We did that, they just moved a few feet along the fence and dug there. Then when the smell wore off a bit, they went back to the old way in. The smell does not last very long either. You really need to replenish it after every bit of rain.
As for living with it, they cost me over £3000 in repairing the damage they did digging up the 5,000 or so Tulip bulbs that they ate.
My advice was live with it. Unchanged. I think in the end you will have to accept that.
I once got rid of moles in my lawn by killing the worms. (That was in the bad old days, I've reformed since). However it did work, and may for badgers too. They will be after the worms. The digging may ease as the grass settles in.
You might try cat repellent - just an idea.
Another idea off the top of my head. Try Iron Sulphate, 6 desert spoons in a 1&1/2 watering can of water. It will kill the moss, green up the grass without blackening, aciidify the soil (which the worms won't like), and the badger may not like the taste/smell.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Enclosing your garden with a high brick wall may well turn out to be the cheaper option ... google 'fencing badgers at RSPB Minsmere' and see what it took to stop the badgers swimming across The Scrape and raiding avocet nests.
Someone digs litlle holes in my bluebell wood. I thought it might be grey squirrels. They leave bluebell bulbs on the surface.
Now a badger toilet under a Rh ponticum bush, that is not what you want to encourage.
Someone leaves poo on my terrace. Often on the top of the pots; I think that is a fox characteristic. Examination of the stools reveals a varied diet. Smell is given by my google search as distinguishing between fox and badger - I've passed on that one.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I think badgers are still a protected species aren't they? Bearing that in mind, would it be legal to set up a temporary, very low electric fence around the inside perimeter or even just part of a garden, so they got a small shock whenever they tried to enter the area?
Would that even deter them? I have no idea - but perhaps someone does. I don't even know about the practicalities of installing an electric fence - but the ones in the paddocks and fields round here look fairly low tech. They also seem to get moved around so I'm assuming they can be temporary installations which can also be disconnected during the day when people, children and pets are moving around.
Not ideal but I'd consider it if it saved my garden.
You understand that I'm just thinking out loud and talking out of the back of my head here....
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
We were getting a lot of damage in the garden. I suspected badgers and set up a wildlife camera. Turned out to be both badgers and a cat.
My neighbour recommended Voss Sonic 2000 Animal Repeller which has a cat a badger setting. I wasn't convinced but thought it worth a try so bought a couple.
I set one to cat and one to badger and they are working well. I've since bought a third one for the soft fruit area. No damage now for more than 6 months, when we used to have a problem every 3 or 4 days.
Might be worth a try in your situation
Bee x
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I have nothing my my garden but grass and a bush but I have a brook behind. I’ve seen a fox and rabbit in my garden too so wouldn’t just be for the badger.
Thanks Bee I will check out that repeller. I will try to avoid an electric fence if I can though
Posts
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I once got rid of moles in my lawn by killing the worms. (That was in the bad old days, I've reformed since). However it did work, and may for badgers too. They will be after the worms. The digging may ease as the grass settles in.
You might try cat repellent - just an idea.
Another idea off the top of my head. Try Iron Sulphate, 6 desert spoons in a 1&1/2 watering can of water. It will kill the moss, green up the grass without blackening, aciidify the soil (which the worms won't like), and the badger may not like the taste/smell.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/minsmere/b/minsmere-blog/posts/a-big-fencing-project
There's more information and pics on Fbook.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Now a badger toilet under a Rh ponticum bush, that is not what you want to encourage.
Someone leaves poo on my terrace. Often on the top of the pots; I think that is a fox characteristic. Examination of the stools reveals a varied diet. Smell is given by my google search as distinguishing between fox and badger - I've passed on that one.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Would that even deter them? I have no idea - but perhaps someone does. I don't even know about the practicalities of installing an electric fence - but the ones in the paddocks and fields round here look fairly low tech. They also seem to get moved around so I'm assuming they can be temporary installations which can also be disconnected during the day when people, children and pets are moving around.
Not ideal but I'd consider it if it saved my garden.
You understand that I'm just thinking out loud and talking out of the back of my head here....
We were getting a lot of damage in the garden. I suspected badgers and set up a wildlife camera. Turned out to be both badgers and a cat.
My neighbour recommended Voss Sonic 2000 Animal Repeller which has a cat a badger setting.
I wasn't convinced but thought it worth a try so bought a couple.
I set one to cat and one to badger and they are working well. I've since bought a third one for the soft fruit area.
No damage now for more than 6 months, when we used to have a problem every 3 or 4 days.
Might be worth a try in your situation
Bee x
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime