Keep Squirrels from Devastating Gardens
Squirrels can be the bane of a gardener's existence. These bushy-tailed critters delight in digging up freshly planted bulbs, nibbling on your prized vegetables, and wreaking general havoc in your carefully cultivated garden beds.
If you've had enough of these furry little vandals helping themselves to the fruits of your labor, read on. This comprehensive guide covers proven strategies for keeping squirrels out of gardens so you can enjoy the sanctuary of your yard without the stress of constant vigilance.
Why Squirrels Invade Gardens
To understand how to deter squirrels, it helps to know what motivates them to venture into your garden in the first place. Food and shelter are the primary reasons squirrels encroach on your property.
Food Attraction
Squirrels have voracious appetites and will eat just about anything - flowers, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, newly planted bulbs, even bird eggs and fledglings. Your garden is an irresistible buffet to these hungry animals.
Fruits and vegetables are especially vulnerable as they ripen. Squirrels seem to have a sixth sense for knowing exactly when your tomato or ears of corn reach peak deliciousness. And bright, colorful flowers like tulips and crocuses are too tempting for squirrels to pass up.
You may also be unintentionally luring squirrels into your garden with fallen bird seed from feeders placed too close to planting beds. Rotting fruit under trees can also attract insects that squirrels eat.
Nesting Attraction
In addition to food, squirrels seek out gardens to build nests for bearing and raising their young. Ideal nesting spots include the dense branches of coniferous shrubs and trees, the hollows of old trees, and abandoned bird houses.
Squirrels may even burrow underground to create nests in gardens with loose, trainable soil. Garden sheds and the nooks of raised planter beds also appeal to mother squirrels looking for warm, safe spaces to shelter their babies.
Other Factors
Plus, environmental factors play a role in where squirrels choose to live and forage. For example, urban expansion and deforestation have forced squirrels to seek sustenance wherever they can find it, with lush gardens an easy substitute for their natural woodland habitats.
Population spikes and hard winters with scarce native food sources will also drive squirrels towards residential areas and cultivated gardens promising nourishment.
Squirrel Damage Prevention
Now that you know why squirrels raid vegetable patches and flower beds, let's explore proven deterrent options to keep them at bay and avoid damage.
Physical Barriers
Fencing is the most reliable approach to safeguard your garden from maruding squirrels. Enclose vegetable rows, fruit trees, flower beds, and newly seeded areas with appropriate fencingmaterial:
- Chicken wire fencing - simple and inexpensive option for protecting low-growing plants
- Hardware cloth - sturdy 1/4 inch galvanized steel mesh that keeps out both burrowing rodents and insects/bugs
- Electric fencing - can deliver a slight shock to teach squirrels to stay away
Bury fencing at least 1 foot underground to prevent squirrels from digging underneath. And make sure fencing is tall enough that squirrels can't easily jump or climb over it. For trees, wrap hardware cloth or metal sheeting around the trunk to prevent squirrels from climbing up.
Repellents
Applying squirrel repellent spray or granules along your garden perimeter and around plants can discourage these unwanted guests. Common active ingredients include:
- Capsaicin - hot pepper extract irritates squirrels' respiratory tracts
- Predator urine - tricks squirrels into thinking predators are nearby
- Essential oils like clove, peppermint, garlic, etc. - strong smell repels squirrels
- Bitrex - bittering agent overwhelms squirrels' sense of taste
Look for EPA-registered products specifically labeled as "squirrel repellent" and reapply frequently for the best results.
Deterrents
You can also install various devices and contraptions around your garden beds to frighten squirrels away by making them uneasy:
- Scarecrows - move frequently to seem lifelike and menacing
- Foil pans or mylar tape - creates motion and flashes of light to startle squirrels
- Ultrasonic/vibration devices - emits high-pitched frequencies only heard by squirrels
- Predator decoys (fake owls/snakes) - triggers fear of threats
- Water sprayers - automated sprinkler system triggered by motion sensors
Use multiple techniques in tandem for the best deterrence. And be sure to move devices frequently so squirrels don't become desensitized.
Population Control
When all else fails, trapping is an effective means of controlling your local squirrel population to limit garden invasions. You can capture and relocate squirrels humanely using:
- Live cage traps - baited to lure squirrels inside
- Exclusion by removing potential nesting or hiding spots around your garden
Check local ordinances about trapping wildlife before employing this method of last resort.
Squirrel-Resistant Plants
Another line of defense is choosing plants naturally less palatable and vulnerable to squirrels. Here's what to plant to avoid tempting squirrels:
- Vegetables & herbs - onions, leeks, garlic, mint, oregano, dill
- Flowers - lavender, daffodils, foxglove, peonies, iris, cosmos
- Fruit trees/shrubs - chestnut, elderberry, black walnut, American hazel
Avoid fruit trees prone to squirrel damage like crab apples. And steer clear of bulbs (tulips, crocuses, hyacinths) that squirrels find irresistible.
Native species suited to your hardiness zone offer the best protection. Exotic plants and vegetables are unfamiliar and more susceptible to squirrel curiosity and damage.
You can also interplant flowers, herbs, and vegetables as companion plants. Certain pairings can repel or mask smells to conceal crops from squirrels. Mint, thyme, marigolds, and onion sets are proven squirrel-repelling companion plants.
Recovering from Squirrel Destruction
Even with preventive measures, you may still incur some losses from brazen squirrels. Here's how to mitigate the damage:
Assess and Repair Damage
Fix destruction to garden structures first. Fill in burrows or holes in the ground. Replace mulch or soil removed from planting beds. Mend fencing that's been compromised as an entry access point.
Replant Resistant Varieties
When replanting flowers and vegetables, opt for less coveted varieties. Choose plants with strong scents or prickly defenses that squirrels don't particularly like.
Cover tender seedlings with cloches (protective domes) or cold frames until mature enough to withstand nibbling. Or start plants early indoors so they are full grown before transplanting outdoors.
Vigilantly monitor your garden for new squirrel damage after an invasion and continue using deterrents as needed. Tackle small issues immediately before they escalate into scorched earth destruction.
Work preemptively by identifying and eliminating new attraction risks, food debris accumulation, holes in fencing, abandoned nests, etc. Consistent prevention is the best cure!