Repelling Squirrels from Vegetable and Flower Gardens

There are few things as cute as a fuzzy squirrel, unless of course the squirrel is digging or dining in your vegetable garden or flower garden. The squirrel is a marvelously adaptable animal that thrives in most any environment including rural, suburban and even urban areas. Never one to miss an easy meal, the squirrel is often found stealing from bird feeders, chowing down on ornamental plants, digging up planted seeds and bulbs, and generally feasting in vegetable gardens. If a gardener has a severe problem with squirrels, the bad news is that there are no easy solutions. But there are some things that can be done to lesson the impact of the squirrels.

One way to help reduce the impact of squirrels is through the presence of dogs and cats. Both will eagerly dine on a squirrel and though they are unlikely to catch many of them, the presence of a predator or two might encourage the squirrel to look for grub elsewhere. Those who do not have cats or dogs might be able to get some pet hair from friends or family and place it around the garden to introduce the predator smell to the area. Sporting goods stores also sell fox and coyote urine that may also help. Commercially produced repellant scents are also made for use around plants, some can even be used directly on vegetable plants.

The use of pepper is another popular way to repel squirrels. While this method does work to some extent, the pepper will need to be applied at regular intervals and after a rain. Simply use powdered cayenne or black pepper and liberally apply it to the plants and the surrounding soil.

The use of fence to keep squirrels away from vegetable plants can work as well. The fence will have to surround the plant completely, including the top to make a large 'garden cage'. The fence will need to be placed into the soil a few inches to keep squirrels from burrowing under it.

Gardeners can use aluminum foil pie plates and other objects that move and make noise with some measure of success. Though these are unlikely to provide a lasting solution, they may at least harass the squirrel into moving on to other sources of food.