Are you tired of those furry little bandits raiding your garden? Fear not! We are here to help you to keep squirrels out of garden. From our own experiences and research, we have jotted down tips to keep squirrels out of your garden. So, just relax and go through our cleverest strategies to keep garden safe.
From natural deterrents to ingenious barriers, we’ve got the scoop on outsmarting these adorable yet pesky critters. So, grab your gardening gloves, and let’s dive into a squirrel-free paradise! 🌻🐿️
Contents
- 1 How to Keep Squirrels Out of Garden?
- 1.1 1. Keep Your Yard and Garden Tidy
- 1.2 2. Grow Plants That Are Unappealing to Squirrels
- 1.3 3. Get a Dog to Keep Squirrels Out of the Garden
- 1.4 4. Relocate the Bird Feeder From Your Garden
- 1.5 5. Install Fencing to Keep Squirrels Out of the Garden
- 1.6 6. Apply Hot Peppers to Your Plants
- 1.7 7. Try Repellents to Deter Squirrel
- 1.8 8. Keep Scarecrows or Fake Snakes to Scare Them
- 1.9 9. You Can Use Motion Sensor Lights
- 2 FAQs
How to Keep Squirrels Out of Garden?
1. Keep Your Yard and Garden Tidy
One of the natural ways to keep squirrels out of garden is by regularly cleaning your garden/backyard. Squirrels keep on looking for nuts, fruits, and vegetables to eat. So if your garden is not clean, and cluttered with ripped fruits, or bird food is sprinkled on the grounds, it will attract them to come again and again in your garden space to enjoy the free-feast buffet.
Additionally, if you do not collect the garbage, and leaves from the backyard, then there are chances squirrels will hide behind that garbage stuff. It will make it harder for you to find them and get them out of your garden. When you’re not there, they’ll wreck your garden, eat your plants, and bird food, and cause more chaos in your garden.
2. Grow Plants That Are Unappealing to Squirrels
Oh! Yes! Cultivating unappealing/unpleasant plants that squirrels don’t like can help you get rid of them. One thing is clear: squirrels hate strong-smelling or spicy plants such as daffodils, marigolds, alliums, fritillaries, and geraniums. Additionally, they cannot withstand the smell of herbs like mint, basil, and oregano. So, if you plant these in your garden, it will create a natural barrier for squirrels from feasting on your vegetables, fruits, and flowers.
Overall, this strategy will not only keep squirrels out of garden but, will also add a variety to your garden. Remember, this trick might take time, but, will surely bypass the squirrel issue.
Also Read; How to keep rabbits out of garden?
3. Get a Dog to Keep Squirrels Out of the Garden
Dogs can be an effective deterrent for keeping squirrels away from your garden. Because their presence alone can scare off squirrels due to the natural predator-prey relationship. Additionally, the scent of a dog in the area can make squirrels think twice before entering the space. Especially, dogs that are highly active, and like to spend a lot of time outdoors are the ideal choice to scare them. They can chase and bark at squirrels, automatically discouraging them from returning.
However, it’s important to keep an eye on highly active dogs, because they may attack squirrels and try to harm them. So, we just need to scare them off and not harm them, or keep squirrels’ life in danger.
4. Relocate the Bird Feeder From Your Garden
You have tried planting unpleasant plant factors, but, still not able to get rid of squirrels? Right? My pal, you need to shift your focus towards a bird feeder, which you have placed in your garden. Yes, you heard it right, squirrels love eating nuts, which you keep for birds’ feeding. We recommend you move the bird feeder and place it where squirrels can’t reach it.
Or, nowadays, different types of bird feeders are available in the market. So, you can buy a new squirrel-proof bird feeder, such as the Brome Squirrel Buster Standard Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder, that is designed in such as way that squirrels will not be able to get the food. Finally, they will give up, and will not think again of coming back to your home garden.
5. Install Fencing to Keep Squirrels Out of the Garden
Fencing is one of the easiest ways to keep squirrels out of garden. You can try installing a cage, electric fencing, or netting to keep squirrels out of garden. It will help you to protect your plants, fruits, and vegetable garden beds. As we know, squirrels can easily climb wooden fences, so, netting-type fences will be the ideal option to keep squirrels away from the garden.
We recommend you choose sturdy material fencing so that squirrels do not easily chew it and break it. Do not go for chicken wire fencing because squirrels will easily chew it and will not help you effectively. While installing, make sure it is fixed properly, and, doesn’t get disbalance/weak when squirrels try to climb it.
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6. Apply Hot Peppers to Your Plants
Ah! Hot Cayenne peppers are the ultimate answer to your question about what to use to keep squirrels out of garden. As we have an idea, hot peppers are one of the things that squirrels hate the most, and, cannot tolerate their smell. You can simply prepare pepper spray at home. For that, all you need to do is crush hot peppers, followed by diluting them with water and a drop of liquid soap.
Once, your spray is ready, sprinkle it all around your plants, or garden beds, and continue this method regularly. Soon, you will observe that squirrels have stopped coming near your plants, flowers, and garden beds. Hence, it’s confirmed that squirrels cannot withstand the strong smell of cayenne peppers.
7. Try Repellents to Deter Squirrel
One of the best ways to keep squirrels out of garden is by using chemical repellents. Commercial repellents are made up of the base of blood meal and also contain strong smells of garlic, cloves, and cayenne pepper. It has been observed that prey animals like squirrels do not like such strong smells, and, they avoid going near such smells.
You can easily get one from the market, and all you need to do is apply it around your plants, or garden beds, where you do not want squirrels to enter. By regular usage, you will notice the result, and apart from squirrels, other animals like deer or rabbits will also not come.
In addition, you can try homemade repellent to get rid of squirrels. For instance, you can mix cinnamon oil, and peppermint oil with warm water, and then spray near squirrel-affected areas. In a few days, you will see the changes, and your garden will no longer be the buffet for squirrels or other animals.
8. Keep Scarecrows or Fake Snakes to Scare Them
Wondering? What will keep squirrels out of my garden? You can try out old tricks like placing scarecrows, fake owls, motion-activated fake snakes, birds of prey, or foxes to keep squirrels out of your garden. Place any of these objects near garden beds, and fruit tree areas. This idea is an old one, but, it will help you to get rid of squirrel issues. In addition, if you keep sound near those objects, it will scare them more, and, won’t try to re-enter your garden.
Apart from these, gardeners also try motion sprinkler systems, moving objects, and other related stuff to scare them.
9. You Can Use Motion Sensor Lights
Lastly, you can give it a try on motion sensor lights, they can help you temporarily. The motion sensor lights help to keep an eye on squirrels and other animals without causing any harm to them. This device reflects lights when it is triggered by movement, just to scare squirrels or other animals when they try to enter your garden.
The ideal location for the setup is near the areas, where squirrels like to go often. Such as fruit trees, bird feeders, vegetable garden beds, etc… Plus, you can also adjust the sensitivity, and light range according to your requirements. Beyond protecting your garden from squirrel attacks, it enhances the security of your property by lighting dark areas and deterring attackers.
Well, this strategy might be simple but effective to maintain your home garden’s beauty!
FAQs
Does Cayenne Pepper keep squirrels away?
Yes, any liquid or repellents containing these ingredients are effective in keeping squirrels and other birds away from your home garden. Because it has a strong odor that they cannot tolerate it and so they avoid coming near your gardening beds, and plants.
Will mothballs keep squirrels away?
Yes, it has been observed that mothballs are a good option to use, they keep squirrels out of your garden. It is a natural remedy, which you can easily use at home. But, you need to be careful with mothballs, because these are not safe for squirrels ingestion, and can also be dangerous for pets and small family members.
What do squirrels hate the most?
Here is the list of scents, squirrels hate the most; Peppermint Oil, Capsaicin, White Vinegar, Garlic, Cinnamon, Irish Springs Soap, Dryer Sheets, and Rosemary. You can use any of them to get rid of squirrels in your home garden.
What is the best squirrel deterrent?
Well, peppermint oil is one of the best squirrel deterrents you can use for your garden. As we have an idea, squirrels hate peppermint smell, using this will surely help you to keep them out of your garden. In this way, you can easily protect your plants, fruits, and vegetables.
Do coffee grounds keep squirrels away?
Yes, coffee grounds help to keep squirrels away from your garden. Because it contains a strong smell, which squirrels cannot tolerate, so they avoid running to your garden. To apply this trick, you need to sprinkle coffee grounds on the soil or around your plants every week.
Hello, I’m Rose Lehman, the content writer of cozynest. I have been a gardener for over 5 years, and I have a certificate in master gardening from the Oregon State University Extension Service. I enjoy writing about all aspects of gardening, from the basics to the advanced, and from the practical to the creative. I also love to explore different types of gardens, cultures, and styles, and share them with our readers. My goal is to inspire and inform our audience, and help them grow their own cozynest.
