There are several ways you can attempt to deter possums from nibbling on your plants. Many people try deterrents such as Quassia chips soaked in water and sprayed on the plants; blood and bone fertiliser hung up in old socks on the tree or garden; garlic sprays or commercial chemical deterrents.
Correspondingly, how do I stop possums eating my trees?
Use household items to deter possums.
- Brew up some lapsang souchong tea.
- Spread blood and bone around the vulnerable plants.
- Use mothball flakes on beams, and around the base of plants.
- Apply Indonesian fish sauce.
- Make a garlic spray.
- Spray laundry detergent full strength onto foliage.
- Tabasco sauce.
Additionally, how do I stop possums eating my lemon tree?
- Netting is the best solution for deterring possums. You could simply create a netting fence around the outside of your lemon tree or garden (around 1m in height, using soft netting material).
- You can also use mothballs (naptholene) which will keep them away.
Likewise, people ask, how do I protect my possums from fruit trees?
The best way to protect young plants and seedlings from possum attack is to create a barrier to physically stop them from getting to your tree. You can add shade cloth or white bird netting at night time. Other methods work on taste and smell: Sprinkle blood and bone fertiliser around the base of your tree.
What fruit trees do possums not eat?
Possums don’t usually like citrus leaves or their fruit. Often lemons and other citrus fruit are found with the rind entirely eaten off the fruit, leaving the segmented pith hanging from the tree. This isn’t possums, but rats.
19 Related Question Answers Found
Does vinegar deter possums?
Vinegar or Fox urine will help you get rid of Opossums. They move around at night so sprinkle, spray, or drop your vinegar when your Opossum is out for his/her dinner, of course on the spot she or he was seen last.
What scent do possums hate?
You can scatter dog or cat fur around your property, since the smell of a potential predator can deter possums. Alternatively, try spreading ammonia, mothballs, or garlic around your house, as these are all smells possums dislike.
How do you get rid of possums naturally?
Mixing fresh garlic bits in water and spraying around a garden area helps keep possums away. Hot peppers or hot sauce — the hotter the better — mixed with a little water and dish soap and applied to plants the possum finds tasty also repels the possum.
Does bird netting stop possums?
Bird netting can deter possums too as they cannot climb it, but be aware netting is easy for them to break through. To stop digging animals, wire should be planted about 30 centimetres into the ground. And special small mesh wire can be bought that will stop mice getting through.
Will human urine deter possums?
Every time, their dog finds a possum in their garden, and they call me to remove it. Only this time, they asked me what they can do to keep these critters away. So, besides that, the only natural possum repellent that actually works is predator urine. In fact, fox urine works the best.
Does peppermint oil repel possums?
Soak several rags in peppermint oil or ammonia and place the rags around your property. Opossurms and raccoons do not like the pungent odor of the peppermint oil or ammonia, and will stay away from the offending area. Replace the rags after rainfall to maintain the deterrent.
What foods are poisonous to possums?
Offering backyard brushtail possums food is not recommended. Completely avoid unhealthy (and potentially life-threatening) food such as bread, cakes and biscuits, raw meat and cooked bones. Some food may cause life threatening illnesses. Raw meat can give them parasites like Toxoplasma gondii.
How do you possum proof a vegetable garden?
Possum-Proof Gardens Menthol Rubs – Try smearing something ‘stinky’ around the boundaries of your garden like menthol chest rub. Place the smelly ointment on areas where there’s an over-hanging hanging branch or structure. Moth Balls – You can also try hanging moth balls in citrus trees to deter possums from taking fruit.
How do I protect my fruit trees from squirrels and birds?
Bird netting is fruit trees’ best defense against birds. Use plastic mesh that has 1/4- or 1/2-inch-diameter holes. Although squirrels can gnaw through bird netting, it offers some protection against them, too. Leaving corn or nuts out for squirrels while the trees’ fruit ripens may distract them from the trees.
What does possum poop look like?
Brushtail possum scat is a similar shape to koala poo, but a little smaller, and it can range from greenish brown to dark brown or black, depending whether they’re helping themselves to garden fruit trees or eating leaves.
Will possums eat tomatoes?
While I have never found any evidence of possums (Australian marsupial found only in Australia and New Zealand) eating my ripe tomatoes I have friends who say possums have eaten their tomatoes. Of course there would be other animals that eat ripe tomatoes, however the remedies listed below may also apply them as well.
What plants dont possums eat?
Trappers – who take them away from their territories. It is very stressful for a possum to be relocated and most don’t survive. Stinky plants – like chrysanthemums, mint bushes, geraniums and daisies. Spiky plants – possums don’t like spiny grevilleas and hakeas, or tough, woody banksias.
Do possums eat broccoli?
Vegetables 20-40% Daily, Don’t need to peel fruit and veg – skins and cores are fine and it makes the Sweet potato Corn-on-the-cob Broccoli Page 2 provided possum work harder for food (ie enrichment). Use (recycle) the tops and tails of the vegetables you are going to eat.
Does barbed wire stop possums?
Possums are particularly difficult pests to control, but there are still plenty of ways you can protect your vegie patch from them. An example of wallaby- or rabbit-proof fencing; however, a tree over the fence lets the possums in. Note the top line of barbed wire designed to prevent possums.
Do Possum deterrents work?
The possum deterrent is effective at repelling possums but no product is 100% effective 100% of the time. There will be occasions and locations where one device can be overwhelmed by the extent of the possum problem. There are larger, more powerful devices available in these circumstances.
How do you kill a possum?
Some folks found them and kill them brutally, but If you do not want to kill the possums, then you can trap them for capture a live possum. Place the trap for at least 5 to 6 miles away from your property and open the cage when the possum get caught.
How do I get rid of possums in my yard?
Opossum control Do not leave pet food or trash outdoors at night. Pick fruit and garden crops when they are ripe to discourage opossums, and do not leave rotten fruit or crops on the ground. Eliminate brush piles, dilapidated buildings, and holes under concrete slabs – you will eliminate opossum hotels.
What animal eats the skin off lemons?
Rats and possums are common pests of citrus and will eat the peels of fruits. Sometimes they will leave the peel and eat the flesh or the entire fruit. Control rats with baits. The best deterrent for possums is an old stocking stuffed with dog hair.
Do fence spikes stop possums?
Possum Spikes™ are an excellent and cost-effective way to deter possums from walking or climbing along the tops of fences and rails. The design of these possum spikes makes it impossible for possums to pass along or pass over the fence line effectively securing your fence perimeter from possums.