A little plastic container of human hair clippings has been sitting on a shelf in my house for weeks.
I read somewhere that human hair deters garden pests because it frightens away animals that don't like the smell of people.
I had my doubts, but I happen to live with a man who produces hair clippings in abundance and was willing to collect them in a cup for me. Who could say no?
At the time, some form of wildlife — my guess was a chipmunk — was sneaking through the chicken wire fence around my vegetable garden and nibbling the leaves off the newly sprouted pea plants. I was furious.
By the time we collected the hair, though, the peas had grown bigger and had won the battle on their own.
So the hair clippings sat on a shelf.
They probably would still be there now if two things hadn't happened.
First, I spotted new pest damage in the vegetable garden. Something was eating my green beans, Swiss chard and parsley, all of which are precious to me.
The green beans popped up within a week after I planted seeds and were just unfurling healthy leaves, promising an ample harvest like last summer's. The Swiss chard was a success story from my indoor seedling project because the seeds had passed their expiration date. And the parsley is a plant I've relied on each year to make me feel good — when nothing else works, the parsley always produces and looks great.
I could not forgive the chipmunks for destroying any of these plants.
The second thing that happened was that a guest at our house unwittingly picked up the container of hair clippings. I was mortified. Fortunately the conversation switched directions, and I didn't have to explain what was inside. Still, I knew it was time to either use the hair or throw it away.
So the next evening I took the little container to the garden.
Many of the green bean plants had been reduced to leafless, inch-high stalks. Some of the Swiss chard plants had entirely disappeared. The parsley looked as though it could rebound, but only if it had a chance to grow for a while without little chipmunk teeth taking bites.
I opened the container and jiggled it.
The clippings, rather than scattering in the breeze, all landed in big clumps among the parsley.
Only then did it occur to me that the hair bits might get caught in the curly parsley leaves and that hairy parsley might not be appetizing to humans, either.
Thoroughly grossed out, I picked up a glob of hair with my thumb and forefinger and sprinkled it over the green beans. I pinched another clump and let the clippings flutter down around the Swiss chard.
It didn't spread very far, but I didn't care. This project was over.
I turned my back on the garden, closed the container and tried to come to terms with the loss of those plants.
Now here's where it gets interesting. Today I went out to check on the garden, and I noticed that all of the nibbled vegetables are growing again. There is no new damage, at least that I could see, and many of the plants have produced new leaves.
Did the hair clippings work? I'm still skeptical.
Maybe the chipmunks simply lost interest. Maybe the plants are hardier than I thought. Maybe the chipmunks are pacing themselves, and they'll be back for more later.
Either way, the next time my husband trims his beard or cuts his hair, I'm going to be keeping the clippings. There are some poblano peppers that have been nibbled, and I've got nothing to lose.
nnn
Julie Kirkwood is a freelance writer for The Eagle-Tribune. Her column, Yard Dirt, appears most Wednesdays. She also keeps a gardening blog, Yard Dirt: Sharing Seeds, at www.eagletribune.com.
