Do you have a squirrel invasion? Squirrels can be all cute and fuzzy, but dealing with fifteen of them in your yard can be chaotic, to say the least. When squirrels begin to damage your plants, they instantly go from cute to a pest. This is why it is super important to know how to keep squirrels away, and it just so happens that we will be telling you how.
Let’s cut to the chase; it is quite impossible to get rid of squirrels from coming around once in a while. But if you can lower the number from ten to only a couple, then consider yourself an expert on how to keep squirrels away. It is not an easy task, let us be clear, and it can be quite a nightmare to get rid of them.
However, it is not all bad; there are certainly several things you can try to get rid of them. Just waiting to see if they get tired of coming won’t cut it, but you can follow different tips and tricks to control the number of squirrels coming around. Check out below different and effective methods to keep your squirrel problem from getting out of hand.
How to Keep Squirrels Away & Squirrel FAQ’s
Why worry about squirrels in your garden?
Squirrels are the nightmare of every home gardener; they are after fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers and have the ability to yank geraniums from window boxes, pluck tomatoes from their vines, and strip apple trees as if professional pickers.
What time of year can squirrels be seen the most?
Unfortunately, annoying squirrel issues can occur at any time of year; that said, squirrels are especially active in autumn as they save up for winter. They also commonly drive people nuts around late summer and early autumn.
How to identify squirrel damage?
Gardeners notice the presence of squirrels when they encounter: Spring bulbs snacked on, missing or damaged crops in the garden; you may also find uprooted plants from containers as well as the food of your bird disappearing.
Why are squirrels coming to your garden?
Squirrels are attracted to thick vegetation, meaning if you happen to have lots of hedges and shrubs, you will probably notice squirrels running in and out of them. They mainly come around for food and water supplies, and in the case, you set up food and water for your bird, the squirrel will love it. Squirrels are also attracted to trees, so if you have three varieties that produce nuts and fruit in your yard, you can count on the presence of squirrels.
Is it dangerous to have squirrels around?
In addition to invading your garden and home, stealing any food they can find, and destroying your plants, squirrels can spread several diseases, including typhus, tularemia, plague, and ringworms.
How to keep squirrels away
Check out these methods to keep squirrels away from your home.
Strong odors
Aromas such as white pepper, black pepper, garlic, and peppermint, are not particularly favorites for a squirrel. What you can do is sprinkle your garden plants and flowers with water and then sprinkle pepper or peppermint oil to scare off squirrels.
Squirrel-proof flowers
Adding to your garden plants that can make squirrels go away is a win-win. You will not only be keeping squirrels away but also add a touch of beauty to your garden. Such plants include Daffodils, Geraniums, Galanthus, Fritillaries, Hyacinth, and Lily-of-the-Valley.
Remove any source of food and water
Since now you are aware that birdseed and bird feeders will attract squirrels, you’d want to completely remove these food sources, so a squirrel has no reason to stay.
Scare them away
Within the landscape of your garden, you can try placing a statue or figurine of a predator. Squirrels are skittish by nature, so the mere silhouette of an owl could send squirrels away.
Motion sensor sprinklers
This is another great option to scare squirrels. They get terrified with this type of sprinklers that start to function as they sense motion on your lawn. It is another win-win because you make sure squirrels are kept at bay while watering your lawn.
Get a dog
If you are a dog owner, your dog could help in scaring away squirrels and keep them from stepping inside your home. They can easily hunt for squirrels and scare them far away from your place.
ACV spray
The sharp and strong smell of pure apple cider vinegar makes squirrels stay away. You can spray ACV directly on the plants and flower pots without harming them. Spray it as often as needed.
Build a greenhouse
A greenhouse is the best solution to keep squirrels and other pests from damaging your veggies. Consider creating a separate greenhouse and keep it locked at all times.
Gravel
Gravel is a good idea when you notice squirrels digging up the soil near the plants. You can try laying gravel, making it hard for them to dig further and hopefully discourage them.
Ultrasonic devices
If these little creatures have made their way into your attic, an ultrasonic repellent is an ultimate weapon against them.
This magical device creates an ultrasonic wave that is highly irritating to squirrels deterring them from your house—the best part, the ultrasonic wave that is not audible to the human ear.
Peanut butter and aspirin trap
While squirrels love peanut butter, aspirin poisons them. Make a paste mixing peanut butter with crushed aspirin pills and spread it in key spots.
Human hair
There is a belief that squirrels hate human and dog hair, so you may want to cut a chunk off or get it from a salon and place it wherever the squirrel mostly tends to visit. Apparently, they hate the smell of humans, or they think a human is near and won’t come near it.
Additional Tips on How to Keep Squirrels Away
- To protect spring bulbs, cover the bed’s surface with black plastic netting, which is invisible and inexpensive.
- Protect bird feeders suspended from a horizontal wire by threading old records, compact discs, or plastic soda bottles on the wire on each side.
- In the autumn, keep squirrels from taking shelter at your home, closing up all possible entries. Trim branches that hang near your roof and place a mesh guard on your chimney.
- You can protect your veggie garden by installing a wire fence. Ensure it is buried about a foot into the ground, so the squirrels can’t dig under it.
- There is also chew-proof netting that you can put over your plants.
- Always make sure not to leave food or compost scraps sitting out. This is a huge no-no, so remember always to keep your trash sealed.
- Another great read for you could be how to keep birds away.