Going Nuts

Written by Burkholder Brothers Landscaping Monday, November 21 2011 10:06

I'm not sure what's worse around here - stink bugs, squirrels, or deer. Since we just posted a blog article on the harmful effects that deer have on our plants, we should probably move on to the impact of squirrels on our local landscape. These critters steal food from bird feeders, vegetable patches, eat fruit and nuts from backyard trees, raid your garbage, and will even eat your pet's food. Fortunately, there are many ways to naturally repel these creatures from your garden.

Spices

Sprinkle hot spices such as chili powder and cayenne over any fruit or vegetables bothered by squirrels and along areas such as tables and fence railings that squirrels use for moving from place to place in your garden, according to Oliver Finn. The scent of these spices will repel these creatures. Mix these spices in a spray bottle to saturate the fruit in trees and shrubs. 

Squirrel-proof Your Bulbs

Squirrels dig up newly planted bulbs. To protect your bulbs and containers you can use repellents and mix oyster shell into the plantings and/or lay chicken wire over the bed and cover it with oyster shell and mulch. Any combination will have some benefit to protect your bulbs and planters. Another trick would be to plant bulbs in the garlic family (allium and fritillaria) as a natural repellent.

Feed the Squirrels

Provide a cob of corn, raw peanuts or sunflower seeds in a section of your garden away from the vegetable or flower garden and easily accessible to the squirrels. Well-fed squirrels should have no reason to raid your vegetable garden, trees or pet dish and will keep other hungry squirrels away.