By Shari Brennan

Maybe you know it: That sinking feeling that comes when you survey your garden in the morning, only to find it chomped and rooted to pieces. In the worst cases it looks like a tornado struck; in mild instances, it's simply a disheveled annoyance. Of course you don't want to harm the intruders-deer, birds, rabbits, gophers and more-so here are several ways to discourage the unwanted trespassers. But before you get to the list, consider these all-encompassing ideas:

1. Get an outside cat. When squirrels, rabbits and chipmunks see a cat, they think twice about invading.
2. Remove brush and woodpiles from gardens, flowerbeds, ditches and other areas of your landscape. These piles birds, squirrels, rabbits and chipmunks; removing the piles removes their cover, and forces them to find a new home.

Chipmunks are perhaps cuter than they are harmful, but can still cause damage in the garden.

Birds
Birds dive bomb your tomatoes, scarf down your blueberries and make off with your figs before you can harvest them. Here are some solid scare tactics.

1. Cover your plants with a fine mesh or netting.
2. Prune your trees so that they don't offer much shelter or nesting places.
3. Scare them away with a scarecrow or plastic snakes and owls.
4. Keep a full bird feeder away from the garden.

Deer
Let's face it: The Bambi population is out of control in certain parts of the country. And deer are notorious for late-night snacking, often using your yard as the buffet. Keep them out of your garden with these tips.

1. Plant bad tasting plants, such as daffodils and alliums, as a turn-off for deer.
2. Purchase and install a fence designed specifically to stop deer at gardening centers and on the Internet.

Squirrels
People have almost mythic battles with squirrels. To keep them out of your trees, your birdhouses and away from your bulbs, try the following.

1. Wrap tree trunks with aluminum collars to prevent damage. It isn't attractive, but it prevents squirrels from climbing.
2. If you have a pole-mounted birdhouse, use a plastic base. Squirrels can't get a foothold on it.
3. Place a wire mesh over the ground where you plant bulbs, anchoring it so it can't be pushed aside.

As many gardeners already know, rabbits are very persistent when it comes to feasting on fresh plants.

Rabbits
Peter Rabbit wasn't the only pesky one in the bunch. Here's how to send them packing.

1. Place a wire mesh over the areas you've planted.
2. Add a fence; it should be two to six inches deep and at least four feet tall.

Gophers
These cute critters can terrorize your tulips. Here's how to wage war nicely.

1. Before you plant bulbs, dip them in the Mole and Gopher Med solution, an emulsified combination of castor oils.
2. Spray gopher holes with Garlic Barrier to turn them out of their homes and out of your yard.