other animals, hedgehogs do not run away after being electrocuted. Instead, they simply curl up and continue to be electrocuted. 4. Clean up Foxes are natural scavengers. So any place they can find hidden food is a gold mine for them. Bins that have been left uncovered, nuts and food left over from feeding birds, leftover pet food and other easily accessible edibles may warrant frequent fox visitations. Since foxes have an acute sense of smell, even having leftover food near your house can cause them to roam around in the area and nestle in your garden. So to ensure you’re not inviting foxes over with your food habits, ensure that you clean up well and don’t leave any food outside. Another thing you must clean up to keep foxes away is their poo. That’s right, once foxes get into your garden, they often leave excrement and urine around the yard. The faeces and urine help foxes mark their territory and can lead to them returning to your garden frequently. This is their way of signalling to other animals and male foxes that the area now belongs to them. So to ensure that foxes do not return, be quick to clean up any faeces you may see lying around. 5. Motion Sensor Sprinklers Foxes are not particularly fond of water, especially when it is jetting out unexpectedly at them. Since foxes are skittish creatures, motion sensor-activated sprinklers and automatic water pistols can scare any wandering fox that ventures into your garden. Automatic water pistols are often connected to hosepipes, and their effectiveness relies on the water pressure in said pipes. Since both devices are motion-activated, they can conserve water while still scaring foxes away from your property. 6. Light Up Your Garden Foxes are highly non-confrontational animals. They enjoy their time lurking in the dark and quietly taking whatever food or small pets they can get their paws on. So one of the best ways to keep foxes away from your garden is by creating an unfavourable and well-lit environment. You can go one step ahead and scare the foxes away by using motion-activated flashing lights. Wandering foxes will be immediately in the dreaded spotlight and run immediately. Such tactics help in keeping foxes away in a humane way without causing any harm to them. 7. Ultrasonic Repeller Foxes have a great sense of hearing. Their large ears can easily pick up on the smallest of sounds, so any sudden or loud noises can cause serious alarm to these shy creatures. But you simply cannot disturb the entire neighbourhood with a loud alarm, especially at night. So instead, you can use an ultrasonic repeller that does the same job without causing noise pollution. This is because the sound from an ultrasonic repeller has too high of a frequency to be heard by humans and can only be heard by animals such as dogs and foxes. However, this method may not be appropriate if you have pets at home as it can also disturb them. 8. Get A Guard Dog You can always get a guard dog to protect your garden if all else fails. You can train dogs to chase away predators such as foxes with ease. Their natural protective instincts make them ideal for keeping unwanted visitors at bay. Additionally, foxes can smell when the dogs have marked their territory around the house and will steer clear of the area to avoid fights. However, the occasional skirmish is simply unavoidable and may cause some noise disturbances. 9. Use Smells To Your Advantage As mentioned earlier, foxes often urinate in certain areas to mark them as their territory and prevent other predators and foxes from claiming it as their own. This practice also helps foxes to return to what they now perceive as their area with ease. So to prevent this from happening, you must wash away any fox urine in the area and cover its scent. You can use white vinegar as it has a strong, pungent smell that easily surpasses that of fox urine. Since foxes are so territorial, they cannot stand the scent of another predatory animal in their territory. So you can use fox repellant sprays that contain the smell of other predators or male foxes. This will falsely indicate to the visiting fox that this area belongs to another predator and they are not welcome here, causing them to leave as quickly as they came. Additionally, there are certain smells that foxes are particularly averse to. These include the scent of capsaicin that is usually found in chilli peppers, citronella from the chemical carbonyl methyl nonyl ketone, and the pungent salt aluminium ammonium sulphate. Some fox repellents contain these scents, but you can even use chilli peppers and garlic as a natural fox deterrent. 10. Secure All Your Small Pets Small animals such as chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks and hamsters are the ideal meal for a fox. If you have such pets, and their enclosure happens to be outdoors, then you are very likely to find foxes around your house and garden, attempting to break into the enclosure in search of dinner. To ensure your pets remain safe and the foxes stay at bay, you must build a secure enclosure. You cannot use chicken wire or plastic mesh for this purpose. Instead, you need a robust frame with a secure floor that will prevent foxes from getting in from any of its sides. As discussed earlier, foxes are limber creatures that require military-level security to be kept out. They can easily climb up fences, chew through chicken wire, or dig holes in the ground and enter the enclosure to feast upon your pets. So, if you have an outdoor animal enclosure that you simply cannot move indoors, you must go the extra mile to ensure it is completely secure. Otherwise, not only will you get frequent visitations from a cunning animal, but the number of your pets will start to diminish rapidly too. Conclusion Foxes are an essential part of wildlife and play a significant role in maintaining the ecosystem's delicate balance. These admirable creatures contribute to nature’s biodiversity in more than one way and should not be exterminated or harmed under usual circumstances. However, when foxes sneak into private property, they can cause significant damage to your garden and attack your pets. If the foxes are not stopped, they will continue to invade your space with increasing courage and cause more and more harm to your house. So then it becomes necessary to get rid of foxes from your garden. But, you can do all of this in a humane way that does not cause any harm to these beautiful creatures either. Once you have successfully dealt with your fox problem, you can focus on new ways to enjoy your evening outdoors, such as setting up a brand new garden set.
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