Possums in the garden

They may be cute and fluffy, but possums can be destructive pests in a garden.

A hungry possum will eat just about anything, especially favouring roses, maples, and magnolias. Repeated feeding by possums causes a lot of damage to plants and can even kill them, especially when the new growth is constantly eaten off.

The two types of possums that feed on gardens are brushtails and ringtails. Brushtails are the big possums with black furry tails and ghoulish grunt.

They live in roof spaces, in hollows, in trees or in hedges. Much smaller and more delicate are ringtails, with a delicate, curled, bare tail that helps them negotiate the garden.

They live in homes and in messy collection of twigs and shrubs, often not causing as much damage as brushtails.

A list of some tried and true methods of deterring possums:

Physical barriers

• Net young plants and seedlings with white bird netting at night time.
• Possum-proof fence or wire cage to protect crops.
• Protecting large, freestanding trees by encasing several meters of the lower trunk in metal or plastic sleeving to prevent them climbing into the tree from the ground.
• For vegetable growing, plant crops in elevated garden beds with a wire, plastic or shade cloth cover that can be lowered to protect the crop overnight.

Deterrent

• Sprinkle blood & bone fertilizer around the base of ornamental plants and fruit trees, they hate the smell and will be less inclined to eat treated plants.
• Apply a garlic spray to foliage, fruits, and growing tips. A chilli, tea-based spray, splash of tabasco sauce or fish sauce spray is equally as effective.
• Apply a watered-down solution of a little detergent and some English mustard sprayed directly onto the foliage and fruits can help repel possums.
• Using spotlights, hanging CDS or owl statues as deterrents.

Protective Sprays

• There are several products available including “’Poss-Off’’ which are applied to growth. They need to be applied frequently as they ca be diluted or washed off.

Plants that deter possums

• Acanthus, agapanthus, buxus and lavender are usually not touched by possums.

Many gardeners solve their possum problem by trapping and removing the animal.

There are restrictions around trapping and relocating so it’s important to follow local guidelines or call a professional removalist.

Another approach is to tolerate the possum you have. Possums are territorial, it will keep away other possums and you already know its eating habits!

Note: It is illegal to remove a ringtail possum without a permit.