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Sometimes I place chicken wire carefully over my vegetables and pots of strawberries.
Most plants they leave alone but I have found they enjoy eating strawberries, and my parents have found that they eat rhubarb.

Sil sil

We used a trap, then we would take them to the national park bear by and release them, but we've ended up building a basic frame with netting over it to allow rain and sun in but they can't get in

s

Place wire over the vegetable garden if possible.
Nothing seems to eat silverbeet as I am growing some for the second time in the last few years.

Goulah

Buy a cuddly toy that looks like a cat, put some blood and bone inside and put it, supposedly sleeping, near the plants. Another trick would be to put a few sticks together to look like a bush and put the stuffed toy in the branches.

baz2026

I use a spay called Posssoff, it is Australian made and contains chillies. It is not harmful to veggies and is supposed to deter the possums.Bunnings sell it. I can't vouch for it, have lots of rabbits out here as well so they eat their fair share - however, we manage to grow some veggies. Have just grown globe zucchinis, have been left relatively untouched, maybe the spiky plant leaves are a deterrent.

Shambles

We have the same problem, but they seem to like our almost ripe pawpaw's! We have to but a wire "cage" around them!!!!

deb

possums do not like the smell of death, so put "Blood and bone"( it is a Fertilizer) into small lollie bags and tie to trees near the fruit making a barier. Possums need to smell the fruit and flowers if they smell wrong you have saved you fruit. I have done this and it works. it also works in stopping them climing into the gaps under the floor of a highset house. if they move a bag then you know where the possum is hidding. put up homes in your trees so they have some where to go. possums have a job to do in nature and we as people would like it if our houses was cut down.

Shambles

possums do not like the smell of death, so put "Blood and bone"( it is a Fertilizer) into small lollie bags and tie to trees near the fruit making a barier. Possums need to smell the fruit and...

I shall try that Deb, it would be easier than trying to put that cage up again!

simla

Hi Di, no one yet has suggested an electronic beeper. They cover enough area to keep them off a reasonable orchid area. A friend of mine swears by it. it is solar-powered. They emit an ultrasonic frequency, and can be set to discourage whatever pest you are dealing with....I think it works for about 30 metres diameter. I've seen others that use batteries, but that dosn't appeal as much as the solar kind.

GrannyMab

Re Possums. I have a possum problem too. Both Bushtailed and ringtailed. Chilies to deter them? Forget it. The chillies get eaten by the possums when ripe and when they are gone they will eat the green ones and even the leaves. Spraying with chili spray (and I have tried poss-off too) would only make them think it was salad dressing. I have never been able to keep parsley, until I planted dogbane and then later parsley in the same bed. Also they do not like the taste of molasses. Spray your edibles and roses with molasses watered down and they will learn not to eat them. The molasses comes off in the rain, but just keep doing it for a while until the possums get the message and watch until they have another go and start again. They do come in the windows if allowed and one even has learn't how the the doggie door works.

pete 9

Hi Di,
I moved into a rental home in the last year, which came with a resident possum out the back with it's own homw in a mulberry tree.
Although I have to deal with running and funning on the tin roof every night. I was able to avoid having him eat his favourite in my garden which is parsley.
I brought my herbs in on a window box, and after having him come into the kitchen through the open window, I now make sure its closed at night.
AS for protection you either need to have a cover of netting over stakes, or having a pot with some chilles close can keep them at bay.I notice he does not like basil also.
Best of luck.
I do not feed him but do leave veg peels as compost under his house, I feel this gives him something and he may just go off on his nightly adventures.

possum

i love possums they are so cute.put snake wire around and over the plants just like cages.

chookybo

Yes. If this discussion is still open. I have a problem with possums, goannas, wallabies and kangaroos. The only way to have any garden is to fence it with galvanised iron to a height that they cannot climb over. I have a mesh cage around and over the lemon tree (which is in a different area) as the possums love citrus.

Unfortunately, we have a problem with the possums trying to climb up the wood on the side of the door under the porchway. They wet and poo on the porch making a huge mess. I have tried poss-off and fish spray but nothing works for these possums.

Anonymous

if this discussion is still alive could I add my bit. Moving possums is cruel because the liklihood they they will die or be killed in their new area is very high. In any rate it is most likely that another possum will fill the niche just vacated. Nobody has suggested simply putting a cage over the garden bed using heavy weldmesh or fencing mesh. Cheap to buy or to find at recycling centres.
Having wildlife around is just fantastic and if we are going to put gardens and structures up in their territory we have to bear the consequences and take the necessary steps. I attract all manner of birds into my garden and just have to cover the garden to control what they eat.

irrepressible7

I have fruit trees and magnolias and possums love them, so I thought hmm! I'll make friends with them and give them a jam sandwich, cheap bread 99cents and no name strawberry jam $1.25, is 2 weeks worth of good tucker...now the trees are safe magnolias bloom and mother possum actually brings her baby to see me, we have a nice little family. The other thing is possums dont usually eat greens and you may have a few rats as they eat everthing. good luck. Kaz

rooney

There's a product called Poss-off that works.
Made by a WA-based "eco" company.
Chilli-based, good for your plants as well.
It works.
Wear a little mask as it grabs at the sinuses.
Spray it along the avenues where you think the possums are travelling as well as on the flowers or vegies that are being eaten.
Maybe rinse your vegies ( as you would anyway), to get rid of the chilli taste.

Anonymous

Fishy fertilizer sounds the best way to go, although methinks you would have to spray very frequently, as the smell does not lastand the rain would wash it off.
otherwise really good suggestion.

helen40

Thanks for the suggestion of spraying with fishy fertiliser, I will give it a go!

helen40

I also have a problem with possums, shrubs and plants along the fence line have all new growth chewed off and I have practically given up on my vegetable garden. Waste of money relocating them as another lot immediately move in. I have noticed they seem to be flourishing as I have both ringtail and bushy tailed possums in my suburban yard.

skier

In NZ possums are a major pest eating any vegetation with fresh young shoots including my roses and vege patch. I discovered frequent sprays of fishy fertiliser put the little blighters right off their snacks!!!! Non-toxic to my vege or roses but disgusting to possums, and certainly a great boost to the plants.

Sammbo

Simple. Rent or borrow one or two a possum trap/cages from your local council.

Bait with something very enticing, locate it near your vegie plot, set it, then bingo.

Relocate them next morning. The local RSPCA will suggest a location.

Set the traps again and again, until you have no more trapped.

irrepressible7

Simple. Rent or borrow one or two a possum trap/cages from your local council.

Bait with something very enticing, locate it near your vegie plot, set it, then bingo.

Relocate...

Hi sambo, if you relocate possums they are territorial and fight to the death, the RSPCA told me that so chilli or fish spray is best....its great we are not in canada they have Moose and Bears come into town in winter.lol

June

Sorry Di, but I sympathise very much with you as we have a similar problem with wombats. It's bad enough they come through our yard and dig deep holes everywhere but they also use our front path sandstone flagging and the laundry steps at the back of the house for their toilet. They leave huge piles which are not very pleasant to have to clean up. I would like suggestions too for my problem.

Davidgriff

Interestingly this discussion is close to previous views that included courtesy and goodwill to others. In this instance the best solution to the possum problem is to work with your next-door neighbour. Devote time to help in developing and nurturing her/his vegetable garden so that his/her veggies look more enticing than your own. The possum will then go there and leave yours alone...............maybe!
...That gives me a good idea. A possum often visits my neighbour's chicken run. If he (neighbour) was to tidy up my vegetable garden, maybe the possum would leave his chicken run alone............

CAT17

Hi Di, possums are a tricky lot and I can't think of any way to stop them from "sharing" my suggestion is to ring WIRES in your state and have the possum removed safely and relocated. Don't try to take him on yourself they can be very vicious. Good luck!

Di

Hi Di, possums are a tricky lot and I can't think of any way to stop them from "sharing" my suggestion is to ring WIRES in your state and have the possum removed safely and relocated. Don't try to...

Thanks CAT17, this is a chronic problem as a recently moved neighbour used to feed the pests so the population exploded. I have had a possum catcher remove several but as I live in a bushy suburb i have no hope of eradicating them. I know I can spray with a garlic'citronella mix but that is not very palatable for green veges. Have tried wiring off the garden and stationing the dog next to the garden but no success. I was sort of hoping someone would have a brilliant solution that I have not yet tried. Next-door-but-one neighbour is a WIRES carer and frequently cares for injured possums so they attract others to the area. I am stubborn enough to persist with my vege garden