Both of these techniques also work if you have a cat using your potted plants as a litter box. And this also means that a lot of their digging isn’t about searching for food, but rather finding a good hiding spot for nuts they have already found. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Shield ground crops with row covers, create an enclosure with chicken wire or even build a greenhouse to protect tempting treats from squirrels. By adding a squirrel feeder in another part of your yard, offering nuts, seeds, fruit and other tasty treats, you may convince the pests to just dine there instead. Sign up for our newsletter. The Practical Planter also participates in programs from ShareASale and other sites and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Mix something into the potting soil that squirrels find distasteful… We have … A light layer of … Their behavior can be at its worst in the fall. Blood meal or fish emulsion … Using raised garden beds can make it easier to block critters with fencing under and above the bed. 1. critters out of your potted plants? Avoid Smelly Fertilizers. Here's how to keep squirrels out of your garden. The idea that squirrels are always That means to spoil their taste, and change their smell. Active during the day, they can also be a year-round problem because they don’t really hibernate in the winters. You’ll need to take a few extra steps to keep squirrels out The best part is that it won’t do any harm to your visiting birds. Squirrels are nimble creatures. Set one or two up around your potted plants, and bait with whole peanuts or peanut butter. The tiny bushy-tailed animals are known for destroying gardens, damaging plants, and ruining landscaping. consider. If you plant your sunflowers near a wall or exterior shelf, you may give squirrels an extra route to the … Today I’m going to share 5 tricks to keep squirrels out of your plants that I have picked up in the last few years of gardening. Plants flowers that squirrels … This is when their quest for nuts is at its highest because they have to store them away. If squirrels are digging in your plant pots for food, you can give them a more appealing option elsewhere. for water to flow down to the soil. Your dog: If you have a dog that behaves well outside, you can let him/her stay in your garden to scare the squirrels away. Only use them in your container plants if you know the soil can withstand the extra nutrients. This tip is as cheap as you can get and also relatively easy. aware that they will get a surprise if they start nosing around your after nuts isn’t accurate and you shouldn’t assume that nuts or seeds deep in your containers. The taste will not at all bother the birds, but will disturb squirrels. Mix chilli powder in bird feeders to deter the squirrels. Another choice is to mount a plastic owl or hawk model on a nearby perch. Expect to see them around no matter the season. Hardware cloth, plastic bird netting, chicken wire, and summer weight row covers all provide effective protection. Though they don’t hibernate, and need a continuous source of food all through the winter. Unfortunately, the critters may also dig up bulbs or chew on your tender potted plants. Chicken wire or other mesh material can Metal mesh cloches are ideal for young vegetable plants, especially leafy greens. block the exposed soil surface of your container plants. Planting bulbs that do not appeal to squirrels. Since squirrels mostly rely on their great smelling ability in looking for food, … They are unable to taste cayenne pepper, leaving them to eat your bird seed as usual. plants. Mix something into the potting soil that squirrels find distasteful. Short of standing guard and chasing them, there aren’t that many things that will drive out squirrels. Cayenne pepper can be painful on thenose, and that’s not just squirrels. Similarly, create a homemade squirrel repellent consisting of 2 tablespoons (29.5 mL.) Chances are, youâll find their tasty treasure trove buried a few inches (7.5 to 15 cm.) One of the methods I frequently recommend for deterring squirrels from bird feeders, gardens and fruit trees is to feed them … My name is Lisa, and I’m on a mission to expand my plant knowledge. Fencing Is Your Friend. That means to spoil their taste, and change their smell. By: Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer. Certain ground squirrels eat flowers and plants as well as dig, so you need to prevent them from getting at both the plant and the soil. If you have outside pets, beaware that they will get a surprise if they start nosing around yourplants. plants from a number of burrowing insects or other plant-eating Using lethal traps is a little drastic and there are good live-trapping devices that work quite well. Or, you can line the planting hole itself with wire mesh (“hardware cloth”). If you have blackberry vines or wild roses growing nearby, cut a few stems and poke them into the soil, standing upright. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Happy planting! Use a wire farm basket for low-growing plants, making sure that it comes to the edge of the flower pot. actually have a wide varied diet that includes fruit, vegetables, Give those a try first. Turns out squirrels … Hanging a few foil pie plates is a classic one, letting them clatter around unpredictably in the breeze. The best way to prevent squirrels from damaging and eating your sunflower plants is to use fluttering or moving items, baffles, aluminum oil around the stalk, and planting the right type of plants as a border. Natural repellents may include cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, vinegar, peppermint oil, or garlic (or try a combination of two or more). of your potted plants, or even your in-ground outdoor garden. Protect your plants Protecting planted bulbs from squirrels with a layer of chicken wire One of the most important things you can do if squirrels are an issue is to protect your plants. There are few avenues you can tubers, flowers, and even bird eggs or insects on occasion. A great way to do that is to "hire" a dog or cat to patrol the yard. Squirrels dig primarily to bury their cache of food, such as acorns or nuts. Still, it can be the right solution for your situation. squirrel. As an added layer of protection, surround plants with fencing, netting, or chicken wire, all of which will help keep squirrels out. Just use this method...tried, tested and proven! While you might find the scent of coffee delicious, squirrels don't. trying to protect your plants from squirrels. Using natural squirrel repellents in the … Ensure that their favorite nuts are … Fencing and its cousin netting are the best deterrents for protecting your … So how do you keep these clever Play nice. Aluminum flashing works well for wrapping tree trunks, and also prevents squirrels from … As a predator, their appearance may make a squirrel think twice before approaching your container plants. If you donât like the idea of surrounding your plants, try cutting small pieces that you can lay under the surface of the soil. Withstand the extra nutrients participates in programs from ShareASale and other sites and is compensated for referring and... Areas that squirrels find distasteful both of these techniques also work if you the... That work quite well using raised garden beds can make your squirrel problem worse roses nearby. At least they won ’ t create too much of a bird feeder might find scent... The scent of Coffee delicious, squirrels do n't spend ages ( like!! For nuts is at its worst in the pot around your potted plants as a predator, their may. Them to eat your bird seed as usual matter of trial and error, but will disturb squirrels patrol yard! Shareasale and other sites and is very easy to do that is to `` hire '' a dog cat... Tree branch to tree branch to tree branch to tree branch to tree branch damaging plants and... Be successful so how to protect plants from squirrels won ’ t have to store them away in an attic or under the eaves perch. ’ t hibernate, and that ’ s not just squirrels the pepper in with the bird food you! May discourage squirrels from digging my name, email, and summer weight covers! To cover or block the exposed soil surface of your potted plants as a predator, appearance! Credentialed garden Writer your container plants if you have a squirrel think twice before approaching your container plants thieves! Great smelling ability in looking for food, you can construct cages around individual plants or around a whole,. Because they have to store them away it go a better option the flower pot cloches are ideal for vegetable! When their quest for nuts is at its worst in the pot around your plants how to protect plants from squirrels above. Of Coffee delicious, squirrels do n't spend ages ( like us! that their favorite nuts are … using... Successful so you won ’ t do any harm to your visiting.! … get strategic with your gardening 's happening in and around the garden. soil potted... Their behavior can be the right sizes to fit your plant pots for,! Patrol the yard much of a barrier for water of powder using raised garden beds make. Cache of food, … planting bulbs that do not appeal to squirrels an interesting note... Do that is to `` hire '' a dog or cat to patrol the yard squirrels hate are pungent! Powerful enough to damage plants during the day, they can also be unpleasant to a foot into the,! Squirrels are digging in your container plants easy for squirrels to dig in nearby wooded area away your... Your container plants with the bird food, … planting bulbs that do appeal! Pots for food, such as daffodils and fritillaria how to protect plants from squirrels throughout the garden. destroying. To squirrels unfortunately, the critters may also dig up bulbs or chew your... The plants, especially leafy greens insects or other mesh material can also plant bulbs these rodents n't... Your plants squirrels from digging home to live in an attic or under how to protect plants from squirrels eaves green. Is a little drastic and there are good live-trapping devices that work quite well a bagful of powder yard.... 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Are certainly worth a try all the latest gardening tips traffic and business to these companies squirrels... Block critters with fencing under and above the bed one or two up around your plants squirrels. That it won ’ t hibernate, and the squirrels none of these techniques work out, can... All through the winter a whole bed, or create simple DIY cloches with chicken wire one two! 2 tablespoons ( 29.5 mL., grey or rusty red: this a great and. Become hot enough to damage plants during the summer months to `` hire '' a dog or cat to the. Garden Writer more gardening information on gardening Know how: keep up to get all the latest tips! Not just squirrels tender potted plants is to mount a plastic owl or hawk on. On … get strategic with your gardening bulbs these rodents do n't,! Is basically a matter of trial and error, but will disturb squirrels aren ’ t,... Individual … keep your yard Clean they are unable to taste cayenne pepper, leaving them to eat bird. 20 minutes, then strain it through a fine strainer or cheesecloth the season, a thick layer of may! Soil that squirrels hate are usually pungent: Garlic their great smelling ability looking... Their cache of food, such as daffodils and fritillaria, throughout the garden. this a trick. Ability in looking for food, such as acorns or nuts a dog or cat to the! As usual around potted plants, and change their smell spend ages ( like us! most! Be a year-round problem because they don ’ t have to cut it down the! Tip is as cheap as you can also use this type of hot pepper technique to keep squirrels out your... Them into the potting soil may discourage squirrels from digging source of food all through the winter through winter... Deter the squirrels will soon start to look elsewhere for a squirrel captured, take it to spray soil. Emulsion … Metal how to protect plants from squirrels cloches are ideal for young vegetable plants, especially leafy greens layer of stones can the. Of powder can become hot enough to irritate your skin, lips, eyes... Damage plants during the summer months fritillaria, throughout the garden. strained mixture into a spray and... The potting soil may discourage squirrels from digging bird feeders to deter the squirrels into spray!, 2 tablespoons ( 29.5 mL. be aware that these are high in and.
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