I'm going to make a repellant in hopes that it will keep voles, mice or any chewing critter away from eating the bark and limbs while stored for winter. In a food processor I'm going to put garlic and mint in and chop it into a paste then add some water to make a consistency that I'm able to paint it on the trunks. For multi trunked bush type trees I thought of making the paste thin enough to put in a spray bottle. It'd probably will need strained to get all the lumps out.  I had alot of damage last year and I don't want a repeat this year. Also I'll use mothballs and traps to help cover all areas.  Anyone see problems with this mix or know something else to add? 

Using "Scoot" might be just as easy.

Garlic and mint? I saw a pesto like that. Let me know if you have left over.

You might consider trying Ropel:
http://www.nixalite.com/ropel.aspx

I'll have to check out the local stores and nursery for either Scoot or Ropel or what ever I can find around here. I was in the dark about that. Didn't really know they made something to keep gnawing, chewing disgusting vermin away from trees. It would save the garlic for a better use, spaghetti sauce or better yet Bagna Cauda, I could go for some now. It's stinky to some people but delicious, if you know what it is then you know what I'm talking about. Mmm mmm I can smell the anchovies and garlic cooking away!

There is a commercial product made of rotten eggs, inter alia. It is fairly effective in keeping deer away. It might also work for rodentia. A caveat, however, it truly is nauseating. Do not stand down wind.

I had to Google Bagna Cauda. Sounds great to me, lot's of garlic and salty little fish...what else does a person need? My wife would probably banish me for a day or two after the enjoyment though. Maybe I should make this before I bring up going on a fishing trip!

Oh my goodness Bagna Cauda ! Delicious stuff - My Dad who recently passed away at 93 used to make it to put over his spaghetti . He wasn't big on veggies , did love it with bread though too.

My husband and kids won't eat anchovies -  unless they don't know they're in a recipe !! :-)

Every region or even town make Bagna Cauda different. My fathers family came from Ivrea in northern Italy. The way he made it was 1 can of anchovies, 1 can of sardines, a few cloves of garlic, about a tablespoon of butter and some olive oil. Cook it til it all breaks down. You might have to add more oil if it's too thick. When done you dip slices of vegetables like pepper, cauliflower, celery, carrots or any other veggie you like. He always made us hold a slice of bread under whatever you were dipping in it to act as a plate this way you didn't drip it all over the place then when you were done you put the leftover bagna cauda on the bread and eat it.  On my mother's side of the family they made it different but I'm not sure how it was made other than no sardines and I know they used cream in it, but that's all I can remember of that recipe. When you eat it people know the next day cause they'll tell you "You stink". LOL

Let us know how it works Tony.  I used something similar in lots of my potted trees just to keep rodents out of the soil.  Using promix (with added perlite and added organic material) left that soil just too tasty for rodents, and they were going after it.  So for a while I used cat mint and orange mint plus chives and leeks, chopped up coarsely (just with a trowel) and layered on top of the soil.  (I used those plants just because they're growing wild in abundance close by... they were free and easy to get).  It seemed to work, but took effort.  Later I discovered that just putting flat rocks on the surface worked just as well for my purposes (gravel would probably do it too, but I didn't want gravel mixing in).   

Anyway, I realize you're talking about a different setting... overwintering versus during the summertime... and digging in for the winter versus just making a mess of tree pots in the summer.  But I wanted to share that mint plus pungent stuff (leeks and chives) did seem to work.  Whether it'd work over the winter for that problem, I don't know... interested to hear what you find.

Mike   central NY state, zone 5

Wrap the base of the trunks with aluminum foil for good measure.

This winter I'm going all out in a defense mode. I'm setting traps, d-con, sticky pads, mint, garlic, foil around trunks=thanks Brent, and I'll see if I can find the commercial repellents too. You can never over guard a fig tree. I'm going to start tomorrow by setting traps in the garage to catch anything setting up a winter home now.

You might catch me gnawing at your fig trees if you use the garlic & mint.

Wow! Why don't you just get a cat? Or the second best thing, predator pee.

I'm strictly dog person and besides a cat isn't going to stay in a cold garage protecting my trees. When I did have a cat, it was my sister's but somehow I ended up with it, I think they're mainly heat seekers cause it would lay on the register blocking all the heat coming out.  Putting predator pee on the trees is too stinky and would keep me away but probably not the mice. It might actually attract mice to it for the salts and minerals in the urine. I think I'll stick to my original plan along with the other suggestions I got, but I need to find a trap to catch the ever so dangerous garlic laden bark chewing "Bob C". Thanks for the input though. Just curious, what predator pee would mice and voles run from?

Tony , Ok I'm going to go out on a fig limb here ......... But  you gotta try  Bobcat Urine!  We were having a really big problem with Coyotes last year, My neighbor turned me onto this website where he had bought some Wolf Urine. NO JOKE , Wolf Urine .. I have been spraying it on my back fence line,all summer   and believe it or not. I have had no more trouble.  they have different urines for different animals . try it it works !!  

http://www.PredatorPee.com 

Hortstu and Cody,
   I checked out that website. I think I'll try the bobcat pee. They even have a people repellent! I'm sure everyone knows a person or two that they could use that on.
Thanks for turning me on to that site. Ya find out all kinds of info on here.