Protect Your Yard: Straightforward Strategies to Keep Squirrels Away, Minimizing Hassle
Nothing ruins a beautiful garden faster than squirrels nibbling on your tomatoes or digging up your prized flowers. If you're tired of these pesky critters ruining your backyard paradise, we've got some tips to help you drive them out for good!
First things first: remove what attracts them. Squirrels love fruits, nuts, and seeds, so if you have any of those in your garden or nearby trees, pack up the feast! While it may seem harsh, it's essential to keep squirrels at bay if you want to grow a beautiful garden.
Now that the tempting treats are gone, it's time to try some methods that can help keep squirrels out of your garden.
1. Electronic Squirrel Repellents
Have you ever tried using an electronic squirrel repellent? These devices emit sounds that are irritating to squirrels, but are inaudible to humans. Some of these devices may even repel other unwanted garden visitors, like mice and deer. With plenty of options available on the market, do your research to find the one that works best for you.
2. Let Dogs and Cats Do the Chasing
Just like hawks, dogs and cats can serve as natural predators for squirrels. If you're lucky enough to have a dog (or multiple dogs) roaming around, they will do a great job of keeping squirrels at bay. Some cats may also chase the squirrels away, but results may vary depending on your feline friend's personality.
3. Mothballs: A Smelly Solution
Believe it or not, mothballs can be useful for keeping squirrels out of your garden. Place them in a container with holes and let the scent do its work. Squirrels don't like the smell, so they'll avoid crossing paths with mothballs. Using an enclosed container ensures your other garden critters don't get harmed by the mothballs.
4. Make Your Own Repellent Spray
If you like doing things yourself, create your own squirrel repellent spray with items you already have in your kitchen. Fill a bottle with water, white vinegar, and jalapeno peppers (or juice from the peppers), and use it to spray your flowers. The spicy mixture will deter squirrels from coming near your garden. Squirrel repellent sprays made of Tabasco or other hot sauce are also popular. Use a small bottle of Tabasco mixed with a gallon of water for an effective deterrent.
5. Soap Flakes: An Old Wives' Tale
Some people swear by using soap to keep squirrels out of the garden. Irish Spring soap is a popular choice. While there isn't much scientific evidence to back this up, anecdotal evidence suggests that squirrels hate the smell of soap. If you have some soap sitting around, it may be worth a try.
6. Scare Tactics
Squirrels don't like loud noises, so try scaring them away with a loud horn, whistle, or scream. You can also fashion a scarecrow with human hair or put scarecrows with moving limbs in your garden. The sight and sound might be enough to keep squirrels away.
7. Use Chicken Wire
If all else fails, try using chicken wire to cover your harvest. While it may not be the most aesthetically pleasing solution, it can help keep squirrels out of your garden. Just make sure to use a secure, sturdy wire to prevent the squirrels from digging or pulling it back.
If you have a bird feeder and are tired of squirrels getting into it, try hanging it on a tall pole (10 feet or more) coated with olive oil or another repellent. Avoid placing the feeder in trees, as squirrels can easily climb and access it. Another option is to give them their own feeder stocked with squirrel-friendly treats.
If you've tried everything and still can't seem to keep squirrels out of your garden, consider speaking with a pest control specialist. Squirrels can become resistant to certain deterrents over time, so you may need to try a combination of methods or work with an expert to find the best solution for your specific situation.
Remember, squirrels aren't alone in their quest for your garden's bounty. Other garden pests may also cause trouble. Familiarize yourself with common garden pests and the methods to keep them at bay. Happy gardening!
Source:[1] Shorthouse, S. (2014). The Everything Guide to Urban Gardening. Adams Media.[2] Hicks, J. (2012). The Complete House and Garden Guide to Solutions Management: Pests and Disease Control. Storey Publishing LLC.[3] Myers, S. (2019). The Vegetable Gardener's Bible. ReadHowYouWant, Inc.[4] National Wildlife Federation. (2019). Gardening for Wildlife: A Guide for Plant Selection and Habitat Enhancement. National Wildlife Federation.[5] The Spruce. (n.d.). How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden. The Spruce. Retrieved from url
Author:Zoe MaxwellZoe Maxwell is a passionate environmentalist with a green thumb and a soft spot for all things wildlife. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of gardening and animal behavior with others, and her work has been published in various gardening magazines and websites. In her free time, Zoe loves exploring the great outdoors, taking photographs of nature, and playing with her adorable (but mischievous) feline companions.
- In addition to keeping squirrels out of the garden, consider planting some organic vegetables and flowers to decorate your home-and-garden lifestyle.
- For a more organic solution, you could create a natural repellent spray by combining water, white vinegar, and jalapeno peppers in a bottle, and use it to deter squirrels from your plants.
- After a successful harvest, consider preparing and preserving the vegetables as a part of your home-and-garden lifestyle, such as canning or freezing them for future use.
- To attract helpful insects like bees and butterflies, which are essential for pollination, consider planting flowers such as marigolds, sunflowers, and lavender in your garden.
- Since squirrels may also be attracted to bird feeders, consider reorganizing your home-and-garden layout to provide more space between the feeder and your prized flowers and vegetable plants.
