[ianl]

Hi, due to all my strawberries being eaten by mice last year, I need to raise the bed. When is the best time to dig them up ? I will build it about a foot high surrounded by wooden walls with wire on top. Will I need to put wire underneath to stop the mice burrowing up? All replies welcome

[Scottish Mike]

Probably not a bad idea to put wire underneath, but it'll have to be quite fine as mice can squeeze through tiny gaps.

I think now's the best time to move them.

[ianl]

Thanks for your reply.I will do it next weekend.

[Kristen]

I'm wondering if a raised bed going to deter the mice?

[Goosegirl]

Are you sure it was mice? We live amongst farmland and have a lot of mice, shrews etc but also three cats! Having said that, my near neighbour doesn't get hers eaten. I echo the last post, and also it's surprising the tiniest of holes they can squeeze through. Maybe a woven net over the top would do - it would be cheaper and will save you a lot of work.

[Scottish Mike]

We had a mouse infestation in our old flat a couple of years ago, and it was a huge eye-opener realising the little beggars could get through a gap the size of a pea. However, we ended up using peppermint oil alongside other methods to deter the mice, would it be worthwhile planting that in a pot nearby as mice don't like the aroma?

[ianl]

Thank you for your replies. I never thought of a woven net but I think that I build a raised bed over some weed suppressant fabric to stop anything burrowing underneath. Hopefully this will work!

[Mrs Bee]

Are you sure it was mice? We live amongst farmland and have a lot of mice, shrews etc but also three cats! Having said that, my near neighbour doesn't get hers eaten. I echo the last post, and also it's surprising the tiniest of holes they can squeeze through. Maybe a woven net over the top would do - it would be cheaper and will save you a lot of work.

Oh yes. If you can poke a pencil in a gap a mouse can squeeze through.