How to Stop Possums Eating Your Garden
I appear to have won the ongoing battle with the possums. The answer, which was kindly provided in the comments earlier in January, is mosquito netting.
Enclosing the whole garden in a double-bed size net has kept the possums from climbing the fence and from eating any of the vines that are growing along it. It also filters the hot Queensland summer sun a little.
The one caveat to covering your garden in netting - remember to open it up during the day, otherwise the pollinators aren’t able to get in and the harvest may suffer.
February 27th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I’ve finally found a product that works to stop possums eating our prized vegies, passionfruit and other fruit vines. It is called “Quassia chips”, chipped bark from the Quassia tree, and available from “Green Harvest” Maleny, Qld. Webpage address is: http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/deterrent_bird_bat_possum_prod.html
I’m part of a community garden site, and over the years have tried everything from chilli spray, to Napthalene flakes. I was working my way through the Possum Repellent Study (by Deakin University into 14 possum repellents), web address: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dse/nrenpa.nsf/FID/-BA8F66E2207E9E1ACA256D9000082EC0?OpenDocument
This one works a treat - nothing has chewed on any of the plants I’ve sprayed, and I’ve been delighted to find something easy that finally works.
February 27th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Thanks for the tip, Jacqui! I’ll give the quassia chips a try as well.