I'm having a tough time with squirrels digging in my garden where my fiancée has planted some herbs, potatoes, and tomatoes. We've tried using spikes and decorations to scare them off, but it hasn't worked at all. We're considering chicken wire, and I heard cayenne pepper spray could help too. What are some effective methods we can try to keep them away from the plants?
3 Answers
I tried spraying hot pepper juice, and honestly, it didn't do much for me. My neighbors, though, built these awesome cages out of hinged 1x2s, and they swear by them! Might be worth looking into if you want a sturdy solution.
Cayenne pepper worked for me around my sunflowers, preventing the squirrels from munching on the seeds. But for digging, I find that simply covering more of the soil helps. They tend to dig only when there are bare spots. Once the plants fill out, they usually leave it alone!
I’d recommend using removable cages made of fine mesh wire. They’ll keep all critters away, and it really works! I also leave out water trays and grow sunflowers for the local wildlife instead of scaring them away completely. That way, they leave my veggies alone!