My neverending squirrel dilemmaby Tara Nolan |
I’ve had a terrible problem with squirrels this past season. They carried off several of my veggie plants, and a few summer bulbs, and dug up some of my seeds. A lady up the street feeds them peanuts, so I find peanut shells all over my yard as well as random holes from their relentless digging.
Earlier this season I would sprinkle cayenne pepper all over my gardens and chase squirrels out of my garden like a crazy person. A few folks here at the office were horrified about the cayenne as they had heard that if the squirrels get the spice on their paws, they’ll rub it in their eyes and scratch at their eyeballs. A Canadian Gardening colleague did a little digging and found some information from the Humane Society, which recommends cayenne pepper in the garden and I found a page online that I figure makes it OK if it’s coming from a society that protects animals. The only problem with cayenne is you have to constantly reapply after giving your garden a good soak or after it rains.
In the recent issue of Toronto Life, I read Brent Preston’s memoir about becoming a farmer. Brent’s battle was with groundhogs and insects. To control the destructive flea beetle from ravaging his crops, he covered his plants with row cover, a finely woven fabric that allows sun and water to pass through but keeps insects out. I’m wondering if this would help deter the squirrels from my plants and seeds—at least until they’re strong and sturdy. I think I saw an example of row cover last week when I was in the Bruce Peninsula. We came across Harvest Moon Organic Bakery and Sculpture Gardens while looking for a mountain biking trail. At the end of a long driveway we came across this lovely little bakery with the most delicious treats. Part of their vegetable garden was covered in a light cloth, which appears to be row cover. I think I might try it next year.
How do you deter squirrels in your garden?
Tags: bruce peninsula, flea beetle, harvest moon organic bakery, pests, row cover, squirrels, toronto life
Get a dog! Works wonders for us.
That would probably solve our problem. Unfortunately we already have a cat–and an indoor one at that, so we can’t put her to work either!
Hi: A garden show on CBC radio recommended blood meal. It seems to work on rabbits too! You also have to re-apply after a while but it fertilizers as well as keeping the squirrels off.
i’ve used bloodmeal for bulbs and it stopped the squirrels from digging them up, now i’m trying it on everything since we just moved and our squirrel problem has quadrupled… :-\ good luck and keep us posted!
Hi Tara,
I use a combination of bloodmeal and a feeding station for the squirrels away from my more tempting beds. Trick is, you have to be consistent with both as with the cayenne. I go through a lo of Bulk store peanuts every week, but finally I have tulips and lilies that are not eaten. Neighbours at first thought feeding would increase the issue for them, but it turns out they also have less damage.
The bury some peanuts, but no som much as to disturb the other plants.
I have to admit, my husband has a live trap. He catches the babies and releases them on public land near us. It helps “thin the herd” but they always come back. I’ll have to try the blood meal trick.