This may not work for everyone but I was wondering if this idea can have legs.
I have heard repeated indications that rodents, raccoons, & groundhogs are totally repelled by peppermint and other mint oils/aromas.
In New York City they are experimenting with peppermint infused garbage bags and reports are that they have some efficacy in repelling famous NYC rats.
MY IDEA.
I can easily plant a border of peppermint & other mints (AND tame its invasiveness) around my orchard. As it grows it does not take much to skim/run a weed-wacker across the top to release the peppermint oils. I figure doing this once or twice a week should keep the peppermint “in the air”.
If I grow enough I can distill the oils and spray around the orchadard
Please feel free to shoot holes in my idea. And… has anyone else heard of this property that mint has?
Propagation of mint (Genus Mentha) by roots is only half the battle … the other half is seeds
@MES111 – Thyme will definitely grow in your area, provide more potent oils, and far easier to control. Another possibility are the hardier species of Calamint (Clinopodium).
I can’t provide any validity for the method however. Out here in the land of sunshine and mild winters, I have discovered Norway Roof Rat nests in peppermint!
It is a matter of scale. Locally there are folks who have plats of various mint cultivars and other plants such as lavender used as “bath” oils. In total, they bottle up a few cases of each per year in 4-8 oz bottles and sell them at Farmer’s markets and to local “natural food” outlets. It’s a big leap to the next viable level of production – 2,000 to 7,000 acres of each cultivar at a time. At that tier you do not process your crop but instead sell it up to the production tier of the bio-chemical industry.
I agree, but I used mint products and they work very well. I worded that post poorly, sorry about that! I was trying to find the product I used. Like a bag O’ Mint! Used to keep mice out of sheds, and garages. I had problems at my cottage. It only lasts a month though, so you need to replenish it.
If I grow a hedge of the stuff around my orchard ( easily doable) and during the growing season I weed wack the top inch or two each week I will have a very fragrant orchard and… hopefully keep the chipmunks & squirrels out.
The chipmunks were especially destructive/bothersome this past season and I had ZERO stone fruit and only 20% of the apple trees fruiting ( spring freeze). These little bast&%s get in through every nook and past the electric fencing too.
I hope next year will be good for all my peaches, plums, nects, apricots & hybrid stone. I will go psychotic if I can’t control the chipmunks.
Yeah I’m so glad no chipmunks are around here. They are in this state, just not here, for now! Reports that they are the worst of the worst I have read many times.
I really hadn’t thought about the different types of mint out there until I saw in this thread. Just like I thought that the only apples out there were the ones on the A&P display.
Boy that was a reality check which has now caused me to produce apples, preaches, plums, apricots & pears that are now running me about $24.00 EACH . . But, I get a $25.00 credit of pleasure for each!
Haagen Daz Chocolate chip mint ice cream on a hot day.
Man I love even bad CC mint ice cream. I also love toasted coconut on raspberry crisps, or on pie etc., instead of vanilla.
Some mints and basils are outstanding. I grow Chocolate mint. It tastes like a peppermint patty. It is mild compared to other mints. You can have a piece in the spring. I just threw most of it out. I use a window box like container, and once full end to end, I remove all but 5 inches, and let it spread again. Throw the stuff out don’t try to recycle the soil. I didn’t the first time and spend a year killing it where I dumped it in my garden bed.
I want to try Lemon Mint myself, sounds good for tea, and on fish.
if I can’t control the chipmunks.