How to Prevent Squirrel in Garden
If you want to keep squirrels out of your garden, you can try some natural ways to keep them out. Putting up a decoy food station in the garden is one great way to keep squirrels out. Another way is to place wire mesh around your flower beds. You can also spray pepper and chili powder to deter them. The more scent deterrents you have, the better! Use any of these methods to keep squirrels away!
Distract squirrels with decoy food stations
It is not always possible to keep squirrels away from your garden. Squirrels can ruin the plants in your garden, shed their hair and wreak havoc on your yard. But you can distract them by placing decoy food stations around your yard. They will gravitate to these stations and away from other areas of your garden. To do this, you can place peppermint essential oil and vinegar near the stations.
Another way to keep squirrels away is to place pepper, coffee grounds or even hot peppers in your garden. Squirrels will not dig into mulch if they can smell pepper. The pepper will also keep squirrels from choosing intact vegetables. However, you need to repeat the application periodically. Using pepper, for example, will cause the squirrels to stay away from your vegetables, while hot pepper water will burn them.
Place wire mesh around plant beds
You can install a wire mesh around plant beds to discourage squirrels from digging up your plants. You can also cover potted plants with hardware cloth or plastic bird netting. You should bury this wire mesh a few inches below the soil, however, so it will not be seen by squirrels. You can also use aluminum flashing to protect wooden structures from squirrel damage. These are just a few of the ways you can prevent squirrels from getting into your garden.
The easiest way to deter squirrels is to use physical barriers. You can use chicken wire, or stakes. If the mesh is not practical, you can also use plastic forks buried with their tine side up to scare the squirrels away. However, this method will only keep the squirrels from digging your plants. Aside from these measures, you can also use a chew decoy to scare away squirrels.
Spray with pepper and chili powder
To keep your garden squirrel-free, you should try a hot sauce repellent spray. You can make your own pepper spray by mixing hot sauce and washing up liquid. You can also buy commercial pepper sprays and use them to repel the squirrels from your garden. Alternatively, sprinkle red pepper flakes around your plants or plant stakes. After a few rains, repeat the process. However, you must remember that pepper repellents are only temporary solutions.
Another natural way to repel squirrels from your garden is to sprinkle pepper and chili powder on the ground. Squirrels like to dig into the ground, and the spicy taste will make them flee in fear. Moreover, the hot powder will not harm your plants or flowers. For a more effective method, you can mix chili powder and pepper flakes and put them into a spray bottle. Once you have prepared the mixture, use the spray bottle to scatter pepper and chili powder over your garden.
Place bird feeders near utility wires
While there are some simple solutions, one of the most effective is to place your bird feeders near utility wires. A squirrel may be attracted to ripe fruit in your bird feeder, but a fence can deter them from eating the fruit. If you want to discourage them, try putting plastic bird netting around them. You can also cover your bird feeders with heavyweight mulch or decorative rocks.
If you’re afraid of poisoning squirrels, consider installing a squirrel proof feeder. These feeders can be attached to utility lines or any other structure to deter squirrels. If you’re unable to find a squirrel proof feeder, you can lubricate the pole with petroleum jelly or any other substance that can make the squirrel slip down. Adding petroleum jelly or lubricant to the pole is also inhumane, as the squirrel could fall and suffer serious injuries.
Place repellent concoction with apple cider vinegar
One way to deter squirrels is to spray a garden with a mixture of undiluted apple cider vinegar and garlic. You can place the soaked rags on the ground outside, or inside your shed. Before spraying plants, dilute the mixture with water first. After that, you can apply it to the plants. Do not forget to reapply it every couple of days to keep the squirrels away.
In addition to placing the squirrel repellent concoction on the soil, you can also sprinkle peppermint oil on the plants. This oil is not harmful to plants and is an excellent repellent. Sprinkle the peppermint oil on the plants and soil. If you do not have peppermint oil, you can also mix a bit with petroleum jelly and rub it onto the stalks. For more effective results, purchase squirrel repellent sprays from home improvement stores. These sprays contain the urine of predatory squirrels, including gray squirrels and foxes.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
