G
Guest
...after soil, weather and strain selection, is the number 1 reason for outdoor crop loss. In most instances, we have led the rippers, the law, the ravenous deer or the occassional hiker right up to our wonderful plants.
A small discrete path started in May will look like someone drove a truck through the area by the end of september. I have spent years trying to find ways to avoid path making and its a very difficult endeavor. Going different routes only exacerbates the problem. Instead of 1 truck, it looks like a fleet drove through the area. Choppers full of law watch for these paths from above.
All creatures, including humans, will take the path of least resistance and if you make a path, all will want to follow. Why bust through the brush when someone has already created this wonderful path? If rippers have any clue as to the area you grow in, alls they have to do is show up and start following paths in the area. They'll hit the right one sooner or later.
I visit my plants 1 x every 10 days or so when they are small and every 3 weeks or so after they've become established. I always go after storms as a storm can lean the plant or cover it with other weeds and not making that adjustment can be significant come harvest time. But even with limited trips, the paths still exists.
1. Even though I cant really avoid the path, I can deter people or deer from taking it. I always try and block any path with small scrub trees ive cut and then make an opening under them that requires one to crawl if one intends to continue on the path. I then plant one of the native thorny vines we have here next to it and by July, the thing is entangled in a mesh of thorny vines that are almost inpenetrable. From that blocked point, I establish a second easy course path away from the direction of the plants. The intruder will instinctively prefer the easy path to the thorn covered crawl.
In thorn or blackberry groves, I will tie the tops of the thorny canes together during the winter, creating a tunnel below. In the summer, looking over the top of the vegetation doesn't reveal the access tunnel underneath the thorns and vines. Watch out for snakebites to the face when crawling especially in the dark if snakes live in your area.
2. For those like me that are not allergic to poison Ivy, this plant can be used as a deterent for humans. I have 4 cuttings of PI in my grow room as we speak, ready to be transplanted to around one of my grows. Even if the rippers find it, they are easily identified as the swollen
and welted bastards that live down the road.
Stinging nettles are easily spread if they are native to your area. Anyone with knowlege of outdoors will take a wide path around these plants and those who are unfamilar will become familar very quickly upon contact. You can wear long sleeves.
3. Ive had some luck with distractions. I have a grow area that when you follow the approach path, just as you are getting close, I have nailed 5 deer skulls and antlers to the tree in the opposite direction of the plants.. ( you can find these easily) There is a natural tendency when getting close to notice the unusual site and move toward it, and away from the plants. I then make a path from that point away from the plants because of the natural tendency to take the path of least resistence.
Psychology, blocking and crawling, vines and thorns, poisonous plants and distractions have been some attempts Ive made.
Im hoping someone will have others
Whats your strategy for avoiding this critical problem?
A small discrete path started in May will look like someone drove a truck through the area by the end of september. I have spent years trying to find ways to avoid path making and its a very difficult endeavor. Going different routes only exacerbates the problem. Instead of 1 truck, it looks like a fleet drove through the area. Choppers full of law watch for these paths from above.
All creatures, including humans, will take the path of least resistance and if you make a path, all will want to follow. Why bust through the brush when someone has already created this wonderful path? If rippers have any clue as to the area you grow in, alls they have to do is show up and start following paths in the area. They'll hit the right one sooner or later.
I visit my plants 1 x every 10 days or so when they are small and every 3 weeks or so after they've become established. I always go after storms as a storm can lean the plant or cover it with other weeds and not making that adjustment can be significant come harvest time. But even with limited trips, the paths still exists.
1. Even though I cant really avoid the path, I can deter people or deer from taking it. I always try and block any path with small scrub trees ive cut and then make an opening under them that requires one to crawl if one intends to continue on the path. I then plant one of the native thorny vines we have here next to it and by July, the thing is entangled in a mesh of thorny vines that are almost inpenetrable. From that blocked point, I establish a second easy course path away from the direction of the plants. The intruder will instinctively prefer the easy path to the thorn covered crawl.
In thorn or blackberry groves, I will tie the tops of the thorny canes together during the winter, creating a tunnel below. In the summer, looking over the top of the vegetation doesn't reveal the access tunnel underneath the thorns and vines. Watch out for snakebites to the face when crawling especially in the dark if snakes live in your area.
2. For those like me that are not allergic to poison Ivy, this plant can be used as a deterent for humans. I have 4 cuttings of PI in my grow room as we speak, ready to be transplanted to around one of my grows. Even if the rippers find it, they are easily identified as the swollen
and welted bastards that live down the road.
Stinging nettles are easily spread if they are native to your area. Anyone with knowlege of outdoors will take a wide path around these plants and those who are unfamilar will become familar very quickly upon contact. You can wear long sleeves.
3. Ive had some luck with distractions. I have a grow area that when you follow the approach path, just as you are getting close, I have nailed 5 deer skulls and antlers to the tree in the opposite direction of the plants.. ( you can find these easily) There is a natural tendency when getting close to notice the unusual site and move toward it, and away from the plants. I then make a path from that point away from the plants because of the natural tendency to take the path of least resistence.
Psychology, blocking and crawling, vines and thorns, poisonous plants and distractions have been some attempts Ive made.
Im hoping someone will have others
Whats your strategy for avoiding this critical problem?
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but to stay on topic , pay close attention to how you walk to minimize the trail in the first place .
