It is a delight to watch squirrels enthusiastically hopping around trees and plants.
However, if left unchecked, their numbers could eventually increase and cause serious damage to your garden and plants.
From eating your flower bulbs and fruits to damaging outdoor furniture, squirrels can wreak havoc in your garden.
They may also enter your house and cause major inconvenience. Start getting rid of them as early as possible to avoid significant damages.
Knowing how to keep squirrels out of garden can go a long way in helping you protect your garden.
What Damage Do Squirrels Cause in Your Garden?
Squirrels can cause damage to your plants and the garden landscape in numerous ways.
They eat a lot, especially during winters, to stay warm.
They nibble on your plants and flower bulbs. The tiny creatures tend to pop the flower buds to access the tender insides and seeds.
Digging holes in the ground is another habit of squirrels. While digging, they may damage your plants and flowers, ruining your garden.
If you have any wooden furniture or décor in the garden, squirrels can chew on them frequently.
Safest Ways to Remove Squirrels from Your Garden
It is important to know how to keep squirrels out of the garden to protect your precious plants. You can use natural ways to avoid causing any harm to the tiny creatures and your plants.
Plant Squirrel-proof Flowers
While squirrels love to eat flower bulbs, a few flower plants deter them.
They automatically steer away from these plants. If you grow such flowers in your garden, you can get rid of squirrels as they will seek favorable accommodation elsewhere.
Some of the plants that squirrels stay away from include:
- Daffodils
- Geraniums
- Hyacinth
- Fritillaries
- Galanthus
These flowers either produce strong odors or have bright colors that squirrels do not enjoy.
You can plant them around the garden or plants to protect them from squirrels. Also, plant them among other garden plants to avoid squirrels from running around them.
Apart from offering protection from damage, these flowers can also enhance your garden’s beauty.
Set Physical Barriers
You can set physical barriers with suitable materials. If you are using a net or fence, make sure that it does not have any holes.
Squirrels can squeeze through small, tight holes easily. You can purchase fencing or netting designed to keep away squirrels, rats, and other small pests.
Protect vegetable gardens with wire fences. Ensure that it buries around six inches into your ground. Otherwise, squirrels can quickly dig under the fence.
Additionally, consider investing in a chew-proof net. You can put it over the plants to protect them.
Place stones or gravel around your garden to discourage squirrels from digging. You can also place aluminum foils with holes in areas where squirrels visit the most.
They do not prefer the shiny reflection of the foil and stay away from your garden.
Use Pepper
Pepper works effectively to repel squirrels from your garden. You can use different varieties, such as ground chili, cayenne, pepper flakes, and garlic pepper.
Crush the pepper and sprinkle its flakes around your plants. You may also scatter the pepper dust upon the plant leaves.
Make your pepper spray using cayenne or ground chili pepper to spray it on the plants easily. For more effectiveness, you can also add water and hot sauce.
Apart from the plants, you can apply or sprinkle pepper to fences, poles, and the areas where squirrels frequent in your garden.
Once the squirrels taste the pepper, they tend to stay away from the area.
Motion-activated Sprinklers
You can install motion-activated sprinklers in your garden. They are specifically designed to deter rabbits, squirrels, and cats.
You may place them at the edges of your garden where most damage occurs. However, do remember that this technique is usually more effective in smaller yards.
If you are dealing with several squirrels in a bigger garden, it may lead to overwatering and a rise in your water bills.
Frighten Them Away
Your pet dog or cat can scare squirrels away. Dogs, especially, chase squirrels away.
You can also add figurines or statues of predators, such as owls, in your garden to scare squirrels.
Spraying predators’ pee around your garden also repels squirrels.
As squirrels are highly cautious and quick, they stay away from spaces that have traces of predators.
By knowing how to keep squirrels out of the garden, you can take appropriate measures to prevent extensive damage.
It helps in keeping your plants safe and retains the favorable appearance of your garden.