Introduction
When it comes to vegetable growing, there is nothing worse than having your hard-earned harvest destroyed by squirrels. Spending the time and effort to tend to the perfect garden only to have it raided by these little critters can be incredibly discouraging. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to get rid of these furry pests and keep them away from your precious vegetables.
A squirrel-free vegetable garden is beneficial for many reasons. For starters, you will have better yields of more nutritious crop as the squirrels won’t steal all the ripest fruits off of your plants. The other benefit is that a garden free of pests will use fewer of its resources trying to fend them off and produce healthier food in the process. With less competition for food, your plants won’t need nearly as much energy or water and will be able to dedicate their energy towards effective growth. Additionally, taking preventative measures now may save you lots of money in costly damage control down the road; repair costs after already being in invasion can easily stack up very quickly
Assessment
When assessing the activity of squirrels in your vegetable garden for an infestation, it is important to first recognize the symptoms caused by their presence. A few common ones to look for include holes in the ground or near tree trunks which have been caused by insects as a result of digging from squirrels scavenging for food, damaged plants and vegetables due to chewing, and evidence of droppings on soil or surfaces around shrubs, trees, and garden beds. Additionally, you may hear loud chirping or rustling noises coming from these areas at night. If any of these signs are present, it is likely that there is an infestation. Moving forward with the prevention techniques outlined below would be necessary to curb their activity in your garden.
Prevention
If you have recently rid your vegetable garden of squirrels, there are a few tips you can follow to prevent them from returning:
1. Make sure your vegetable garden is properly fenced in or screened off using strong materials like wire mesh. Do a regular check to ensure the fence stays secured and any potential openings are patched up.
2. Remove all sources of food that squirrels may access near the garden, such as bird feeders and easily accessible fruits, nuts, etc.
3. Try discouraging squirrels by utilizing some repellents; this includes motion-activated sprinklers, odors, twists of aluminum foil, coyote urine granules, commercial animal repellents, individual peppermint oil sprays or sachets filled with ground cayenne pepper places around the perimeter.
4. Place traps strategically throughout the yard; use only humane live cage-traps – bait them with peanut butter or cracked corn and check regularly for any trapped squirrels.
5. You may also consider placing owl decoys or falcons near your garden area as these predators hunt for squirrels and other rodents.
Methodology
Non-lethal Deterrents: The most common and effective way to get rid of squirrels in the vegetable garden is by using deterrent methods. Using things such as motion activated water sprinklers, installing netting over garden beds, and covering plants with a special fabric known as burlap can be an effective way of deterring squirrels without causing harm. Motion activated water sprinklers sense movement with sensors, activating a powerful spray of water onto potential intruders. Installing high quality netting over garden beds also acts like an impenetrable fence, keeping out curiosity seekers and other wildlife from entering the vegetable garden. And although it must be secured properly to avoid flapping in the wind, another deterrent is using burlap or another light fabric to cover individual plant or crops. This will allow them enough light to grow while still preventing curious paws from rummaging around in the soil.
Export Traps: Sometimes deterrence methods are not enough and people looking to get rid of squirrels in their vegetable gardens might need to resort to traps for fast results. When humanely trapping animals, it is important that the method does not cause any unnecessary suffering or pain and should only be done as a temporary measure until it can be exported from your property far away from your home, garden and possessions. To avoid this problem, there are several “live” traps designed specifically for exporting squirrels from residential properties safely and quickly. These traps are often lined with soft material such as blankets or towels for protection against injury during transport, so that when you release your trapped intruder back into the wild that same day they will do so unharmed.
Natural Deterrents
If you have unwanted squirrels in the vegetable garden, there are many natural ways to help get rid of them. One method is to create physical barriers. Fencing with a one-inch mesh can help prevent squirrels from accessing your garden. Make sure that the fence is at least 5 feet high and digs at least 6 inches into the ground to keep them out for good. Trapping is also an option if you are able to monitor the trapped animals until release.
Another natural way to deter squirrels is by planting plants or flowers that repel them such as marigolds, garlic, and peppermint. Marigold has a strong smell that can be used to mask other aromas attracting squirrels near your garden while garlic can be dried and turned into powder which helps repel animals away naturally. Peppermint oil mixed in water can also be sprayed around your veggie patch as it has a strong scent that squirrels are not fond of and will avoid. Finally, another great deterring tactic is going on offense by setting up bird feeders full of grains or nuts that attract squirrels away from the vegetables you want to protect in your garden!
Habitat Modification
The best way to get rid of squirrels in the vegetable garden is through habitat modification. This process involves changing the conditions that encouraged the squirrels to visit your garden in the first place. Start by looking around your landscape to identify any possible sources of food and shelter that might be attracting them. Improve your landscaping by removing things like tall grass and shrubs, which give squirrels places to hide and nest. It’s also important to remove any debris or materials that may be providing them with additional food sources, including fallen fruits, bird feeders, and compost piles.
You should also make sure to keep your vegetable garden tidy and free of any possible food sources for squirrels. Make sure you’re consistently weeding and harvesting vegetables on time so there are no overripe foods left on the ground for them to eat. If you have fruit trees near your garden, clean up any ripe fruit that has fallen from the branches before it can become a snack for nearby critters.
It’s also a good idea to consider implementing some physical barriers in your garden like fences or netting that will make it difficult for squirrels to gain entry or access potential food once they get inside. Motion-activated devices such as ultrasonic sound emitters and water sprinklers can also be used to deter them from entering the area altogether. Finally, consider strategically planting certain deterrent plants in areas around your home where squirrels may look for shelter; these include lavender, thyme, juniper, eucalyptus, peppermint, bay leaf, etc..
Education
Getting rid of a squirrel in your vegetable garden requires understanding them first, which may mean taking the time to observe and learn about them. Consider where the squirrels have set up their habitats and why. Are they near water, food sources or other nesting spots? How can you modify the environment to discourage them from setting up shop?
Next, understand their habits. Pay attention to when they come around. Are they more active at dawn or dusk? How often do they typically feed and what do they eat? Knowing these things can help you make informed decisions when it comes to solving your squirrel problem.
Finally, create boundaries or barriers that will prevent access to your vegetable garden. Put up fencing (including underground fencing), hair clippings, ultrasonic sound waves or scent deterrents such as coyote urine around the perimeter of your garden space to deter intruders. If necessary, set up traps or use repellents to remove existing infestations. Keeping an eye out on the area is also important because that’s usually when early signs of a potential infestation will be visible.
Physical Removal
If you want to physically remove squirrels from your vegetable garden, using humane options is your best bet. You can use a live animal trap, like one made out of wire mesh with a wide door. Make sure to place the trap away from public walkways, and put a bait like sunflower seeds or nuts inside. Once the squirrel is in the cage, you must take it away to an area that is at least 10 miles away. That way, if the squirrel gets free again it won’t come back to your property. Another option is visual deterrents such as scarecrows, reflective strips on poles around the garden perimeter, windmills or spinning objects that flicker in sunlight. For outdoor cats or dogs around the garden boundaries, they tend to keep other animals at bay by patrolling the perimeter and causing them discomfort with their presence alone. There are also sound deterrents available on the market such as ultrasonic noise generators tuned specifically for small rodents that could help drive them away from your yard and garden area. An additional benefit of not killing or permanently removing wild animals from an area can lead to an increase in beneficial insects due tothe loss of competition for food or shelter!
Professional Help
If DIY solutions for getting rid of squirrels in the vegetable garden are not effective, it may be time to contact a professional Animal Eviction and Removal Service. These services specialize in humane pest removal and will typically use non-lethal exclusion techniques to get rid of squirrels from your garden. The technicians from this type of service will use a variety of devices and tools to remove the unwanted critters from your property such as: one-way exclusion doors, live trapping, box traps, and other appropriate wildlife control options. During the eviction process, they will also look for winter road damage (such as a broken window or roof) where the squirrels have entered the home. This allows them to find the entry point(s) so they can plug up any openings to prevent further access and future infestation. A professional animal removal service may also offer additional advice on proper safety measures and preventive measures that should be taken to keep this type of problem from recurring in the future.
Conclusion
Long-term solutions to getting rid of squirrels from your vegetable garden include installing exclusion devices such as chicken wire, mesh or other fences along the garden border. It is important to ensure that any fenced areas are tall enough and securely fastened at the bottom so the squirrels will not be able to squeeze through. If there is access from trees or rooftops, it should be blocked out by trimming branches away, attaching a strip of metal or using reflective tape. Additionally, using live traps can help significantly reduce the number of squirrels in the area by humanely catching and relocating these animals.
To be cautious for future infestations, it is important to reduce food sources as much as possible, clean up fallen fruits and nuts on a regular basis, pick ripe vegetables immediately and use repellents around the garden perimeter such as garlic oil or cayenne pepper spray. It is also wise to keep an eye out for signs of new infestations so they can be quickly dealt with before they become too much of an issue.
If you’re looking to get into vegetable gardening, or are just looking for some tips on how to make your current garden better, then you’ve come to the right place! My name is Ethel and I have been gardening for years. In this blog, I’m going to share with you some of my best tips on how to create a successful vegetable garden.
