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How To Keep Ground Squirrels Out Of My Garden

Create a barrier. Shield ground crops with row covers, create an enclosure with chicken wire or even build a greenhouse to protect tempting treats from squirrels. Any fencing should be placed up to a foot into the ground to keep squirrels from digging under. Use companion plants.

What smells do ground squirrels hate?

White pepper and cayenne smells frequently discourage squirrels, for example. If you sprinkle your plants with flakes of cayenne pepper, it might keep unwelcome pests out of your garden. Squirrels also dislike garlic and black pepper smells. Raccoons share this aversion to the smell of pepper.

Do coffee grounds keep squirrels away?

Yes, coffee grounds do keep squirrels away in the majority of cases. Humans love the smell but squirrels find it bitter and off-putting so will avoid areas that smell of coffee.

What do ground squirrels hate?

Squirrels have a strong sense of smell, which they use food sources and shelter. You can repel squirrels using scents they hate such as, capsaicin, white vinegar, peppermint oil, coffee grounds, cinnamon, predator urine, garlic, dryer sheets, Irish Spring Soap, and rosemary.

How do you get rid of ground squirrels naturally?

Plant mint plants around your home to repel the ground squirrels. Spray a cayenne pepper solution around the foundation of your home to keep them away. Get a few farm cats.

How do you stop ground squirrels from digging?

Water – Place a hose in a hole, and flood the gopher or ground squirrel’s home. After the wet vermin skitter over your fence and evacuate into other, drier, areas, fill the holes with mothballs, castor oil or pepper spray, or some other type of deterrent to keep them from coming back.

How do I keep squirrels off my tomato plants?

Wrap individual fruits on tomato, eggplant, or other vegetable plants in small pieces of bird netting. Squirrels seem to be most interested in stealing tomatoes just as they ripen, so wrap the mature fruits and ignore the green ones.

How do you keep squirrels out of flowers and plants?

To keep squirrels from plants or beds, install a cage or cover. Hardware cloth, plastic bird netting, chicken wire, and summer weight row covers all provide effective protection.

How do I keep squirrels out of my vegetable garden?

Create a barrier. Shield ground crops with row covers, create an enclosure with chicken wire or even build a greenhouse to protect tempting treats from squirrels. Any fencing should be placed up to a foot into the ground to keep squirrels from digging under.

What is a natural squirrel repellent?

Try sprinkling cayenne pepper, ground chili peppers, pepper flakes, and/or garlic pepper on and around your plants when they are ready to bloom. Birds can’t taste capsaicin, so add some cayenne pepper to those bird feeders to deter squirrels.

What is the best squirrel repellent?

Squirrel Repellents We Reviewed: DURANOM Ultrasonic Animal Repeller Outdoor. Tomcat Repellents Animal Repellent Granules. Rodent Sheriff Pest Control Ultra-Pure Peppermint Spray. Exterminator’s Choice Vehicle Protection Rodent Defense Spray.

What is the best poison for ground squirrels?

Top 5 Best Squirrel Poisons JT Eaton Blocks: Excellent Squirrel Bait Poison – Top Pick. Sale. Contrac Blox Rodent Control: Professional Squirrel Killer. Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx – Great Value. Final Blox: Squirrels Be Gone. Neogen Rodenticide Ramik Nuggets: Save Your Home From Ground Squirrels.

How deep do ground squirrels burrow?

Most burrow systems are within 2 to 3 feet of the surface of the ground, but they may occasionally be up to 6 feet or more in depth. Burrows can be single tunnels or complex branching systems. They may be occupied by a single squirrel or occupied by many.

How do you poison a ground squirrel?

Zinc phosphide* is an acute toxicant that can also be use to control ground squirrels. It kills ground squirrels after a single feeding, so it can reduce numbers more quickly than anticoagulants. However, zinc phosphide* has a distinctive odor and taste that many ground squirrels seem to avoid.

What smells deter squirrels?

Tangy and sweet smells can help deter squirrels, as they aren’t fond of these. Scents of white pepper and garlic powder are also used to repel squirrels. Rodents are also repulsed by the scent of pepper. Spray growing crops with water and put on some pepper seasoning to keep squirrels from knocking them down.

Do marigolds repel squirrels?

Over 51 species of marigolds grow up to 6 inches tall and sport vibrant, lacy blooms of yellow, cream and orange. The pungent marigold aroma is what detracts squirrels; therefore, use only scented varieties to repel these and other rodents.

How do you make homemade squirrel repellent?

Instructions Pour 4 cups water into the spray bottle. Add ½ bottle (1 oz) hot sauce into the water. Add 3 drops dish soap. Close spray bottle and gently shake. Spray liberally on any garden vegetables or flowers. This won’t harm the squirrels and chipmunks, it will just deter them from eating your stuff.

Will aluminum foil deter squirrels?

A layer of aluminum foil is all the squirrel repellent you need on potted plants. For whatever reason, they don’t like the stuff. As a backyard gardener, I had a problem this spring with varmints digging up my potted tomatoes and sweet peppers.

How do I keep squirrels from digging in my planters?

One of the most commonly used tricks to keep squirrels out of potted plants is to put something in the pots that the squirrels won’t like. Mix in fresh, strong smelling coffee grounds with the top layer of soil. The odour is repellent to squirrels but does them no harm.

Will cayenne pepper hurt plants?

Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper won’t hurt your plants but it will keep many small animals away. Every few days, sprinkle about ¼ cup of cayenne pepper throughout your garden. Try planting them all along the border of your garden as a type of “no trespassing” barricade for bugs and creatures.

Do squirrels eat garden plants?

Known for nibbling nuts and gobbling birdseed, squirrels also like feasting on garden seedlings, fruits, berries, flowers, leaves, and tree buds.