Desert animals, such as javelina, will look for nourishment wherever they can find it. If they find your yard is filled with delicious produce and plants, and it is unprotected, then you may find your plants and trees with serious damage. Let’s take a look at how animals can destroy your yard and landscape.

Eat Your Produce

If you have a thriving vegetable garden one day, and the next day it is gone, then you may have a problem with critters using your yard as a buffet. The same can happen to blooming flowers and buds on your shrubs and trees. Squirrels, raccoons, and javelina are some of the most common animals that will feed on almost any edible plant in your yard. Speak with your landscaper about installing a wire fence around your produce garden.

Dig up Your Plants

Animals will often dig up your plants to try to get to insects beneath the soil. This is a great source of protein for the animals—and may prevent damaging insects from collecting on your shrubs and trees—but it often leads to destroyed plants that cannot be replanted. If animals are digging up your plants, then check the soil for insects known as grubs. If your landscaper finds grubs, then consider adding grub control solutions to kill off and prevent them from living in your soil. The animals will eventually run out of their food source and be forced to move elsewhere.

Trample Your Garden

Javelina are notorious for trampling gardens and destroying yards. Large packs of these wild animals will travel through the desert into neighborhoods and walk through yards looking for food. You may notice hoof prints in your garden’s soil or around your yard. Depending on the damage, some of your garden may be salvageable. Your landscaper can make the ultimate decision.

Work with the experienced landscapers of Complete Landscaping to identify and prevent animal damage in your Tucson yard. Please call us at (520) 323-8918 to schedule an appointment.