It's never easy, outwitting the varmints that rearrange our planting schemes. There are a few to contend with and some are far more destructive than others. By far, the worst offender is the vole or Microtus pennsylvanicus. Although voles are a common problem in the garden and I have a few tips that will help you deal with them.

Voles are common throughout the United States, in fact there are at least 15 species of voles in North America. The worst offender, the meadow vole feeds on leaves, stems, roots, fruits, seeds and flowers. They have a high metabolic rate, matched with a high rate of promiscuity. Not to be confused with moles or shrews, voles love our garden plants, whereas moles are carnivorous, feeding on insect larvae, worms and even mice. Shrews feed on moss, seeds, fruits, nuts and build shallow tunnels with deeper chambers for food storage. Voles often take advantage of mole tunnels, but are also capable of building their own, as they prefer the pliable ground of a garden and naturally the assorted goodies that you have planted there. I have learned, over the years that a voles greatest fear is open space, understandable when one realizes that as much as 85 percent of an owl or hawks diet comes from voles. Foxes also rely on voles as an important dietary staple.

Knowing that, the single best thing you can do is to simply clean up your garden. Remove fallen leaves and rake the garden clean. More often than not the voles will high-tail it to safer quarters, seeking the shelter of grassy fields or a neighbors uncleared garden. If in fact, you find that moles have invaded, you may attempt to discourage them, even though their feeding habits are beneficial, the tunnels become super-highways for the more destructive voles.

Voles tend to like plants of the lily family, they eat Lilium bulbs and seek out daylilies (Hemerocallis) and Hostas. Surprisingly, they are also fond of a few woody shrubs, with roses ranking in the top 5. I used to set out mouse-traps, placed under inverted pots and baited with peanutbutter, but my first victim was a tiny shrew, so I abandoned that method. Meadow voles are short lived, averaging only 2 to 3 months, but young are capable of leaving the nest at 3 weeks. Females breed 2 to 3 times during their lifetime, producing an average of 5 young. A single female travels within an area of 75 to 200 square feet.

Of course, once feeding begins, the most desirable plants are always the most expensive ones. I admire them (oddly enough) for knowing which Hostas cost over 35 dollars and this brings me to my second method of defense, a cheap plastic label with nothing more on it than $1.99, placed next to your more valuable plants.