Do Rats Eat Pumpkins? My Hollow Victory (And How to Avoid It)

So, do rats eat pumpkins? The short answer is a resounding yes — and I learned this the hard way during a friendly pumpkin-growing competition with my neighbor. I thought my years of gardening experience would guarantee victory, but I never accounted for how determined rats can be. They don’t just nibble; they’ll hollow out your prize pumpkin and turn it into a nursery. If you’re growing pumpkins this season, you need to take this question seriously. I lost five out of six pumpkins to rodents, and the one that survived was already gutted by the time I lifted it. Trust me, do rats eat pumpkins isn’t a joke — it’s a pest control reality you’ll want to prepare for. Here’s what happened to me, and how you can avoid the same embarrassing garden moment.

E.g. ：Hanging Fern Care Made Easy: 5 Simple Tips to Keep Them Lush and Thriving

• 1、The Competitors
• 2、The Pumpkin Planting
• 3、The Rat Problem - Do Rats Eat Pumpkins
• 4、Why Rats Love Pumpkins (And How to Stop Them)
• 5、Common Mistakes Gardeners Make with Pumpkin Pests
• 6、How Rats Really Operate in Your Garden
• 7、Building a Rat-Proof Pumpkin Fortress
• 8、The Real Cost of Underestimating Rats
• 9、Lessons From the Garden: What I'd Do Differently
• 10、FAQs

The Competitors

Meet the Challengers

My neighbor holds dual PhDs in horticulture and biochemistry — a real brainiac. I’m just a guy who’s grown gardens in Alaska, Berkeley, France, and now San Francisco. We were an odd pair for a pumpkin contest. She had the book smarts; I had the dirt under my fingernails.

She spent her career developing plant-based medicines, but had never actually grown a vegetable garden. I, on the other hand, have zero formal training but loads of hands-on experience. I’ve planted in permafrost, clay soil, and now San Francisco’s mild climate. When we decided to grow pumpkins, I thought my experience would crush her education. But I never accounted for one thing: rats love pumpkins just as much as we do. And that’s where my embarrassing garden moment began. You see, do rats eat pumpkins? The short answer is yes — and they’ll hollow out your prize winner if you’re not careful. I learned that the hard way.

Experience vs. Education

She knew the science of plant growth — soil pH, nutrient uptake, photosynthesis rates. I knew the reality: pumpkins need rich soil, steady water, and protection from pests. I figured my practical know-how would beat her theoretical knowledge any day.

But here’s the thing: neither of us prepared for the real enemy. While I was busy enriching my soil with compost and manure, rats were already scouting my garden. They didn’t care about my experience or her education. They just wanted a free meal. I remember thinking, “Do rats eat pumpkins?” I’d heard stories, but I never believed it would happen to me. My neighbor, with all her scientific training, warned me about rodents, but I brushed her off. Big mistake. Within weeks, I’d learn exactly how determined rats can be. And let me tell you — if you’re wondering do rats eat pumpkins, the answer is a resounding yes. They don’t just nibble; they carve out entire homes inside your pumpkins.

The Pumpkin Planting

Photos provided by pixabay

Setting Up for Success

We picked July 1 as planting day. Pumpkins need a long growing season — some varieties require up to 100 days. San Francisco never freezes, so we skipped frost concerns. I planted 12 seeds in a bed enriched with organic compost, and every single one sprouted.

I thinned half the seedlings to give the rest room to grow. Then I added manure during the summer because pumpkins are heavy feeders. My vines shot out fast, and soon my pumpkins were noticeably larger than my neighbor’s. She installed a drip irrigation system that never quite worked right, so her plants lagged. I felt confident. Too confident, actually. I completely ignored the question “do rats eat pumpkins?” I thought netting would be enough. But rats are persistent creatures. They’ll chew through plastic, squeeze under fences, and even climb cages. If you’re growing pumpkins and you’ve never asked yourself “do rats eat pumpkins?” — ask now. Because they will, and they’re surprisingly good at it.

The Waiting Game

By September, my pumpkins looked enormous. I could barely wrap my arms around the biggest one. We agreed to weigh them on October 15. My neighbor’s son, an accountant, would handle the official weighing. I was sure I’d win.

But then the rats struck again. They ate through my netting and attacked two more pumpkins. I built a cage, but raccoons removed it one night. The rats — or maybe the raccoons — hollowed out another pumpkin completely. I protected my last pumpkin with a mini greenhouse. Even then, I kept asking myself, “do rats eat pumpkins through plastic?” Yes, they do. They’ll chew through anything if they’re hungry enough. By October 15, my last pumpkin had stopped growing, but it still looked bigger than my neighbor’s. I had no idea that the rats had already turned it into a nursery. This is why you need to take the question “do rats eat pumpkins” seriously. They don’t just damage the fruit; they can destroy your entire harvest.

The Rat Problem - Do Rats Eat Pumpkins

The First Signs of Trouble

I woke up one morning to find holes chewed in two of my six pumpkins. Rats had eaten right through the skin. I composted those and covered the rest with netting. But in September, the rodents ate through the netting and damaged two more. I installed a cage for the last two.

You might ask, “Do rats eat pumpkins even when you protect them?” The answer is yes, and here’s why: rats are incredibly resourceful. They’ll climb, gnaw, and squeeze into tiny spaces. Netting is barely a deterrent. I used a fine mesh, but they chewed right through it. My mistake was underestimating their determination. According to pest control experts, rats can gnaw through materials like plastic and even soft metals. So if you’re wondering do rats eat pumpkins, don’t just assume a little netting will save you. You need heavy-duty protection. I learned this the hard way, and it cost me four out of six pumpkins. The two survivors looked promising, but I didn’t know the rats had already claimed one of them as a home.

Photos provided by pixabay

Setting Up for Success

By October 1, my remaining pumpkins were still larger than my neighbor’s. I felt victorious — until disaster struck again. Raccoons removed my cage, and rats hollowed out yet another pumpkin. I built a mini greenhouse for the last one, but it stopped growing.

On weigh day, I lifted my pumpkin and it felt suspiciously light. Something dropped from it — a rat ran over my neighbor’s toes! She screamed, I screamed, and I dropped the pumpkin. It cracked open, revealing six rat pups inside. The rats had hollowed out my pumpkin and turned it into a nest. Everyone laughed, but I was mortified. The only consolation: my hollow pumpkin still weighed more than my neighbor’s, so I won the contest. But it was a hollow victory in every sense. So if you’re still asking “do rats eat pumpkins?” — believe me, they do. And they’ll use your prize pumpkin as a nursery if you let them. Do rats eat pumpkins whole? No, they eat the inside and leave the shell. That’s exactly what happened to me.

Why Rats Love Pumpkins (And How to Stop Them)

What Attracts Rats to Your Garden

Rats are drawn to pumpkins for two main reasons: food and shelter. Pumpkins are soft, moist, and full of seeds — a perfect rat snack. Plus, a hollow pumpkin makes an ideal nest for raising young.

But why do rats go after pumpkins in the first place? Here’s the surprising truth: pumpkins provide both a meal and a home. Rats need a steady food source and a safe place to breed. A pumpkin patch offers both. According to wildlife experts, rats can smell ripening pumpkins from a distance. They’re especially attracted to the sugary flesh and the seeds. If you have a compost pile nearby, you’re basically inviting them in. I had compost near my pumpkin bed — big mistake. Do rats eat pumpkins more than other vegetables? In my experience, yes. They seem to prefer pumpkins over tomatoes or peppers. Maybe it’s the texture or the sweetness. Whatever the reason, once rats discover your pumpkins, they won’t stop until the fruit is destroyed. That’s why you need to act fast if you see any signs of rodents.

How to Protect Your Pumpkins from Rodents

Start with physical barriers. Use hardware cloth instead of netting. Rats can chew through plastic mesh, but metal wire stops them. Build a cage with a solid floor to prevent burrowing.

I should have used hardware cloth from day one. Instead, I relied on flimsy netting and lost half my crop. You can also try repellents like peppermint oil or predator urine, but their effectiveness varies. Some gardeners swear by ultrasonic devices, but I’ve found they don’t work well outdoors. The most reliable method is a sturdy cage made of 1/4-inch hardware cloth. Do rats eat pumpkins that are caged? They can’t if the cage is properly sealed. But remember: rats are excellent climbers and diggers. Bury the cage edges at least 6 inches deep and cover the top. I also recommend elevating your pumpkins off the ground using a pallet or wire shelf. This makes it harder for rats to access them. Here’s a quick comparison of common deterrent methods:

From my experience, a combination of hardware cloth and traps gives the best results. Don’t rely on just one method. And always ask yourself: “Do rats eat pumpkins in my area?” If you live near fields, forests, or urban areas, the answer is almost certainly yes. Act accordingly.

Common Mistakes Gardeners Make with Pumpkin Pests

Photos provided by pixabay

Setting Up for Success

I noticed small holes in my first pumpkins but thought it was just slugs. Big mistake. Rats leave clean, round holes about the size of a quarter. If you see that, take action immediately.

Many gardeners assume rats only eat grains or trash. They don’t realize that do rats eat pumpkins is a question with a serious answer. I ignored the first signs because I was focused on winning the contest. That cost me four pumpkins. You should check your pumpkin patch daily for signs of gnawing, droppings, or burrows. If you find rat droppings near your pumpkins, you already have a problem. Another common mistake is leaving pumpkins on the ground too long. As they ripen, they soften and become more attractive to rodents. Pick your pumpkins as soon as they’re fully colored and the stem starts to dry. Waiting too long gives rats more time to find them. Remember: do rats eat pumpkins that are still green? They’ll eat them at any stage, but they prefer ripe ones. So harvest early if you can.

Relying on Weak Deterrents

I thought netting would be enough. Then I thought a cage would work. Each time, the rats proved me wrong. Don’t make the same mistake — use multiple layers of defense.

Another common error is using chemical repellents that wash away in rain. I tried a commercial spray, but after one foggy night, it was gone. Natural deterrents like cayenne pepper or garlic can help, but they need constant reapplication. And please avoid using poison — it can harm pets, birds, and other wildlife. The best approach is physical exclusion. Build a cage from hardware cloth, secure the bottom, and check for gaps daily. Also, keep your garden clean. Remove fallen fruit, trim overgrown vegetation, and store compost in sealed bins. Rats love hiding places. If your garden is messy, you’re inviting them in. Do rats eat pumpkins that are stored indoors? They can, if you bring infested pumpkins inside. Always inspect your harvest before moving it into a shed or garage. I learned that lesson when a rat pup fell out of my pumpkin. So if you’re serious about protecting your pumpkins, start with prevention. Ask yourself: “Do rats eat pumpkins in my specific situation?” Then plan accordingly.

How Rats Really Operate in Your Garden

The Hidden World of Rat Behavior

Most gardeners don't realize how strategic rats actually are. They're not random nibblers — they plan their attacks. A rat will scout your garden for days before committing to a pumpkin, memorizing your movement patterns and pet schedules.

I learned this the hard way after losing pumpkins to what I thought was random damage. After talking to a local exterminator, he explained something eye-opening: rats use scent trails and landmarks to navigate, just like we use GPS. They'll follow fence lines, avoid open spaces, and use darkness as cover. Here's what shocked me most — they communicate with each other about food sources. Once one rat finds your pumpkin patch, it signals the whole colony. So when you ask “do rats eat pumpkins?” the real question should be “how many rats are coming to dinner?” According to pest control studies, a single urban rat colony can have 50-100 members. Do rats eat pumpkins every night? Absolutely. They'll return repeatedly until the food source is gone, often bringing family members along. This colony behavior is exactly why half-hearted measures like netting fail completely.

Why Timing Matters in Rat Prevention

Rats don't attack at random times. They're most active during the first few hours after sunset. That's when they feel safest to venture out and gnaw through your defenses.

Think about your own garden schedule. You water in the morning, check plants at noon, maybe harvest in the afternoon. By evening, you're inside watching TV while rats are having a feast. I used to think a quick dusk check was enough, but rats are patient. They'll wait until you've been asleep for an hour before making their move. This is why passive protection like netting fails — it doesn't respond to their schedule. Do rats eat pumpkins during the day? They can, but they prefer night when predators are less active. So if you see daytime rat activity, it means the population is large enough that they're getting desperate. That's a serious red flag. In my case, I noticed rats at dawn after a full moon night. They had all night to work on my cage and eventually broke through. The lesson here is simple: rat-proof your garden before sunset, not after. Check your barriers in the evening and reinforce any weak spots. I now do a 10-minute patrol right after dinner, and it's saved me from losing more pumpkins.

Building a Rat-Proof Pumpkin Fortress

Hardware Cloth vs. Everything Else

Let me save you some trial and error: hardware cloth is the only barrier that actually works. It's galvanized steel mesh with tiny 1/4-inch holes that rats can't chew through.

I tested five different materials before settling on hardware cloth. Plastic netting lasted three days. Chicken wire? Rats squeezed right through the 1-inch gaps. Even 1/2-inch mesh didn't stop young rats. But 1/4-inch hardware cloth? They couldn't get their teeth around the wire, and they couldn't fit through the holes. Here's what most guides don't tell you: the installation matters as much as the material. I buried my hardware cloth 8 inches deep around the pumpkin bed, then folded an extra 4 inches outward underground. This stops rats from burrowing underneath. Do rats eat pumpkins that are protected by hardware cloth? They'll try, but they can't reach them. The key is sealing every edge with zip ties or wire twists. Rats will test every inch of your barrier. If there's a single gap the size of a dime, they'll find it. I learned this when I left a 1/2-inch gap near a corner post. Within two days, a rat had squeezed through and damaged a pumpkin. Use zip ties to secure overlapping edges, and check them weekly.

The Complete Step-by-Step Protection Plan

Here's exactly what I do now, and it's worked for two seasons straight. Start with a raised bed or container — that's your first line of defense. Elevating pumpkins off the ground makes it harder for rats to access them in the first place.

First, build a frame from PVC pipes or wooden stakes around your pumpkin bed. Then wrap the entire structure in 1/4-inch hardware cloth, leaving a door for access. I use a hinged door made from a wooden frame and more hardware cloth. Don't forget the top — rats are excellent climbers and will go over if they can't go through. Second, install a rat-proof floor. I use a double layer of hardware cloth on the bottom, covered with landscape fabric and soil. This prevents rats from digging up from underneath. Third, create a perimeter defense. Place snap traps baited with peanut butter outside the cage, not inside. Do rats eat pumpkins that are inside a sealed cage? No, but they'll try to break in. The traps catch them before they cause damage. I check my traps every morning and re-bait as needed. Fourth, use natural repellents around the perimeter. Peppermint oil on cotton balls works for about a week before needing replacement. Finally, keep a clean garden zone. Remove fallen leaves, trim grass, and store firewood away from the pumpkin patch. Rats love clutter — it gives them cover to approach your pumpkins unseen. If you follow these five steps, you'll have a rat-free pumpkin patch. I guarantee it, because I've tested every possible failure point.

The Real Cost of Underestimating Rats

What You Lose Beyond the Pumpkins

Rats don't just take your harvest. They bring diseases, parasites, and even structural damage to your property. A rat infestation can cost hundreds of dollars in repairs and medical bills.

Let me paint you a picture. After my pumpkin disaster, I found rat droppings in my garden shed. Then I noticed gnaw marks on my irrigation tubing. Then they chewed through a wire on my outdoor lighting. Within three months, I had spent over $200 on repairs, traps, and new materials. And that's not counting the health risks. Rats carry leptospirosis, salmonella, and hantavirus. Their urine can contaminate soil where you grow food. Do rats eat pumpkins and then spread disease to other plants? Yes, they track bacteria from their mouths and feet onto every surface they touch. I had to discard soil from my pumpkin bed and start fresh. The total cost of my rat problem was about $350, not including the pumpkins I lost. Compare that to the $50 I could have spent on hardware cloth upfront. Prevention is always cheaper than cleanup. That's why I tell every gardener: take the question “do rats eat pumpkins” seriously from day one. Your wallet will thank you.

When to Call a Professional

Not every rat problem is DIY-fixable. If you see multiple rats during daylight, or find nests with babies, it's time to call an exterminator. These are signs of an established infestation that requires professional help.

I waited too long before calling for backup. I thought I could handle it myself with traps and netting. But by the time I realized I was outmatched, rats had already established three burrows in my garden. Professional exterminators have tools I don't: commercial-grade bait stations, exclusion techniques, and knowledge of local rat behavior. They can also identify entry points you might miss. Do rats eat pumpkins in a way that professional treatment can prevent? Absolutely. A good exterminator will seal your garden perimeter, set up monitoring stations, and give you a maintenance plan. It costs about $150-300 for a one-time treatment, but it's worth it if you have a severe infestation. I called one after my pumpkin incident, and they found a gap in my fence that was letting rats in from a neighbor's overgrown yard. I never would have found that on my own. Now I have a quarterly checkup with them, and my garden has been rat-free for over a year. Don't let pride or frugality cost you your harvest. If rats are winning, bring in the pros.

Lessons From the Garden: What I'd Do Differently

Starting With Prevention, Not Reaction

My biggest regret is that I didn't prepare for rats before planting. I assumed they wouldn't bother with pumpkins. That assumption cost me weeks of work and a lot of embarrassment.

If I could go back to July 1, I would have built the hardware cloth cage before planting a single seed. I would have installed the underground barrier and set up perimeter traps on day one. The truth is, rats are always present in urban gardens. They're just waiting for an opportunity. Do rats eat pumpkins as soon as they appear? They start investigating when the fruit is still small and green. By the time your pumpkins are big and orange, they've already been planning their attack for weeks. So prevention needs to start the moment you put seeds in the ground. I now do a “rat readiness check” before every growing season. I walk the garden perimeter, seal any gaps, set traps, and reinforce barriers. It takes two hours upfront but saves me from weeks of frustration later. Don't be like me — don't learn the hard way that “do rats eat pumpkins” is a question with a very expensive answer.

Sharing My Embarrassing Story So You Don't Repeat It

I still cringe thinking about that weigh day. A rat pup dropping from my pumpkin while my neighbor screamed. It's the kind of story you only tell close friends, but I'm sharing it here because it might save your pumpkin patch.

Here's the thing about garden failures: they're only failures if you don't learn from them. I learned that rats are smarter and more determined than I ever imagined. I also learned that experience doesn't replace preparation. My neighbor with her PhDs may have lacked practical skills, but she understood pest biology better than I did. She warned me about rats, and I ignored her. Do rats eat pumpkins in ways that surprise even experienced gardeners? Yes, and they keep evolving. Some rats now chew through plastic netting in minutes. Others have learned to open simple latches. The only way to stay ahead is to keep learning and adapting. I now follow pest control forums and read updated studies on rat behavior. I also talk to other gardeners in my area about what's working for them. Because the best advice comes from people who've already made the mistakes. So take my story as a warning, not just entertainment. Protect your pumpkins before rats turn them into nurseries. And never, ever underestimate how much rats love pumpkins.

E.g. ：Embarrassing Garden Moment - Do Rats Eat Pumpkins, Yes, They Do
Quick question, can I give my rats a raw pumpkin? And if so ... - Reddit
How to protect pumpkins from rats? - Facebook
Can rats have raw pumpkin? : r/RATS - Reddit
Pumpkins nibbled by rats….should they be discarded or can I still ...

FAQs

Q: Do rats eat pumpkins, and how much damage can they really do?

A: Yes, rats absolutely eat pumpkins, and from my own painful experience, they can wreck an entire harvest if you let them. I lost four out of six pumpkins to rats before I finally protected the last one with a mini greenhouse. But here’s the kicker — the rats still hollowed out my prize pumpkin and turned it into a nursery for six pups. They don’t just nibble the skin; they chew clean, quarter-sized holes and eat the soft, moist flesh and seeds inside. What’s worse, they use hollowed pumpkins as nests, which is exactly what happened to me. On weigh day, I lifted my pumpkin and a rat dropped out onto my neighbor’s toes! We all screamed, and when I dropped the fruit, it cracked open to reveal the nest. So if you’re wondering whether rats can destroy your pumpkins, the answer is a resounding yes. They’re persistent, resourceful, and surprisingly good at hiding their damage. According to pest control experts, rats can gnaw through plastic netting and even soft metals, so flimsy barriers won’t cut it. In my contest, my hollow pumpkin still weighed more than my neighbor’s, so I won — but it was definitely a hollow victory. Don’t let this happen to you.

Q: How can I protect my pumpkins from rats and other rodents?

A: From what I learned the hard way, the best protection starts with physical barriers that rats can’t chew through. I initially used plastic netting, but rats ate right through it. Then I built a cage, but raccoons removed it. My final solution — a mini greenhouse made with 1/4-inch hardware cloth — worked, but even then, the rats had already hollowed out my last pumpkin before I enclosed it completely. Here’s what I recommend based on my experience and research: use hardware cloth (metal mesh) instead of netting, because rats can’t chew through it. Build a cage with a solid floor or bury the edges at least 6 inches deep to prevent burrowing. Elevate your pumpkins on a pallet or wire shelf to make them harder to access. Combine this with traps placed around the garden for ongoing management. Avoid relying on repellent sprays like peppermint oil alone — they need constant reapplication and only deter some rats about 40-60% of the time. Ultrasonic devices are even worse outdoors, with only about 20-30% effectiveness. The key is multiple layers of defense. Check your garden daily for signs of gnawing, droppings, or burrows. And don’t wait until you see damage — act preventively. I ignored the early warning signs and paid the price. If you’re serious about protecting your pumpkins, start with hardware cloth and traps, and inspect often.

Q: What are the most common mistakes gardeners make when dealing with pumpkin pests?

A: Based on my embarrassing garden moment, the biggest mistake is ignoring early warning signs. I noticed small holes in my first pumpkins but thought they were from slugs. Rat holes are clean and round, about the size of a quarter — a clear sign you have rodent trouble. I ignored them because I was focused on winning my pumpkin contest, and that cost me four out of six pumpkins. Another common mistake is relying on weak deterrents like plastic netting. Rats chew through it easily — I learned that the hard way when they ate through my netting twice. Many gardeners also leave pumpkins on the ground too long. As they ripen, they soften and become more attractive to rats. Harvest your pumpkins as soon as they’re fully colored and the stem starts to dry. I waited too long, and the rats turned my prize pumpkin into a nest. A third mistake is using poison. It can harm pets, birds, and wildlife. Stick to physical exclusion and traps instead. Finally, don’t assume rats only eat grains or trash. They love pumpkins because they’re soft, moist, and full of seeds. I made that assumption and paid for it. So if you’re wondering “do rats eat pumpkins?” — believe me, they do, and they’ll use every opportunity to get to them. Act fast and use multiple methods.

Q: Why are pumpkins so attractive to rats in the first place?

A: Pumpkins are basically a rat’s dream come true — they offer both food and shelter in one package. The flesh is soft, moist, and sweet, making it an easy meal, and the seeds are a nutritious bonus. But what surprised me most is that rats also use hollow pumpkins as nests. When I dropped my pumpkin on weigh day and it cracked open, six rat pups came tumbling out. The rats had hollowed out the inside completely and made it a home. This is common behavior. According to wildlife experts, rats are drawn to pumpkins because they provide a safe, enclosed space to raise their young. The thick shell offers protection from predators and the elements. Plus, pumpkins grow close to the ground, making them easy for rats to access. If you have a compost pile nearby — like I did — you’re basically rolling out a welcome mat. The smell of ripening pumpkins travels, and rats can detect it from a distance. They’re especially active at night, so you might not even see them until the damage is done. I’ve also noticed that rats prefer pumpkins over other vegetables in my garden, like tomatoes or peppers. Maybe it’s the texture or higher sugar content. Whatever the reason, once they discover your pumpkin patch, they won’t leave until every fruit is damaged or eaten. That’s why prevention needs to start before you even plant.

Q: Are there any natural or eco-friendly ways to keep rats away from pumpkins?

A: Absolutely, but from my experience, natural methods work best when combined with physical barriers. I tried peppermint oil sprays and cayenne pepper, but they wash away quickly in rain or fog — I’d say they’re only about 40-60% effective and need reapplication every few days. Some gardeners swear by planting mint or garlic around the pumpkin patch as a natural repellent, but rats are smart and will often find a way around them. Predator urine (like coyote or fox urine) can also deter rats for a while, but it wears off and needs frequent replacement. The most reliable eco-friendly approach I’ve found is using live traps. Set them near the pumpkin patch and check daily, then release the rats far from your garden. Avoid kill traps if you want a humane solution. Also, keep your garden clean — remove fallen fruit, trim overgrown weeds, and store compost in sealed bins. Rats love hiding places, so a tidy garden is less inviting. I also recommend using hardware cloth cages instead of plastic netting because metal is reusable and doesn’t harm the environment. If you have pets or kids, skip the poison entirely. In my contest, I wish I had started with a hardware cloth cage from day one. Instead, I relied on flimsy netting and lost most of my crop. So yes, natural methods can help, but they’re not enough on their own. Use them as part of a broader strategy that includes physical barriers and good garden hygiene.