Humane Ways to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden

Squirrels are so fun and funny to watch. They scoot and scat around the forest floor. They cling to and climb up and clatter on the branch of trees. They chitter at one another, often chasing each other about trees in fits of energy and fury. Squirrels are super cute.

They can also be a menace in the garden. Once they figure out they want some of what’s growing in there, they can be very difficult to dissuade. And, all that scooting, chatting, clinging, and clattering equates to an animal that can pretty well get anywhere.

So, what’s an animal-loving gardener to do? Is there some way to thwart an industrious squirrel from robbing the harvest? Can it be done humanely? Well, there are a few thoughts on the matter.

Source: Mark Rober/YouTube

Sprinkle Hot Pepper Flakes

Much like many animals, hot pepper flakes are a good deterrent for squirrels. They don’t like the smell of it, and they certainly don’t like the taste. If there are some crops they are specifically targeting, it’s worth sprinkling some pepper flakes around the plants to see if the squirrels are turned off. Growing your own spicy peppers can help as well, and they can be dried and used to make pepper flakes.

Cover the Garden Beds

For those with framed raised beds or nicely rowed garden spaces, it’s pretty easy to buy or make net or wire covers to protect the crops below. This can either be attached covers that hinge open or covers that can be easily lifted and moved when it’s time to tend the garden beds. The bad news: Squirrels can burrow under stuff. However, this can be a deterrent for sure.

Use a Predator Decoy

While squirrels can be incredibly feisty, they are still prey animals with plenty of predators out there. In general, the go-to decoy—and easy to find in stores—is the owl decoy. It can be “perched” on a post in the middle of the garden, and it doesn’t hurt to move it around every couple of days. Fake hawks, coyotes, and eagles are also out there to be found.

Get Motion Sensor Sprinklers

One of the more techie ways to get rid of squirrels is the motion sensor sprinkler system. The garden hose is connected to a sprinkler that turns on when something crosses in front of it. The noise and the soaking will deter lots of animals. Again, though, squirrels are crafty and will figure out how to get around the system, so it’ll need to be adjusted and moved regularly.

Plant Plenty of Alliums

Alliums are the plants of the onion and garlic family, and most animals are not at all into them, squirrels included. Alliums are easy to grow, and they are perennials if we don’t harvest them. They make awesome garden borders. They have pretty pom-pom flowers that pollinators love, they provide taste greens, and they will often repel thieves from the garden.

Spritz Peppermint Oil

Peppermint (and peppermint essential oil) is another common animal-proof, pest-repelling plant to keep in the garden. Unfortunately, peppermint will run rampant if planted in the actual garden bed, so it’s best to plant it in dedicated pots or raised border beds that encircle the garden space. If growing a lot of peppermint isn’t in the cards, peppermint oil applied regularly around the garden can’t hurt matters.

Make a DIY Repellent Spray

Lastly, a DIY repellent spray can cover several bases in case your particular brand of squirrels isn’t bothered by anyone’s repellent smells or tastes. Combine some garlic, hot peppers, and mint in a bit of water and let it soak for a day or more. Then, distilled that out into a spray bottle or garden sprayer for an organic pest (squirrels included) repellent.

Source: The Wild Report/YouTube

Squirrels can be really difficult and frustrating garden visitors. They can spike the temper of just about any gardener, and they have a reputation for problem-solving when it comes to foraging dinner. While these methods might not make a garden 100 percent squirrel-proof, they can be helpful.

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Related Content:

• Deterring Wild Animals from Eating Your Garden Before You Do
• Animals and Insects That Help Control Garden Pests
• 9 Common Garden Pests and How to Deal with Them Humanely
• Three Chemical-Free Sprays for Repelling Pests in the Garden
• How to Get Critters to Naturally Fertilize Your Garden Spaces

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