We learned this lesson the hard way one year when we planted corn. A Cheap Way to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden Squirrels can torment your garden in droves once acorns start falling from trees in autumn. The easiest way to do this is to treat your crops with a mixture that includes hot peppers. Squirrel Holes in Lawn. Plus, 10 bonus tips on how to keep squirrels out of bird feeders and away from bulbs. If you?ve had it up to here with potted plants and squirrels, here are a few suggestions that may help. Discover ways to keep squirrels at bay humanely, including using squirrel-proof bird feeders, squirrel repellent, and deterrents. Figuring out how to keep squirrels out of vegetable garden doesn’t require a Ph.D. in animal science. Keep them out with this fencing tip. So you might try the mesh until you can get other vegetation better established. The trick to keeping squirrels out of your garden is to make the food unpalatable to them. The fence should be at least 18 inches high and 6 inches deep underground to prevent ground squirrels from entering the area. burn) the bulbs I have planted where the squirrels are digging? Squirrels bury food, not only to prepare for winter when food is harder to find, but to also ensure that they are the sole proprietor of … Those little squirrels came and dug up every single piece we planted. Now the little marauders are digging in your flower pots, apparently regarding them as a convenient salad bar. Squirrels are tenacious creatures and if they decide to dig a tunnel in your potted plant, it may seem like keeping squirrels out of containers is a hopeless task. Squirrels and other wildlife can create all kinds of damage to your garden. Squirrels are a constant source of frustration for any vegetable gardener and I, for one, am always looking for new, and natural, ways for keeping squirrels out of my garden. Do you have squirrel damage in your garden? A number of animals, including rabbits, dogs, cats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, muskrats, moles and woodchucks dig into mulched flowerbeds, spreading mulch all over and damaging contained flowers. Squirrels can wreak havoc on a garden, even if they aren't interested in the plants. Adopt a preventive strategy to keep the pests from damaging your garden and leaving the mess for you to clean. This prevents digging in seedling gardens, and the plants will be too mature for ground squirrel consumption by the time the squirrels emerge. Stop the Digging. Play nice. How to Keep Squirrels Out of Garden. One thing I've noticed: they always go for open soil, and once plants are established there they don't seem to dig and bury stuff anymore. So, what keeps squirrels away? If you’ve ever had a squirrel problem on your property, then you probably know that squirrels will dig until they get what they want out of the ground. Your garden has been targeted by squirrels; You’re looking for signs of squirrel presence; You’re trying to prevent them from digging up your lawn. They are always digging holes there and burying acorns. These things can damage your plants and ruin all the hard work you’ve put into your garden. Do you know if cayenne pepper will affect (i.e. Why do squirrels dig holes? Here are some easy ways to keep squirrels from getting into your garden that serve as a homemade squirrel repellent. These pests are often drawn to the loose soil in a well-tilled garden for digging and burying their food. I want to keep the bulbs safe and the squirrels out! Squirrels can wreak havoc on a garden, even if they aren't interested in the plants. I am an organic gardener by nature, but when my 1000 foot vegetable garden was destroyed by squirrels two years ago, I was prepared to try anything and everything to get rid of them. Trapping and relocating squirrels works well, but relief is only short-lived. You may be able to entice your small thieves to another area of the yard by providing them with a better option. Hungry squirrels are wily and smart, and seldom content with merely savaging your lawn. Thanks for the tips! Or they may dig up your flower bulbs and corms. Squirrels do not like the feeling of enclosure, which would prevent their ability to sprint away from a predator. Erect a fence from 1/4- to 1/2-inch mesh hardware cloth around the garden. I use chicken wire to keep squirrels out of my garden. Using raised garden beds can make it easier to block critters with fencing under and above the bed.