A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems organic options to deter pests (rodents/bugs)

Does anyone know of good ORGANIC options to deter pests (rodents and bugs) from our flowerbed? Our flowerbed is filled with a number of perennials, some of which were new last summer and others have been there several years. We went through this past winter (we are in Massachusetts), and when the snow melted, it looked like something had eaten a number of our perennials. I am guessing a mole, since there were many small trails the width of a mole or chipmunk, just in the part of our flowerbed that was "eaten." That area also looked like someone had been digging around there. The plants affected were: (1) We have several euonymous that normally look the same year-round, but it looked like someone had just cut them straight across a few inches from the ground. There were no leaves, just a small cluster of twigs sticking out of the ground. These are slowly growing back. (2)We also have some yellow Sundrops, that just didn't sprout out of the ground in the spring -- they are just gone. There is a Sundrop plant here and there that came up and looks fine, but most of the Sundrops are just gone. (3) We have some Dianthus that, like the Sundrops, just never came up. They are altogether gone. We'd had these several years and they were fine, but last summer I moved them to a different part of the flowerbed. They seemed fine throughout the summer. (4) Cushion spurge (bonfire) - I planted some cushion spurge last summer, and this spring it just looked like twigs, so I assumed it was deciduous. But now I've read it's herbaceous, so I'm wondering if something at it. It recovered and grew in again this summer.

So I am wondering if people know of something good that's ORGANIC I can do to protect my plants this winter? I also have a Peony bush that looked great this spring and had some flowers, but when I went to cut the flowers, I noticed white bugs all over the bush. Soon after, the flowers fell over, and the whole bush looks droopy. I think there is also alot of brown spots on it.

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

I use black pepper around my plants and moth balls for moles. It's a battle trying to keep a garden~ bug and critter free.

one of the topics was about planting caster bean plants around what you want protected. moles won't cross them. and they are pretty. but they are deadly poison, so don't plant them if you have kids.