Page 36 Fall Home & Garden | September 2023 Lincoln Daily News Duane Friend says, “Placing a 5-foot tall wire cylinder around a plant can protect individual trees or plants. Tree protectors, plastic tree wrap, or woven wire cylinders can all help protect new plantings.” Additionally, Friend says, "Three 6-foot t-bar steel posts placed in an equilateral triangle around a tree can also be fairly effective, even without fencing." Use fright techniques to scare critters away. These include “gas exploders (for use in rural areas), aluminum pie plates that bang together in the wind, scarecrows, lights, lanterns, radios, motion sensors for radio or light devices, and leashed dogs.” Make sure to select plants less susceptible to deer. The extension says these species include “ornamental alliums, daffodils, and wild ginger, or plant thorny, prickly, or smelly plants.” Whether you want to repel or attract wildlife, Farm and Home Supply in Lincoln has useful products. Farm and Home Supply Manager Rick Wilson said Repel and Liquid Fence both contain cloves and garlic oil. These burn the animal’s noses to keep them away but are harmless to plants and animals. These products both have common household spices in their ingredient list. Another product containing a household spice is Critter Ridder. Wilson said black pepper is an ingredient in that product. If you want to repel mice, Wilson said The Giant Destroyer: Peppermint rodent clips is useful. Pest Eraser Rodent Repeller is also utilized for keeping mice away. As for products that attract wildlife, Wilson said the store has bird feeders, bird houses and hummingbird feeders. Because hummingbirds are attracted to red plants and feeders, hummingbird feeders are usually red. Wilson said the store sells tons of peanuts for people to put out for squirrels in colder weather. For attracting deer, Farm and Home Supply sells six or seven varieties of seed plots. It is important to be prepared, whether you are planning to attract or repel wildlife. [By Angela Reiners] Sources: Hisaka, Mizuki. “8 Ways to Keep Unwanted Animals Out of your Yard.” 28 Nov. 2022. https://www.angi.com/ articles/5-ways-keep-critters-away-your-home. htm Illinois Extension. “Keep deer away from your plants this fall.” 5 Oct. 2020. https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/ keep-deer-away-your-plants-fall Total Pond. “Creating a winter sanctuary for wildlife.” 2023. https://totalpond.com/blogs/water-gardening/ creating-a-winter-sanctuary-for-wildlife Thomas, Nikki. Attracting Winter Wildlife: Don’t Let the Cold Weather Keep the Critters Away. 30 Nov. 2016. https://backyardville. com/attracting-winter-wildlife-dont-let-coldweather-keep-critters-away/
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