The end of summer is the favourite time of the year for the small wildlife such as moles, groundhogs, skunks and raccoons, digging holes about your yard. Most of the time, critters are harmless to us; yet, they can wreak havoc on a durable lawn groomed to health. In this article, let us share our best tips on how to safely keep critters away from your lawn.
- Catch Them in the Act: Since they are active during night-time, catching them on the spot is hardly possible. To resolve this issue, using movement activated water sprayers might just do the trick! At the first sign of movement, the animal will get sprayed with water, which will urge the critter to leave the perimeter without causing any harm to the intruding animal. This strategy works in the long term and will deter animal pests for the rest of the season!
- Don’t Provide Cuddly Hideouts: Wildlife enjoys any sheltering element your yard has to provide. Small rodents particularly love rocks, piles of debris or wood to hide. Clearing these out will make your environment less cozy to them. They will naturally turn to a more hospitable home to settle in.
- Don’t Provide White Grub Food: You may not know this, but visiting wildlife is probably simply looking for white grubs in your lawn. Yep, the perfect late-night snack! Skunks and raccoons crave these insects and will dig in your lawn to feed on them. The solution is to get rid of white grubs first! Bothersome wildlife will have no more reasons to stick around and damage your lawn.
There are several ways to do so! Applying nematodes, microscopic worms that parasite white grubs, is one way to reduce the white grub population. The best time to apply nematodes is at the end of summer, from mid-August to mid-September. Playing with grubs and worms may not be your favourite sport, we understand! Our Nutrite Experts will take care of this for you!
Call us for more information about our white grub control services!
- If All Else Fails… If despite all your efforts, critters still make your lawn look miserable, a pepper repellent made with black pepper oil, peperine and capsaicine is available. These three non-toxic substances have enough “tang” to deter unwanted animals! Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using this product.
By following our advice, you should be able to safely show critters on their way out, without causing them any harm. They will move on to a less “hostile” environment than your yard.
If your lawn has been severely damaged, feel free to enquire about our services! We can help you make your lawn durable and healthy again with our unique overseeding services! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and follow us on social media. Best of luck!
