We live surrounded by state forest on two sides, so we've also dealt with this repeatedly over the years. We've tried just about everything to reduce damage but the best thing we've found to do is to just count on it to happen. By this I mean, if they're attracted to a nice loose bed that's full of compost (and grubs and worms -food), either start new beds plenty early to allow them time to forage in it first, before plants are added-
Or try our most dependable method; don't easily give them what they want.
Don't loosen the area or add amendments until after the new plants are settled in. When we transplant perennials here, we now just insert the shovel (or a fork is even better) to a good depth for the plant, rock it back and forth a bit to open it a little, then kneel down to scoop soil away from the inside of the hole -leaving the top part undisturbed as much as possible. Add a bit of compost and mix it in, set in the plant, and then press the sides of the hole back together. Water it in with an open hose or bucket, but try to do this well before sunset -watered areas can be an attractant as well. Clean up any scattered soil so that your area looks just about the same as it did before -on their next trip through your gardens the critters probably won't even notice a disturbance.
This seems to foil the critters since they don't have what they want -easy digging. In a couple of weeks or so, apply compost or mulch around the base of the plant. By doing this, any digging should only be in the compost layer (away from plant roots), but the nutrients will still filter down to enrich your soil.
Digging up an entire area really isn't necessary for our new plants; plus, it's hard work that we're doing (just) for the benefit of our resident foragers.
Weeding out the area and mulching it to give a finished look can be done a bit at a time at a later date. The less "new" our resident troublemakers perceive at one time -the less interest they'll likely have in it.
Good luck, Seedfork, and best to you!
