Crayfish,(mudbugs, daddy crawfish) in veg garden

I have just started a beautiful vegetable garden and being in Louisiana , I already see the crayfish have dug holes between the plants. how do i get them out easily and safely without harming my veggies?
p.s I am not pulling them out, I just need to lead them elsewhere or know if I should worry for my garden.

Hmmm....

Is the garden so wet they are attracted to it?

Maybe building raised boxes would allow the soil to dry better so they are not attracted.

Well I always said, us gardeners learn something new every day and Boy, this surely is a new one.
Never ever thought about this type of problem LOL. I thought I was dumbfounded by lots of holes dug in borders in bright sun, Turned out, we had a large family of Toads, they apparently dig and live underground to stay cool and damp, Life takes on lots of strange differences EH.

I would agree that perhaps raised beds are the best way to go, I would also try lay and secure the very fine horticultural fleece over the veg beds as this allows light in, lets water penetrate and keeps many invading insects from colonising the immerging / growing veg.

Go to local environment office and find out IF these things eat, nibble or cause/ bring diseases to the veg as it must be a more common problem than just your yard they visit, it may well be they don't harm anything.
Lets know how it works out for you as I'm dumbfounded and really understand your worries, but like lots of things we worry about, sometimes they are unfounded.

Best of luck and Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

Thanks guys!

Well, I have it in a raised garden bed and the soil surrounding it normally fills with water because my entire backyard is a puddle zone.I have noticed that once the rain stops and the soil in there dries up a bit, there's not any new holes.

I don't think they tend to carry diseases because people here eat crawfish like crazy!

I read that they may nibble on some plants but I can't get a specific type that they enjoy. They also like the wet soil because of the worms and that's their primary food source.

I am trying to fill in my yard this weekend with a load of sand to eliminate puddles and I'm hoping that once everything stays dry, they'll move on to another backyard.

Sounds to me you have more a drainage Problem than anything else, I don't think laying sand will solve that problem very well and soon as the worms get going, the soil will just disappear when the rain washes it away.

I would investigate further to see IF there is any way you can improve the drainage either by laying field drains, (farmers use this method for wet areas, another way is to dig a trench and fill this with hardcore / gravel / or any other stone, old broken brick sometime get used to refill the trenches as they are cheep, anyway as this material gets covered by the soil to hide it, then your not spending money on any fancy stuff. it works as the water comes down, it soaks into the trench and is guided away from the Veg beds and follows the trench further down into a larger pit filled with same material.

There are various other methods of making drainage in wet areas of a garden and without seeing the layout of yours it's difficult to be more precise but maybe the best advice could come from a landscape company by asking them to come look at the area, ask as many questions as you can think of, materials, how deep a trench or other types of soak-a-way drainage, get cost and maybe with some help, you can do the job yourselves, it's not difficult really BUT you need to take care as there are some rules regarding where you are allowed to channel water, like you cant send it spewing into next doors place, nor onto any roads so you need to make the channels line of flow where it wont trouble anyone else.
It's hard work digging but sandy soil is normally easier to dig, but by doing lots of the digging yourself or with friends, you are sure it is being done to suit your requirements rather than just have a hole dug and get paid then walk away leaving you no better off.

Good luck and best regards.
WeeNel.

WeeNel,


We have talked to lots of different people and seeing as we have lots of land to fill, sand is the best option right now. We have arranged for someone to come and fill it in and we'll have to see how it goes from there.

Trust me, if I had it my way, we'd raise the whole yard and have it so it drains outwards where there is a ditch since most of Louisiana is in a flood zone.

And you're right, the sand might not get rid of the little guys making those holes, but it'll leave a less damp yard.

I'm honestly hoping that if he or "They:" most likely are going to stay that they are eating all the bugs that would normally eat at my garden and that's all. lol

Looks like you have lot's of other priorities for now, Leila, were all in the same boat where it comes to trying to do garden, home, food, other bills ect, but you'll get there in the end.

I've been gardening for more years than I care to remember, but like you, when landscaping need attention, it's a fast intake of breath and a coffee, next day it's a NOOOOOO way. then some time later, you find a way to fix it much cheaper than you first thought. be patient and just try enjoy your yard and veg beds for now, a garden is supposed to evolve so we have to be patient LOL.
Best Regards. WeeNel.

Well, it sounds like you have the beginnings of an aquaponics set up: On organic blend of fish keeping and vegetable growing.

You will have several harvests:
All the vegetables,
and
All the crayfish!

Lol Diana, well said, so funny, have a great gardening season.
Best Regards, WeeNel.