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Though cute little tool , squirrels canwreak mayhem on your yardand garden . Carefully curating yourvegetable garden , caring for yourpicturesque flower beds , and give all your attention to your scrumptious yield can all go to waste once a squirrel determine their way into your cherished garden beds .
Whether they deplete your freshly planted seeds , walk all over your develop flowers , or snag a few berries for the route , dealing with squirrels can be very frustrating . With that enunciate , you may install plenty of humane deterrents to keep them out of your backyard . Discover the steps you could take to rid your yard of these troublesome critters , and even follow up more than one method acting to check that they stay out for good .
Are Squirrels Really the Problem?
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Before you place squirrels , you need to determine if they are really the take . If your industrial plant foliage seems to be suffer or your plants seem behind - growing , othergarden pest , such asaphids , cucumber beetle , orcabbage worms;or diseases , such aspowdery mold , bacterial wilt , orroot rot , might be at fault .
The gray-headed squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis ) is the most common garden thief in the squirrel family , famed for their bushy tails , gray fur , and white-hot underbody . away from spotting them in your curtilage , there are several signs that squirrels are the culprit in your garden .
Missing Bulbs
If you aremissing outpouring bulbsor seeds , you are belike shell out with squirrels , chipmunk , or groundhogs . You also might discover the bulbs all accumulate in one place as the squirrels store them for later .
Damaged Crops
The puppet also leave chomp marks on fruits and veggie or might even steal the whole fruit . You might also mark gnaw marks in the bark of fruit - bring forth Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and plants .
Garden Disturbance
Theydig around blossom potsand garden bed for a snack , uprooting your wanted plants and blossom . If they are in your garden , they are also probable in your bird feeders , emptying them faster than common .
Getting Rid of Squirrels
Once you have identified if it is squirrels wreaking mayhem on your garden , you will be happy to hear there are several method acting you could put in place to prevent them from returning .
Smell Them Out
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There are several scent - basedhomemade squirrel repellentsthat you could add to your garden to send the critters packing . Mentha piperita oil is a coarse deterrent , as is apple cider acetum . Mix a few drop ofpeppermint oilinto theapple cyder vinegarand pour it into a spraying bottle . Spritz the mixture around your K , reapplying every few twenty-four hour period .
Coffee groundscan repel squirrels . splosh the grounds around the borders of your garden beds , following with water to raise the odor and keep the grounds in place . Coffee groundsmay also helpward off other garden pests likerabbitsandcats .
Create a Barrier
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create a barrieraround your vegetable and yield plants is a good direction to keep squirrels out . One option is to installrow covers , ensuring they are decently ensure and there is no opening for the squirrels to sneak through . you could also put in a wire fencing around your plants , ensuring you bury it at least 6 inch deep and is at least 6 column inch marvellous so the critter can not get under or over the fence .
If squirrels on a regular basis dig into your garden bed , but you desire to avoid covering your pretty flowers with a conducting wire fence or row covers , mulch can be a good answer . The 3 - in layer ofwood chips , wheat , or grassesboastsmany benefits , such aspreventing sens , but they also make it unmanageable for squirrels to dig through your M in hunt of seeds or light bulb .
Plant Intentionally
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Protect plants vulnerable to squirrel terms , such as tomatoes , strawberry mark , or cucumbers , by plantingcompanion plantsthat revolt the pesky creatures . For example , planting garlic , mint , and peppermint in your vegetable garden can repulse squirrel , protecting the rest of your garden . Other pungent , squirrel - repelling industrial plant include nasturtiums , marigold , and mustard greens . implant them as a mete around your vegetable garden .
Avoid planting efflorescence that squirrels be given to love , such as tulip and crocus , or ensure you protect the bulbs with a roadblock . Pest - insubordinate bulb admit Narcissus pseudonarcissus , grape jacinth , and snowdrop .
Motion-activated Sprinklers
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If row covers or conducting wire fences do n’t do the whoremonger , view install a motion - activated sprinkler system . Once the squirrel wanders by your plant , the sprinkler should go off , frightening the squirrels and making them run away . you could also use movement - activated consternation as the sound should scare them off .
Note : This method acting could head to overwatering and high-pitched utility bill if sprinklers are in a high - dealings surface area !
Get a Dog
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While getting disembarrass of squirrels should never be your only rationality for adding a new deary to the family , dog are great for repelling squirrels . Dogs chase and bark at the unwelcome Edgar Albert Guest , but their scent should also scare the critter . Try brushing your wiener alfresco or sprinkle its fur around your yard to prompt the squirrel that a hound inhabits the area .
If you are n’t quite ready for a pet , debate a steerer . A large fake hooter or click statue can frighten squirrels , specially if you regularly move them so the critters do n’t bewitch on to the trick .
Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders
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While you may install many preventative measures to drive back squirrels , think of to fend off pull them in the first home . Keep trash in tightly - lidded container , never entrust compost accessible , and ensure you protect your bird feeder .
Switching sunflower seeds to safflower seeds is a good manner to force back squirrel since they encounter the seed bitter , while birds do n’t take care the change . Also , ensure youplace the bird feeder at least 10 foot awayfrom any locating a squirrel could parachute from , such as a cap , tree diagram , or fence . “Squirrel - proof " feedersare generally alloy with metal conducting wire , make it unmanageable for animals other than birds to get to the seeds .
Go Nuts!
There are flock of means to keep squirrel out of your garden and protect your garden bed and crops , whether you dissuade them with a motion - sensor sprinkler , add some repelling works and smell to your yard , or cover your bed with mulch and plants with quarrel screen . While it add a bit of work to your garden maintenance routine , you hopefully wo n’t have to erode about the damage squirrels can cause any longer !
