AusBonsai

Hi,

Considering fertilizer options, normally use osmocote and liquid based fertilizers. Anyone had issues with pellet based fertilizers (example Neutrog) attracting possums?

Can see posts on general web stating bone / blood meal being a deterrent, but then see others mentioning attracting them.

No problems with the possums on fertilizer, Rats.... Thats another matter they eat through the little plastic baskets to get to Seamungus. Anything with meal in it and all the realitives move in too. All meal fertilizer gone overnight.
Cheers
Kirky

CraigM wrote:Hi,

Considering fertilizer options, normally use osmocote and liquid based fertilizers. Anyone had issues with pellet based fertilizers (example Neutrog) attracting possums? .

Never seen possums near mine and i use Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses.

Having seen a possum eat a possum, I'd say anything is possible. I've never witnessed possums consuming or investigating organic fertiliser at my place but wouldn't be surprised if it did provide a slight attraction in times when food is scarce.

Thanks all. The possums have gone to ground at my place and are foriaging. So far no damage to trees, so hopefully the lack of damage continues. Don't think I want to attract rats on top of everything, might just continue as I am for now.

Possums are omnivorous. They might pretend to be cute little vegetarians but after dark they can turn carnivorous. The New Zealanders have lots of problems with them since they were taken over there. They raid birds nests and eat eggs and chicks. I've also seen them eating dead fish on the riverbank so I would also not be surprised if they came to investigate blood and bone.

I had some little fert bags disappear mysteriously last night, whatever took them was small and nimble enough to get them cleanly without knocking anything over or causing any disturbance, I've yet to see a trace of the bags or anything so I think it ate the lot. Rat?

If possums need protein… I’m not sure if they hoard food tho, but rats will. There’s a recipe for chili spray around somewhere that apparently disagrees with a possum. Chili and citronella maybe?

I thought I'd give Superthrive another go this season, mixed with other liquids of course. For those that have smelt it, it's a very strong vitamin B smell. This year, I had very much devastation to several of my tree's, mainly maples. I did think, did I send them into a frenzy with this smell as they've never been so destructive before.

There is another thread on deterring possums : viewtopic.php?f=19&t=30425&p=296878#p296878

I put a post on that thread (repeated below in italics)

I was talking to a friend the other day who has a tip for keeping possums at bay. She does the gardening talkback show on 2CC in Canberra on Saturdays and Sundays. She knows her stuff. Her tip is to try mothballs.

The most convincing evidence comes from someone whose wisteria flower buds were eaten by a possum every year. He hung mothballs randomly in his plant and had flowers for the first time ever. Obviously, they will last longer inside (quite a few people report getting rid of possums from their garden shed). So one tip is to put the mothballs into an old sock to reduce the rain hitting them.

I have had quite a few new leaves eaten on some maples this year. My security camera proves it is a possum. So I have hung mothballs at both ends of my main stand - as well as putting up some more physical barriers. I'll report results later.

I can now report that even after over 70mm of rain, the mothballs still smell strongly of naphthalene, and my security camera has not detected a possum for over 2 weeks. Not proof, but strong evidence that mothballs work.

Saw the moth ball approach at Wombat Hill Botanic gardens a few weeks ago. Had to ask the volunteers what they had in the baggies. They indicated they have had mixed results and are still getting possum damage in their propagation area.

I've had a daytime attack which im thinking rules out the possum. I did see a huge blue tongue in the bushes today though.