My next-door neighbor has been feeding the local squirrels a ton of nuts, and now they're invading my yard! They dig into my potted plants and urns to stash away their almonds and have even taken to eating my tulip bulbs. Does anyone have tips on how to deter these little furry pests from ruining my garden?
3 Answers
I feel your pain! I've heard that sometimes feeding the squirrels can actually help. I used to have a lot of squirrels around, and when I started putting out hanging corn and birdseed, they left my garden alone. Just make sure to offer something they like away from your plants so they'll ignore your flowers!
Yeah, I tried that too, but they still seem to find their way to my bulbs... Maybe I just have greedy squirrels!
One natural solution I found somewhat effective was peppermint oil. I sprayed it around my plants and though it's not perfect, it seems to keep some of them away without harming them.
That sounds less harmful! I wish they would just leave my bulbs alone.
Sounds worth a try! I’d rather not harm them but keep them out of my garden.
I recommend using chicken wire! It's a bit of an eyesore, but it does the trick to keep squirrels out of your pots. You can lay it flat over the soil or create a small barrier around your plants.
Good idea! Just make sure to do it before planting, or it's a headache.
I’ve also heard about using stones to cover the soil—maybe try that combined with the wire.
That sounds like a good plan! It's probably better to distract them than try to fight them.