Gardening is among the most fun and relaxing hobbies that a person can have. It’s good for your mental health, it gets you out in the fresh air, and it yields you yummy, healthy edibles for you and your family to enjoy. What’s there not to love about it?
Unfortunately, mice share this high regard of gardening, and so, you probably shouldn’t be surprised if you get one or two prowling around your garden. So we thought it might be smart to talk a bit about why there are mice in your garden, and what you can do about them.
First things first, what’s attracting mice to your garden?
Like most other wild animals, mice are attracted to human homes in search of food and shelter. So of course, the reason why they love your garden so much is that they (like you) see it for what it is – an excellent source of valuable, healthy nutrition.
Mice will be particularly interested in newly planted gardens, as seeds tend to be one of their favorite treats. So if you’re in the habit of planting seeds for corn, or sunflowers, or other similar ones, you will need to take good care to protect that garden from mice.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
And it’s not just mice that are attracted to your brand new vegetable patch, but pretty much any other nuisance wild animal you can think of. Assuming you didn’t plant your garden just to share it with rodents, there are protective measures you’ll need to take to keep wildlife from chomping on your freshly planted seeds.
Of course, mice will take into consideration other aspects of your property. For instance, if they identify a readily available entry point (such as a crack or a gap in the wall) into your home, they’ll be doubly tempted to move in, as this also satisfies their other primary need – shelter. Another attraction point would be the presence of wood log piles, which again, might provide shelter, and an easily accessible water source, such as a leaky pipe or a bird bath.
Keeping mice out of the garden…
Keeping mice out of the garden (and off your property, in general) is important for a number of reasons. First, we’ve got the obvious one we just talked about. Mice in the garden will contaminate and ruin that garden you’ve worked so hard to build, so for the sake of your fruit and veg, you need to get those rodents out of there.
But there are other negative aspects to inviting a mouse to move in with you. One of the biggest concerns around mice is that they tend to attract other types of wildlife, bigger, and often more dangerous.
For instance, the presence of mice and rats on your property also attracts snakes, since these often feed on small, helpless mammals. So really, the longer you leave the mice alone, the graver the damage done to your garden, and the more at risk you will be of attracting bigger predators.
Mice Prevention, Removal and Repellents
Source: discoverwildlife.com
Of course, there is always the option of calling a professional wildlife removal service to assist you with your rodent problem. Many such companies offer a wide array of services, including not only the removal of the offensive animal, but also services like attic restoration, and future prevention steps. So not only are you getting rid of your present problem, you’re also working (together with the wildlife removal experts) towards a pest-free tomorrow. You can find out more information at adconstructionplus.com, and can decide which service is best for you.
On top of that, there are other steps you can take to protect your home and garden from mice, as well as other animals.
First of all, you could try fencing. Putting up a fence around your garden should be essential to any budding gardener. Fences are important in keeping mice away, as well as bigger predators like skunks, or other animals that might be attracted to your veggie patch. Make sure you dig your fence in deep, so that wild animals can’t dig their way under it.
Another thing you can do to keep mice away from your garden is trim your grass regularly. Mice will always pick an unkempt yard over a neat and trimmed one, simply because the hefty log piles, and the tall grass, give them so much more space to hide in. So by keeping your grass neatly trimmed, you’re doing yourself multiple favors – the yard looks good, and you’re cutting down the risk of a mouse invasion.
Source: almanac.com
Get rid of other food sources. Obviously, nobody’s saying you should get rid of your garden altogether, but you should try to minimize potential sources of food as much as you possibly can. For instance, since mice may also be attracted to pet bowls, trash cans, bird feeders, and fallen fruit, it might be a good idea to keep as many of those as you can indoors. This will minimize the attraction, and so help keep your garden safe from rodents.
And then, there’s the issue of shelter. Mice will be more attracted by a property that provides not only food, but also shelter, which might mean they’ve found a way to get into your home, and enjoy the nice, and cozy atmosphere. It’s time to rectify that, as well.
This is why you should regularly inspect your property, performing a thorough check of walls, window structures, foundation, and roofing. Remember that even a tiny crack in any of these structures might be big enough for a mouse to squeeze through. So check for such holes, and make sure to seal them as soon as possible.
While there can be no foolproof way to ensure there are no mice on your property, there are several steps you can take to drastically decrease the chances of it happening. In this article, we’ve shown you the most common, and also the most efficient ones to keep your garden and your home safe!
