what can you do to protect my vegetables from squrrells

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Are there small, shallow holes dug in your garden beds? Exercise you lot observe fruits and vegetables that are one-half eaten? Take your freshly planted bulbs been dug up? If you answered yes to any (or all) of these, it's probably squirrel damage. Their rummaging is in full swing in fall when they're prepping for wintertime. They'll be dorsum in bound, making the most of new growth and ripening fruit when nuts and seeds are limited.

While many of us enjoy watching squirrels, they can be a serious garden problem, causing extensive damage and terrorizing bird feeders. If you are looking for means to keep them out of your garden, here are some humane solutions to try:

1. Hide or relocate their food. Be diligent about cleaning up fallen nuts, acorns and berries. Brand the process faster and easier with a handy nut gatherer. These nutrient sources tin can be relocated to an area where squirrels are welcome, such as a back corner of your yard (see #7 beneath). Likewise, keep trash can lids securely closed as well.



Photo past: alexei_tm / Shutterstock.

2. Get a dog. Most dogs dearest to chase squirrels. Put them on squirrel patrol and let them scare the squirrels away.
3. Turn upwardly their noses. Squirrels are offended by many of the same scents as deer, and so repellents similar Plantskydd Deer Repellent work well. You tin can as well effort a thin layer of coffee grounds or tucking a small amount of dog hair around and under plants.
4. Surprise them. Startle and shoo them away with a sudden spray of water from a move-activated sprinkler or boom of air from an motion-activated air tin can.
5. Employ natural predators. Apply a squirrel's natural predators to your advantage by alluring hawks or owls by placing raptor perches or owl nests nearby. However, this approach is not recommended if you lot accept small animals in the 1000 that y'all'd like to proceed there.
6. Create a barrier. Shield ground crops with row covers, create an enclosure with chicken wire or even build a greenhouse to protect tempting treats from squirrels. Whatsoever fencing should exist placed up to a foot into the basis to go on squirrels from digging under.
7. Use companion plants. Discourage squirrels by surrounding or inter-planting with varieties that they plough their noses up to, like mint, marigolds, nasturtiums, or mustard. You lot can besides endeavour crown imperial bulbs (Fritillaria), but it is recommended that you plant these far abroad from inhabited areas such equally patios or porches considering of their strong skunk-similar aroma.
8. Cover the footing. Squirrels don't particularly like the feel of mulch (specially gravel) under their feet, and so add together it to garden beds. When used over newly planted bulbs, information technology can besides help disguise the scent of the fresh bulbs. You might as well attempt laying down aluminum foil.
9. Give them their own nutrient. Although a disputed method, equally this may finish up attracting more, giving in to the fiddling guys might just be an option. If you've got a big area, make them their own feeding ground that is well away from your garden beds. Apply a squirrel feeder to feed them their ain sunflower seeds, peanuts, and feed corn. Some gardeners become then far equally to establish extra tomatoes to go on them satisfied and away from theirs. You may want to include some of the other squirrel deterrent methods above around bird feeders and garden beds, but in instance.
10.  Requite them a drink. If squirrels are munching on your tomatoes or other juicy fruits or vegetables, they may just exist thirsty. Theresa Rooney, writer of The Guide to Humane Critter Command , says, "During the growing season, provide the squirrels with a dish of fresh water…and the squirrels volition probably leave those tomatoes for you lot to harvest."

If you just decide to let them run their course (literally) in your thou or garden, Rooney also points out that they volition eat fallen seed that won't sprout into weeds, help trim trees by keeping branches clean, and can even add together some humor.

DOES CAYENNE PEPPER Keep SQUIRRELS Away?

Yes, applying a mixture of cayenne or other chili peppers either in a spray or sprinkling effectually plants can deter squirrels. But, if information technology gets on their paws and they affect their eyes it tin can cause pain and even temporary blindness, so we recommend less harmful methods.

WILL MOTHBALLS KEEP SQUIRRELS Away?

We've as well seen recommendations for using mothballs; yet, mothballs are toxic when ingested-not only to squirrels, just also to pets and children, then please exercise not apply them.

WHAT About TRAPS?

Although squirrel traps may audio like a skilful idea at the time, especially if you really want them gone, they commonly aren't a sustainable solution. Yous're often fighting a losing battle and just making way for more than to move into the neighborhood. Another consideration confronting using traps is that yous may exist separating a mother squirrel from her babies, especially in bound, leaving them no chance for survival — which, again, may audio acceptable in the moment (depending on your frustration level), but really isn't a good thing. As well, this practice is prohibited in many areas and you should check with your local Section of Fish and Wild fauna kickoff.

TIPS FOR KEEPING SQUIRRELS OUT OF BIRD FEEDERS AND Abroad FROM BULBS

Squirrels dearest to eat the aforementioned basics and seeds that birds practice, and fall-planted bulbs are a treat when squirrels are actively stocking up for winter. Here are a few strategies you can utilise in add-on to those above to keep them from feasting on your bird feeders and bulbs.

Photo by: Giedriius / Shutterstock.

Bird Feeders:

• Utilise a squirrel-proof bird feeder or add together squirrel guards or baffles to existing feeders and poles.
• Keep the surface area nether the bird feeder clean and gratis of dropped seeds and nuts.
• Place feeders at least five to six anxiety off the ground and at to the lowest degree 8 to 10 anxiety away from any structure (house, debate, shed) that they can use as a launching pad to jump to the feeder.
• Clip trees to keep branches far plenty abroad.
• Feed safflower seeds — the birds like them, but squirrels don't.

Bulbs:

• Line the bottom, sides, and top of the bulb planting area with hardware cloth (wire mesh) or chicken wire. Cover with soil, then add mulch on the surface. The seedling shoots can make their way up through the mesh, only squirrels can't make their way downwardly to the bulbs. In that location are also fix-made seedling cages that tin exist purchased.
• Comprehend the surface with plastic netting, then cover with mulch.
• Place some crushed gravel or rock in the planting hole with the bulbs.
• Plant bulbs that squirrels don't like such equally daffodils, alliums, snowdrops, Muscari, Frittilaria, Castilian bluebells, and the fall-blooming autumn crocus. You can institute these varieties solely, intermix them, or outline your planting bed with them.
• Go along your planting surface area clean from bulb debris. Squirrels take a corking sense of smell and tin can be attracted to their cached treasure quite easily.

HOW TO KEEP SQUIRRELS FROM EATING PUMPKINS

So you've decorated your autumn porch with pumpkins, and the side by side thing you know they've been devoured by squirrels. Although not their favorite nutrient, they are handy at only the correct fourth dimension of year when squirrels are fattening up for winter. Here are a few methods to try to keep them from destroying your pretty fall display:

• Spray the pumpkins and surrounding area with a repellent, like Liquid Fence.
• Tuck some dog hair around and beneath the pumpkins.
• Scare them off with a motion-activated air equalizer. Although, yous might want to warn visitors of its presence and be sure to remove it before trick-or-treaters show up.
• Rub the pumpkin with a cloth soaked in apple tree cider vinegar and even constrict the soaked cloth nearby. Reapply ofttimes.
• Mix a solution of one part eucalyptus oil and 10 parts water and spray or wipe down the pumpkin. You lot can besides try peppermint oil.
• Add an owl decoy to your decorations to scare them off.

If you're looking to keep them from eating your pumpkins while they're still growing in your garden, try some of the suggestions at the top of the folio.

RELATED:
Bulbs 101
Gardening Advice: Squirrels Dining on Your Bulbs?
Deer-Resistant Plants
Rabbits - Natural Ways to Protect Your Garden

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