What do possums eat?
The natural diet of possums is gumtree leaves, but they are known to be fond of eating new plant growth, fruit on fruit trees and many flowers, like camellias, roses, gardenias, and fuchsias.
They also can be found rummaging around in compost bins and often snack on native and exotic garden plants, so keeping your garden possum-free is important.
5 ways to deter possums from your garden
Brew tea
Rather than hiding away all your precious plants every night before the nocturnal creatures come out on the prowl, brew yourself a cup of tea. Lapsang souchong tea has a strong smoky scent and possums don’t like it at all.
Stink bomb
For something a bit stronger, simply grab an old sock and fill it with a handful of blood and bone fertiliser. Identify the possum’s main point of entry to your garden and secure your stink bomb to block their path.
"The only time-tested method to protect a patch is by preventing access to it," writes authors, Fabian Capomolla and Mat Pember.
Hook up a net
If the smell of tea or a stink bomb isn’t enough to deter possums, you might have to hook up a netting system over your patch. Bird netting can deter possums as they cannot climb it, however they can break through it. To stop possums from digging underneath, plant the wire about 30 centimetres into the ground.
LED lights
“We’d tried everything to stop possums eating the plants on our front deck, which they accessed via a large lilli pilli. Chicken wire cages over the pots were successful but unsightly. But since we put up some solar LED bud lights in the garden, we haven’t seen a possum at all and the lights look very pretty at night,” one reader wrote.
Spray fish oil
Additionally, another reader came up with a way to stop possums eating their rose shoots using fish oil.
"Add about half a cup of oil to one litre of water and spray it on the shoots. It won’t harm the roses but the possums hate the smell. Naturally, you’ll have to put more on after it rains but it works a treat and is very cheap."
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