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For skunks, your garden is an all-you-can-eat buffet of grubs and grasshoppers, mice, moles, rats, and even rabbits. If a skunk gets into your garden, he may feast on all the pests, but he can also wreak havoc.

Skunks will tip over your garbage and get into your compost. They'll spray your dog and your precious pepper plants with their noxious scent. Skunks also like to dig, and who wants holes in their garden?

So how do you keep skunks out of your garden?

There are several things you can do to discourage the critters from venturing onto your property, and so becoming interested in taking up residence in your vegetable patch. None of the suggestions given below will harm the skunks, and none are environmentally unfriendly.

Be certain not to leave out pet food and water dishes. Skunks will take left out food as an invitation. Also, if you have a compost heap or composter, be sure it is secured. Fresh scraps are a gourmet meal to skunks.

There are certain things skunks hate. One of these is chicken wire. Since skunks can't climb, a chicken wire fence of about two feet will discourage nocturnal visits from these smelly creatures. Be certain your chicken wire fence is buried about two feet down as well. The enterprising skunk will burrow under a fence to get at your garden.

Another thing skunks hate is marigolds. A border of these multi-tasking garden flowers will send the skunks running, their little noses offended by the sweet scent of marigolds.

Cucumbers also offend skunks. The scent of the flowers and the overall aroma of the cucumber plant will dissuade the skunk from his intrusive intentions.

Bright lights and loud noises can frighten off skunks as well. Motion detectors around the garden may scare them off. Set the lights to detect movement around the perimeter of the garden. Should a skunk saunter up to the garden gate, the sudden flash of bright light may send him scurrying back to the woodland.

Though a motion detector that emits noises at the decibel level of a car alarm may frighten off invading skunks, it's also likely to startle you, and your neighbors, out of a sound sleep. The sudden flash of lights should be sufficient.

If you find that skunks are visiting your garden, and they are causing damage, a chicken wire fence, a border of marigolds, and a few well-placed cucumber plants may end the nocturnal excursions. Add a night-light, and the aromatic animals most likely will go in search of more amenable gardens.

Learn more about this author, Shelly Mcrae.
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