Solar lights for the Garden
 

I am looking to get some solar lights that I can put in for my backyard garden.

Any recommendations in what are some decent choices? I don't want to spend too much on them, something cheap and long-lasting.

Are you looking for ones that you can use around the edges of pathways and such? If so, I bought a bunch for my parents house and my patio @ Rona.http://rona.ca/shop/~light-gladiator...lar-light_shop

$2.49 ea.

They aren't super bright, but they have other ones in store for not too much more.

I got some at costco last year that are a bit prettier but were much more expensive.

This is a bit of a stretch but would these solar lights prevent rodents such as raccoons and skunks from entering ones yard?

not for racoons. my friend has a motion detecting light and it gets triggered by racoons walking around the yard. they just walk through like a boss.

Thanks, I'll go to Rona and check it out.

I agree, these animals aren't afraid of light. Only thing I see them fearing are animals like dogs/cats depending on the specie and humans.

:fuuuuu: x 100

I have raccoons living next door every year around this time of year. Luckily I haven't seen them yet.

Thinking about getting some lights for the front lawn. :woot2:

Since these solar lights don't seem to be expensive, get a few and see what happens. I am going to get a few myself for my backyard, I have rats/mice coming from my damn neighbourhoods house :fuuuuu:

the cats basically stopped and looked at the racoon when he walked by, it was like showing respect to the racoon while it was walking like a boss. only in vancouver you'd have cats and racoons acting all street with each other lol

i'm guessing if you dont want racoons around you'd need to put stuff around your property that leaves a scent that they don't like. my friend is screwed b/c the neighbour leaves cat food out for strays which the racoons get in on too.

A motion detecting lawn sprinkler might keep them out.

http://www.amazon.com/Contech-Electronics-CRO101-Scarecrow-Motion-Activated/dp/B000071NUS

^
LOL!

As much as I want to get rid of the raccoons, I don't want to get wet when my family and I get home late. :D

Thanks for the reminder. I bought some last summer and never used them. Around the garden is a perfect place to put them

The motion-detector water mechanism (aka ScareCrow) does not work. It's the biggest waste of money and isn't cheap! All the experts will tell you the same thing; any animal with half a brain will figure out the ScareCrow and trigger it so it can drink water from it instead of being scared of it.

There are only a few things you can do for raccoons, opossums and large birds like herons (all of which I've encountered as I have a koi pond in the backyard.)

First you can try a small mirrored ball and place a few of them throughout the yard. When an animal approaches, it gets scared of the reflection and thinks it's seeing a predator. These can be purchased from Art Knapp or Potters Nursery.

You can also add a REAL scare crow as it resembles a real person. These animals usually aren't afraid of many things; especially if they're nesting nearby. A scare crow however can act as a deterrent.

Lastly, these animals do have natural predators. Spreading the urine from a wolf (which can be obtained from your local pest removal company) will act as an effective deterrent.

These are the cheapest and easiest ways to remove a pest without having to trap the animal.

As for garden lights, if you're just using them for decorative purposes, I would suggest getting the solar LED color-changing lights with bubbles. They work great, look the best, last long and are cheap! http://www.siliconsolar.com/shop/sol...le-Light_T.jpg Available at JYSK for $5.99

This will also keep them out of your yard and it looks like you can control it with a laptop.