Squirrels can be a frustrating nuisance for gardeners. Squirrels are important for the ecosystem but they are also a menace in my garden. They dig up my pots, eat my plants and can get aggressive around the bird feeder.
Over the years, I have had a love-hate relationship with them and have tried several ways to keep them out of my garden beds and flower pots. They dig up bulbs, devour fruits and vegetables, and wreak havoc on carefully tended plants. If you’re tired of battling these bushy-tailed bandits, this comprehensive guide will provide you with a variety of humane and effective strategies to protect your garden.
Why Squirrels Target Gardens?
Squirrels are always on the lookout for high-energy food to keep them going and get ready for winter. And guess what? Our gardens are like a giant buffet for them, full of nuts, seeds, fruits, and veggies – it’s easy and nutritious! So, if we get why they act the way they do, we can outsmart them and keep them away.
Strategies to keep squirrels out of the garden
Natural Repellents
Squirrels have a strong sense of smell, and we can use that against them! There are many natural things that have strong smells that squirrels hate.
Hot Peppers
Cayenne pepper powder or hot sauce will keep squirrels away because they don’t like the hot pepper in them. Sprinkle it around your plants or mix Tabasco sauce with some water and dish soap and spray it on the leaves.
Sadly, this works only till the next rain washes it off. I have also found that the squirrels in my backyard seem to be unfettered by hot sauce and seem to have quite the appetite for spice. While cayenne pepper powders do seem to reduce their activity, it has not been foolproof and remembering to sprinkle after every rain can become tedious and make this an ineffective strategy.
Blood Meal
Using some organic fertilizers like blood meal or bone meal from some specific manufacturers has worked. Down To Earth’s blood meal has been more effective for me than Espoma’s. Down To Earth’s bone meal has also been effective and serves a dual purpose when used while planting bulbs like tulips and daffodils.
But note that blood meal is a high nitrogen fertilizer and even though it is a slow release fertilizer on account of being organic, the effects might not always be desirable. Use it if you know what you’re doing.
Note that dogs are often attracted to the scent of blood meal and bone meal fertilizer. These fertilizers are made from animal products, which can be appealing to dogs. Ingesting large amounts of blood meal can cause gastrointestinal issues in dogs, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating. Bone meal can be even more dangerous, as it can clump together in the dog’s stomach and cause blockages. Use with care if you have pets.
Essential Oils
Certain essential oils, such as peppermint, geranium, and clove, have scents that squirrels dislike. Soak cotton balls in these oils and place them in shallow dishes around your garden or directly in planters. There are also commercially available products but I have found it more economical to make my own.
These methods are reasonably effective and you can also add garlic extract to them which is effective in keeping bugs and other critters away from your plants! But just like the pepper repellents, you will need to periodically to replenish them, particularly after a hard rain.
Coffee Grounds
Used coffee grounds do double duty – they are supposed to keep squirrels away with their strong smell and also help your plants grow!
I have not found this particularly effective in keeping squirrels out and in some cases, has led to fungus in my containers. It might be better to cover the coffee grounds with an inch or so of soil, which can get tricky in containers.
Predator Scents
While not strictly a natural repellent, using dog hair or a commercial deer repellent like Plantskydd can deter squirrels due to their association with predators.
These have been the least effective of the natural repellants I have tried. The squirrels in my backyard seem to be fearless daredevils or are much smarter than the average ones.
Physical Barriers
Creating physical barriers is probably the most effective and durable way to keep squirrels out of your garden.
Fencing
For larger gardens, use a 3-foot fence extending underground with small openings to deter digging. A “floppy top” design, unattached at the top 12 inches and bending outward, prevents climbing. Fencing alone may not be a long-term solution due to squirrels’ acrobatic skills.
Cloches
Garden cloches protect small plants or seedlings. Alternatively, wire mesh fences can be added around plants; however, these may not deter larger animals.
Hardware cloth, plastic bird netting, or chicken wire can create cages for individual plants or entire beds. For bulbs, specialized bulb protectors or deeper planting can prevent squirrels from digging them up. I have also used hardware cloth on the surface of the soil as a physical deterrent with holes where the plant needs to grow. This is effective and it is also easy to cut the hardware cloth in places where you want to add a new plant or patch up a hole after editing out a plant. I use landscape staples to hold them in place.
Netting
Netting is a versatile solution for protecting specific plants or areas. You can find a variety of squirrel netting products at home improvement stores and online retailers. For example, Breck’s Wellbuilt Squirrel-Proof Bulb Netting is a robust option.
One option I have had success with was putting my pots inside nets used to host monarch butterflies. To protect a larger cluster of plants, you can use a bigger cage.
Covering the Soil
Using mulch like wood reduces the incidents of squirrels from digging into the garden bed but I have seen really hungry and desperate squirrels power through it to dig for gold.
I have found that gravel is better at keeping the squirrels out. The downside of using gravel is that it is not biodegradable and if you want to plant something else or repot your plant, it can be annoying to do, particularly if some gravel has penetrated into the soil.
Squirrel-Resistant Plants
Squirrels tend to avoid plants with strong scents or flavors.
Some options include mint, marigolds, nasturtiums, mustard, crown imperial bulbs, daffodils, onions, garlic, hyacinths, and lily-of-the-valley (use with caution as it can be invasive).
Conclusion: No solution is perfect
Squirrels in your garden can be a real pain, and getting rid of them usually takes a bunch of different strategies. You’ll probably need to mix things up, like using natural stuff that keeps them away, putting up physical barriers, and planting stuff they don’t like. Understanding how squirrels act and using a bunch of different things to deter them can help you create a garden that looks good and keeps those pesky squirrels away.
Remember that squirrels are stubborn and can adapt, so you might have to try a few different things to see what works best for your garden and the specific squirrel situation you’re dealing with. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different deterrents, and be patient and persistent. With a bit of effort and creativity, you can successfully protect your garden from those furry invaders and enjoy the fruits (and veggies!) of your labor.
