Why You Should Think About Planting Daffodils If You Have A Groundhog Problem

Whether you call them groundhogs, woodchucks, or even whistle pigs, these rodents are hard not to like thanks to their roly-poly bodies and sweet faces. But as adorable as groundhogs can be, they are a huge nuisance in the garden. Not only do they eat almost any crop or flower, but their burrows can result in massive holes in your landscape. Despite their voracious appetite, there are some plants they steer clear of, including daffodils. Not only do they avoid the daffodils themselves, but they may even leave nearby plants alone too.

Daffodils are one of the plants that seem to deter groundhogs, preventing your garden from becoming their meal. While there are many strategies to keep groundhogs out of your home gardens, planting daffodils is one of the prettiest. The beautiful perennials bloom in late winter or spring depending on the region, and are hardy in zones 4 through 8. And while you may have thought daffodils only came in shades of yellow, there are actually a surprising number of different types of jonquils and daffodils to choose from, with colors ranging from whites and pinks to shades of orange. So don't worry about being able to find daffodils to match your garden's color scheme or style. 

Planting daffodils does require a bit of thinking ahead, as unlike your veggies or annual flowers, they need to be planted in fall if you want blooms in the spring. If you know that there is a section of your garden that will need extra protection from groundhogs, try planting a border of daffodil bulbs. Unfortunately, daffodils tend to stop flowering and die back to their bulbs in late spring, so you may need to use additional methods to repel groundhogs in summer and autumn.

Luckily, daffodils aren't the only plants with a reputation for sending groundhogs scurrying. Both mint and marigolds are also commonly thought to repel the rodents. As they flower all summer and well into fall, marigolds are perfect for pest control after the daffodils are done for the year. If you opt to try growing mint varieties, make sure to plant it in a pot or container as it can otherwise spread aggressively and become nearly as much of a pest as the groundhogs.