Hungry squirrels can make short work of your plants.
While squirrels can be quite entertaining to watch as they play in your yard, they can also be quite destructive to your plants and garden. Squirrels are well known for digging up and eating plant bulbs as well as fruit and bark from trees. Though your first temptation might be to get rid of the squirrels, oftentimes you can employ some methods to repel them rather than harm them. You won't need any expensive commercial products, just some common household items. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Move any bird feeders away from your plants and garden. Bird feeders are a huge attraction for squirrels and can lead them right to your plants if they are nearby. Place any bird feeders you have far away in your yard from any plants that are vulnerable, such as bulbs or fruit plants.
2. Soak any bulb-type plants, such as tulips and crocus, with a repellent containing thiram before you plant them. Thiram is a known squirrel repellent and will deter them from digging up the plant bulbs.
3. Fill a spray bottle with water. Spray your plants and the soil directly beneath with the water. Moisten the plants and soil, but do not soak them. Sprinkle a dusting of cayenne pepper over the plants and the soil. The pepper will discourage the squirrels from eating the plant or digging in the soil right around it.
4. Place several mothballs around the plants where squirrels are digging. The pungent odor of the mothballs will repel many animals from the area, including squirrels. Be careful that no pets, especially dogs, have access to the mothballs, as they can be toxic if eaten.
5. Cover the soil around potted plants with aluminum foil. Break off a piece of foil large enough to cover the entire surface of the soil in the pot. Crimp the edges of the foil around the outer edge of the pot. Squirrels do not like the crinkling noise that the foil makes when they touch it with their paws, and they will bypass the plants.
Tags: your plants, plants soil, eating plant, plant bulbs, plants garden