Groundhogs are one of the most known rodents around the world. Their appearance might make you think that they are harmless. But infestation of groundhogs in the garden can be a difficult problem to get rid of.
There are many repelling techniques and methods suggested by experts. Today, we are going to discuss lime and find out whether it can repel groundhogs or not.
Lime to get rid of groundhogs
It is possible to get rid of groundhogs from the garden using only lime. Lime or agricultural lime has elements in it that can cause burning sensation on the body of groundhogs upon direct contact. Lime can be placed inside the tunnels, burrows, and holes dug by groundhogs.
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There are a lot of reasons why lime is able to get rid of groundhogs. Let’s discuss in detail about some of the reasons.
The components and functions of lime:
Lime is officially known as agricultural lime. The reason behind this is the components and functions of lime. First of all, the major function of agricultural lime is to control the stability of soil in terms of pH level. The acidity of the soil is decreased by using agricultural lime.
It just tells you how strong agricultural lime is as a chemical in general.
Another important thing to remember here is that these components and functions of agricultural lime make it a superb groundhog repellent. That is why experts have suggested the use of lime or agricultural lime to deter groundhogs away from the garden.
The chemical reaction of lime:
It is believed by experts that using the agricultural lime around the digging places of groundhogs can be the most effective measure.
If you manage to place a portion of agricultural lime into the targeted soil area, then it would be easy for you to get rid of groundhogs successfully.
For example, if the groundhogs living inside the holes, tunnels, and burrows of your garden come in direct contact with agricultural lime, then they would feel a burning sensation on their body. This is the key feature of agricultural lime as a groundhog repellent.
The infestation style of groundhogs:
The infestation style of groundhogs is very simple. They start digging holes inside your garden in the hope of finding a living place and sources of food. Various plants in your garden can end up becoming the desired food sources of groundhogs.
This particular infestation style of groundhogs make it possible to use agricultural lime as a repellent against them.
You can just find the burrows and tunnels dug by groundhogs and use lime at those places. Similarly, the food sources of groundhogs which are the plants of your garden can also be targeted for this purpose.
You can use the agricultural lime around the plants to keep groundhogs away from them.
Does lime hurt groundhogs?
It is believed by experts that lime or agricultural lime contains the properties that can hurt groundhogs. The important thing to remember here is that the most active property of agricultural lime is calcium carbonate.
Calcium carbonate is able to cause skin irritation and burn for groundhogs upon direct contact.
But agricultural lime does not necessarily cause the demise of groundhogs. It goes as far as driving groundhogs out of the burrows and tunnels. Using agricultural lime as a repellent eventually makes the groundhogs leave your garden once and for all.
How effective is lime in getting rid of groundhogs?
It has been noted by experts that lime or agricultural lime is one of the most effective groundhog repellents. Lime can drive groundhogs out of the holes, tunnels, and burrows. Lime is able to do that by causing harmful chemical reactions on the feet of groundhogs.
If you manage to strategically place agricultural lime in and around the holes of groundhogs, then they would be unable to live in those holes anymore. The instant pain and burn caused by the chemical reaction of lime would be too much to handle for the groundhogs.
The effectiveness of lime as a groundhog repellent has very few matches.
How do you get rid of groundhogs with lime?
Getting rid of groundhogs with lime might seem like a difficult task if you have no prior experience regarding the matter. However, there are some steps and methods you can follow to accomplish the task. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.
Find the holes, burrows, and tunnels:
First of all, you will need to find out the hiding places of groundhogs in your garden. Groundhogs are known for being natural diggers. So they are great at creating holes, tunnels, and burrows in your garden using nothing more than their claws.
You will need to go through the entire area of your garden to find these spots. The scattered soil structure and pile of dirt might just be the signs of the tunnels, burrows, and holes.
Finding these holes and spots is a key part of the entire process as it can often decide the outcome.
Target the holes:
The holes dug by groundhogs need to be targeted for the success of the repellent process. You will be required to mix a portion of agricultural lime with the burrows, tunnels and holes of groundhogs. This will eventually make it hard for groundhogs to access those very holes.
The important thing to remember here is that agricultural lime will cause serious problems for groundhogs upon direct contact. They are more likely to leave the holes and your garden once they start to get burned by the chemical reaction of agricultural lime.
Target the plants:
Groundhogs are mostly vegetarian. So they perceive the different flowering plants and other plants of your garden as their sources of food.
If you can successfully place a portion of agricultural lime around the favorite plants of groundhogs, then they will not be able to access those plants anymore.
This will mean that their sources of food will become scarce. Source of food is one of the major reasons why groundhogs seek shelter in your garden. It is important to remember that agricultural lime is a long term solution against the infestation of groundhogs.
6 tips to deter groundhogs from the garden
Deterring groundhogs from the garden might come across as a difficult task due to lack of prior experience. However, there are some steps and methods you can follow to accomplish the task. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.
Use of ammonia:
It is believed by experts that you can use ammonia to drive groundhogs out of the garden permanently. The trick is pretty simple. First of all, you will need to find the hiding places of groundhogs in your garden.
The holes, tunnels, and burrows dug by groundhogs should be targeted in this case.
If you manage to put ammonia directly into these spots, then the repelling effect of ammonia will make them inhabitable for groundhogs. Then, groundhogs will have no other option but to leave the garden immediately.
Use of garlic:
It has been said by experts that groundhogs do not like the smell of garlic. So you can try to place garlic inside the burrows, tunnels, and holes dug by groundhogs. This step will drive them away. Groundhogs do not like going into areas that have the terrible smell of garlic.
Application of predator urine:
Using predator urine is another effective way of getting rid of groundhogs from the garden. Cat urine and dog urine qualify as predator urine. Predator urine can be used in two ways to deter groundhogs away.
First of all, you can put the predator urine along the perimeter of the garden to keep out groundhogs. On the other hand, the predator urine can be put directly into the holes dug by existing groundhogs in your garden.
Application of agricultural lime:
Agricultural lime has also been suggested by experts as an efficient groundhog repellent. The components of lime can burn the skin of groundhogs pretty badly. So they will indeed leave your garden if their burrows and tunnels become defenseless against agricultural lime.
Application of pepper spray:
Another smell that groundhogs absolutely detest is the strong scent emitted by pepper. It is very easy to use pepper as a groundhog repellent. First of all, you will need to create a mixture of pepper and water.
Then, the solution will have to be sprayed into the holes dug by groundhogs to repel them.
Application of talcum powder:
The strong aroma produced by talcum powder is not enjoyed by groundhogs. You will need to sprinkle the talcum powder in and around the tunnels and burrows dug by groundhogs to drive them away from the garden.
Final Thoughts
Lime or agricultural lime indeed has the capability to repel groundhogs away from the garden. Lime can go as far as burning the feet of groundhogs if it is mixed correctly with the targeted soil. Using lime around the plants of the garden can keep groundhogs away too.