While sometimes a garden crisis or a crop’s failure to thrive may fall on the gardener, many more times a less successful yield or growing year stems from inadequacies in repelling problematic animals and insects in a timely manner. The Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment at UMass Amherst, shares some of the most common signs of critters in the garden:
Animals visible in planters, beds and surrounding fencing, as well as on nearby lawns or shrubs
Evidence of digging in and around fencing, containers or beds
Droppings or tracks
Trampled or chewed plants
Plants eaten to the ground or with new growth nibbled off
Fruit or flowers are compromised or removed
While the signs of intruders may be clear, identifying the type of animal can be more difficult. Importantly, being able to identify the garden pest helps address the issue. For example, leaf damage can be caused by a number of different sources. Effectively determining the culprit depends on factors such as environmental clues (like tracks), time of day and magnitude and location of damage, as further explored in this guide from the Michigan State University Extension. Consequently, one of the best ways to defend your garden is by proactively minimizing who and what has access to it.