Possums are native to Australia and New Zealand and love to disturb gardens. Possums are different from opossums/squirrels, which are the only marsupials in the northern hemisphere and their expulsion requires somewhat different tactics. If a possum likes a favorite fruit or plant in your garden, it can steal everything until there's nothing left. Possums native to Australia or New Zealand are capable, flexible and creative climbers. Therefore, you need creative ways to keep these animals from entering the garden, eating certain plants, or blocking them from entering the yard.
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Method 1 of 4: Blocking Access to the Garden
Step 1. Know what needs to be protected
Possums seem to like newly-growing deciduous tendrils, fruit on trees, and shoots on freshly pruned green plants. Possums damage plants when they eat new branches, so they need to be prevented from entering the garden.
- Possums can destroy all shoots, weakening the plant and creating vacant land which makes it susceptible to disease.
- Keep this in mind when planting new plants in your yard or gardening. If you grow plants that possums hate, such as thorny and smelly plants like tea trees or geraniums, chances are that your garden won't be destroyed by possums.
Step 2. Protect every fruit and vegetable
For example, there are cloth pouches made to protect each fruit on the tree. This bag can wrap the fruits separately. This will stop the possum from getting to fruit and interfere with its growth.
You can also use an old plastic pot with a notch on the side to protect each fruit or vegetable. Place the fruit in the pot so that it is almost completely covered but still growing
Step 3. Confine the garden area
Instead of preventing possums from entering your yard, you can simply prevent these pests from entering certain garden areas. The best way is to make a full cage using chicken coop wire.
Your gardening may be a bit difficult, but your plants are guaranteed to be safe from possum attacks
Step 4. Block all entry points
Possums can enter through eaves or other access points in your home or hut. You can prevent this by covering these entrances with permanent coverings, such as logs, or bird repellent nets to block all holes and entry points.
- Just make sure the possums aren't in the huts or roofs when access is closed. Otherwise, the possum will be trapped inside the building.
- If you're not sure how possums got into your home, do an afternoon patrol and look for possums that leave your building.
Method 2 of 4: Prevent Possums from Climbing
Step 1. Make it difficult for possums to access structures or plants
If the possum uses a structure to reach the plant, make the structure difficult for the possum to climb. Wrap a sheet of galvanized iron around the pillars or pillars of a structure, such as an arbor. This will prevent the possum from gripping its claws on the surface of the structure.
- You also need to make sure there are no trees or shrubs for the possum to climb over and access the structure.
- You can also use plastic trash cans that have the bottom open and the sides cut in half. Tuck it into the tree trunk so the possum can't climb up.
- You can wrap a sheet of metal around the trunk to make it difficult for the possum to climb.
- You can also put a thick net around the tree trunk. This net will trap the possum's legs and make it difficult for it to climb trees.
Step 2. Prune trees that possums eat
If possums eat new branches from a tree, find a way to block access to the tree. The branches should be far enough away from the fence and the structure that the possum cannot jump off of them. This method, together with blocking possums' access to trees, will maximize your tree's chances of surviving a possum attack.
- The good news, although it can jump, possum jumps are not very far. The agile young possum can jump up to 2.5 meters from a solid starting point. Possums can only jump as far as 2 meters from swinging and unstable tree branches.
- This means that you can simply prune the tree so that the distance from the branches to the garden fence and other structures exceeds 2 meters.
Step 3. Place the net on a bush or fruit tree
More specifically, you will need to lay a net over these plants while they have new sprouts or fruit. This net won't completely block the possum's access, but it can make it difficult for you to save lots of fruit.
Also, pick up any fruit that falls under trees or shrubs. Falling fruit invites possums to come around so take as many as you can
Step 4. Install the greased PVC pipe over the fence
This method only works if the garden is covered with a fence as it will prevent the possums from climbing up and over the fence. This shield only took a day to install.
- Install the large PVC pipe horizontally along the top of the fence. This pipe will be difficult for possums to grip.
- After that, grease the PVC pipe with non-toxic oil. Now, when the possum tries to climb over the fence, its claws are unable to grip firmly due to the oil. Thus, the possum will fall unscathed.
- Make sure there are no holes or other access points for possums to penetrate.
Method 3 of 4: Using Spray and Possum Repellent
Step 1. Look for a commercial possum repellent spray
Nurseries, supermarkets, and some hardware stores sell possum repellent spray. Don't forget to follow the instructions on the package so it doesn't affect your plant and your possum doesn't get hurt.
Step 2. Create and spray quassia chips
Quassia is a small wooden branch that contains a substance that is able to repel possums so they don't come close. Make a spray from 100 grams of quassia pieces and 2 liters of water. Heat for an hour then strain. Add a tablespoon of detergent. Mix 1/5 quassia solution with 4/5 water, then spray on the leaves.
Most home remedies and sprays need to be reused after it rains. This material needs to be used as often as possible to get the maximum benefit
Step 3. Use household items to repel possums
You need to use it as often as possible to be effective in the long run. Some of the ways you can try include:
- Brew lapsang souchong tea. Spray on plants that are attacked by pests. Possums really don't like it!
- Spread bone and blood on susceptible plants.
- Use mothball splinters on the posts, and around the base of the plant. Put used stockings and hang them from the leaves.
- Spray fish sauce. Mix a tablespoon of the sauce with 1 liter of water, then spray it on the leaves.
- Make a garlic spray. Mix 2 tablespoons of freshly ground garlic with 1 liter of hot water. Let stand overnight, strain, then spray on the leaves.
- Spray full strength laundry detergent onto the leaves.
- Use Tabasko sauce at full strength. The sauce can be applied or sprayed onto the leaves. Be aware that this method can seriously damage your plants. So, do your research first before applying this method.
- Strong-smelling herbs like sage, rosemary, or oregano can repel possums, especially when mixed with hot pepper. Mix until it becomes a paste and spread it on the plants that are attacked by pests.
Step 4. Surround the garden with predatory animal urine
The urine of foxes, ferrets, and other predators has been clinically proven to ward off possums from gardens. However, this method may not be very reliable and may invite the arrival of other animals. Try looking for predator urine at a hardware store or plant nursery, and follow the directions on the package label for its use around your garden.
- Carpet python feces are effective as a possum repellent, if available. Pythons are natural predators of possums.
- Some people surround their gardens with human hair, but this method has not been proven. If you're interested in trying this method, consider saving your hair when you're done cutting and spreading it out on the ground.
Step 5. Put down the noisy repellent
Use wind chimes, loud chimes, or plastic bottles cut in half to repel pests. This method is not 100% effective, but hopefully the fruit in your garden will be ready to harvest before the possums learn to ignore this noise.
- You can also purchase ultrasonic midges whose sounds are beyond the reach of human hearing.
- Dogs, especially feral dogs, will repel possums, and their barking will scare away the rodents.
Step 6. Install the scarecrow
You can try the traditional way of making scarecrows, or fake birds using tennis balls that are glued with bird feathers. Again, effectiveness varies for each animal, and may diminish over time.
Increase the impact of the scarecrow by hanging a mirror nearby
Method 4 of 4: Living With Possums
Step 1. Grow food plants for possums
You can distract the possum from one plant to another. Plant plants that possums like to eat, such as eucalyptus, on the edge of your garden. Plant enough to keep possums away from fragile, new shoots in your garden.
Step 2. Capture possums humanely
In New Zealand, possums are considered pests. You need to catch it and call animal control service to get rid of this animal. However, in Australia this animal is protected. The South Australian Government advises only capturing possums that live inside buildings (humanely). However, it would be better if the possums were lured out of the building and then prevented their re-entry.
- For example, you could build a nest box, put fruit in it, and place the cage near where the possums roam. Possums should be lured into the nest box.
- If you are using live traps, use honey as bait. Use traps to lure possums out of the house, but not outside the area. Possums almost always die if transferred to another area.
Step 3. Know that possums are a protected animal in Australia, but not in New Zealand
Possums can limit the types of plants that can be grown in the garden, but require human assistance to survive. If you live in Australia, try to reduce possum damage by creating a supportive environment for these animals, including nest boxes and attractive vegetation.
Possums are considered a pest in New Zealand. Contact animal control services or the Department of Nature Protection for assistance
Tips
Unlike the Australian possum, the opossum can be useful in your garden as it feeds on pests and insects at night. Instead of eating garden plants (like Australian possums), opossums will remove snails and slugs from your garden
Warning
- In Australia, possums are a protected species. This animal should not be harmed. However, in New Zealand possums are invasive pests.
- Possums are territorial animals. If moved, these animals will die because they violate the territory of other possums; If it survives, the possum will return to its territory. So, try to learn to coexist with possums.
