Sometimes, you are not the only one who enjoys your garden. Garden pests can wreak havoc on your garden if you are not ready. Below are some tips about how to keep squirrels out of your garden.
Several months ago I found some odd occurrences happening in my garden. Several of my pots had what looked like holes in the dirt.
There was also evidence of what looked like an animal had dug through some of my plants. My new lavender was also flattened as if something had fallen in it.
I live in an area surrounded by trees, so I figured all of this was caused by falling branches or small animals. It shouldn’t have surprised me when I heard some noises outside and saw a squirrel laying on one of my planters.
The squirrel glared at me, then jumped from the planter to my hanging strawberry plant, where he began digging in the dirt to bury what looked like a large seed or rock. He patted his burial place neatly before scurrying off into the nearest tree.
This didn’t alarm me, since seeing the squirrel made all the other oddities make sense. I wonder if he is also the reason why some of my plants are not growing.
Why Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden
Squirrels are small, cute and furry creatures that I enjoy watching while walking around my complex, as well as having staring contests with them. Why bother keeping them away from your garden?
There are many reasons to keep squirrels out of your garden. They can destroy flowers, fruit and vegetables that you worked hard to grow. Squirrels will steal and smash your prized plants as well.
I began researching how to keep squirrels out of your garden, hence this blog post. I found some videos on how to do this with homemade items. I will be discussing these as well as other methods below.
Methods to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden
There are many ways to keep squirrels out of your garden, but I will be only discussing several.
Cayenne Pepper
The videos I watched talked about placing cayenne pepper in the garden to keep the squirrels away. Apparently, they do not like the smell. I figure this would be a free way to keep the critter out.
Luckily, I had a jar of cayenne pepper. The pepper does not harm plants, so I sprinkled some in all my planters that had evidence of the squirrel.
It’s been a few days and so far I have seen no proof that the squirrel has been back. As far as I’m concerned, the cayenne pepper worked!
Peppers in General
Squirrels don’t like peppers for the same reasons many people don’t, their strong taste and smell. Other red peppers or a combination of peppers, such as paprika and pepper flakes can also keep these critters away from your garden.
Mint
Just like squirrels don’t like the smell of peppers, they are also repelled by the smell of mint. I haven’t tried this method yet but will definitely consider planting mint in the future. Plus, I like the smell of mint.
Plant Flower Bulbs
Squirrels do not like to dig up certain bulbs. As I stated earlier, my best friend’s in laws gave me an amaryllis bulb that bloomed beautifully vibrant flowers for me to enjoy several weeks ago.
Thankfully, the squirrel left this alone. Hyacinth, allium and daffodils are some bulbs that squirrels do not like, so if you prefer these bulbs, plant them in your garden!
Garden Barriers
If you want to enjoy a garden without worrying about what to plant, different types of barriers can keep squirrels out as well.
If your plants can thrive in mulch, add these to your garden. I have several planters with dirt that are also topped with several inches of mulch. I’ve noticed that the squirrel has not touched these areas of my garden. The heavier the mulch is, the better.
Wire mesh, fencing, and netting are other barriers you can use to keep these rodents out of your garden. Mesh is good to put around containers and garden beds.
You can also try some type of fencing with netting around the top so that squirrels can’t climb into your plants.
Neatness
Keep your garden neat. I love being surrounded by so many trees, but some of them in particular love leaving scraps of bark and other debris on my balcony.
Make sure there is nothing on the ground that may attract squirrels. I try to sweep the garden area about once a week.
Put Your Pets to Good Use
Have a cat or dog, or both? Your pet(s) can also keep away squirrels from your garden. If allowed, let them roam around your garden. Our cats are not allowed to walk around our complex, but squirrels are not around when the cats are near the window to my garden.
Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions you may have about how to keep squirrels out of your garden.
What keeps squirrels away from the garden?
Many gardeners find a combination of preventative measures and deterrents to be the most effective way to keep squirrels away from their plants.
Start by trimming any tree branches that hang over the area, as this will remove potential pathways for them to reach the plants.
Additionally, you can use repellants or deterrents such as ultrasonic sound emitters and motion detectors to frighten away unwanted pests.
You can also set up physical barriers such as chicken wire fencing or netting to keep squirrels out of your garden. If these methods do not work, there are several products available on the market specifically designed to repel squirrels from gardens.
Be sure to follow directions carefully and use them in accordance with any local laws you may have in your area. Finally, it is important to keep your garden clean and free of any food sources that may be attractive to squirrels.
If you remove their food sources they will have no incentive to stay around your garden.
By following these tips and utilizing a variety of methods, you can ensure that you have the best protection for your garden and keep squirrels away from your hard-earned plants.
With the right combination of preventative measures and deterrents, you can be sure that your garden is safe from pesky squirrels.
What is the most effective squirrel repellent?
Sprinkling cayenne pepper around plants is a great way to keep squirrels out of your garden. Physical barriers like fencing or netting can be very effective in keeping squirrels away from your garden, as it will prevent them from being able to access the area.
Using a chemical repellent such as an odor or taste based product may also be beneficial for keeping squirrels away. These products contain chemicals that are designed to repel squirrels, and can be found at most home improvement stores or online.
Be sure to research any product you intend to use thoroughly beforehand and follow all safety instructions for proper application.
These methods will help ensure that you have the best protection for your garden against pesky squirrels. With a combination of preventative measures and deterrents, you can be sure that your plants will stay safe and squirrel-free.
What smell will keep squirrels away?
Certain odors and smells can be very effective at repelling squirrels. For instance, the scent of white and black pepper has been known to scare away these pests.
Using a commercial smell-based repellent such as garlic oil may also be beneficial in keeping squirrels away from your garden.
It is important to follow the instructions on any repellents you use, as improper application may not only be ineffective but could also be dangerous for humans and other animals in the area.
Also, it is a good idea to periodically check the repellents you are using, as they can become less effective over time.
Do coffee grounds keep squirrels away from plants?
Coffee grounds may help keep squirrels away from your plants, as the smell of coffee can be off-putting to these pests.
It should be noted that this method is not always effective and may need to be combined with other preventative measures or deterrents for best results.
If you decide to use coffee grounds, be sure to thoroughly dry them, then spread them evenly around the perimeter of the area you would like to protect and replace them every few weeks.
It is important to keep other food sources away from the garden that may attract squirrels such as bird feeders. By following these steps and utilizing a variety of methods, you can ensure that your garden is safe from pesky squirrels.
Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden
Do you have any other suggestions on how to keep squirrels out of your garden? What works for you or what are you thinking about trying to keep these rodents out of your plants? Let me know!
Happy Gardening!
Amie says
This is great !!
Ann says
Thank you!
Samuel Winick says
Awesome post! I was thinking of growing mint anyways, so this just secured the decision.
Ann says
Thank you. That’s great that you are choosing mint. I love the smell of it so I can’t wait to add mint to my garden, especially since it can keep squirrels away.
Steph Miller says
I have peppermint in one pot and tomatoes in another…the mint don’t keep them away. Found them sitting in my tomatoes facing my mint…just a couple inches away
Ann says
Oh no! Keep trying with the other methods until something works. Good luck!
Rosie Zummo says
I am going Italian squash, Cuccuzza, it is doing great. But, I am worried the squirrels and birds will start eating it. What can I do to keep them away from my Cuccuzza!
Thanks,
Rosie Zummo
Ann says
Besides growing mint and bulbs around the Cucuzza, you can build a chicken wire around and on top of the squash to keep birds and squirrels away. You can also add mulch and cayenne pepper around your plant. Good luck!
Elender says
To save my tomatoes I tied rags to the tomatoes cages that had been soaked in amonia. They hate the smell and it stopped them stealing my tomatoes.
Ann says
What a great idea! I haven’t heard of that. So the tomatoes were not harmed by the ammonia fumes? I might have to try this trick around plants that mysterious bugs keep eating at night. Thank you for sharing!
Sarah says
I must have the most determined squirrels ever because I have a mulched garden with mint all throughout it and used cayenne where they were digging and they still destroyed so many plants. Maybe I will have to plant those bulbs that they don’t like and see if that helps. The only thing that seemed to stop them was using a chicken wire cage but I can’t exactly do that for the entire garden. Though admittedly, this is the first time in 14 years that squirrels have given me an issue, so maybe it was just a fluke. Either way, good information here and hopefully they won’t be a problem next year.
Ann says
Glad you enjoyed the post! I hope you have better luck next year keeping those squirrels out of your garden. How frustrating! I would try planting bulbs they don’t like to see if that works. That is good that it’s been a long time since they gave you issues. Hopefully next year you won’t have a squirrel problem.
Mad at the squirrels says
I disagree with your statement about peppers. Last year, the squirrels ate everything except my herbs….including all of my pepper plants.
Ann says
Oh no! I guess there are some exceptions with certain plants. I hope you have better luck this year keeping the squirrels away.
Ashley says
I stumbled on to this post I am so upset and I’ve wasted over 500 dollars on flowers. They are so bad this year and I looked forward to watching my things grow and they have destroyed it also MOLES they will cause the same problems as squirrels thanks for the insight I’ll those and see what happens
Ann says
I am so sorry to hear that these critters ruined your beautiful flowers! I hope you find a way to keep them out of your garden!
Barb says
I have also had mild success with plastic forks stuck in my flower pots with the tines facing up. I would guess this is the same idea as mulch.
Ann says
I have not heard of this idea but it does sound similar to using mulch. I’ll have to try it next time I see a squirrel near my plants.
Karen says
Squirrels don’t like geraniums either. Put them around my tomatoes. Also put aluminum foil in my pots and the squirrels left the pots alone.
Ann says
That is great that geraniums and aluminum help keep squirrels away from your tomatoes! Thank you for sharing!
Linda says
These cute little animals also ate the lead off our roof – expensive to repair. They do it to keep their teeth short but still .. a statue of an owl with eyes that light up seems to be acting as a good repellent.
Ann says
I’m sorry to hear that! Hopefully the owl will keep the squirrels away for good!
Mary Anne says
I have sprayed the outside of my many pots with air freshener and that seems to be keeping the squirrels away this year. I also spray it on the rafters from the roof on my deck and it keeps the carpenter bees away. I just buy the cheapest air freshener, just don’t get it on your plants.
Ann says
What a great idea! Thank you for sharing!
Roxanne says
I tried many things to keep squirrels away, most only worked temporarily. But, what I have now seems to be working great. I’ve stuck metallic/foil pinwheels 2-3 feet apart on the border of my garden & in planters on my porch.
Because they’re reflective & nearly always in some amount of motion, the squirrels have stayed clear. They were dollar store purchases & look whimsical in my garden.
Ann says
Thank you for sharing! I hope the pinwheels keep away the squirrels for good!
Carol Murray says
For my flower pots I stick plastic forks(handlefirst) just until the tines are sticking out of the dirt. Have had great luck with this method.
Ann says
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!