How To Prevent Squirrels From Eating Your Vegetable Garden

How To Protect Vegetable Garden From Squirrels / Experimental Garden from heksayoa.blogspot.com

Understanding Why Squirrels Are Attracted to Your Garden

Squirrels are naturally attracted to vegetable gardens because of the abundance of food. They have a keen sense of smell and can easily detect ripe vegetables from a distance. A squirrel can quickly identify a vegetable garden and make a beeline for it. They are also attracted to the shelter and shade provided by the garden.

If a squirrel has easy access to your vegetable garden, then it is likely to make regular visits and start feasting on your vegetables. Therefore, it is important to understand why squirrels are attracted to your garden and find ways to prevent them from causing damage.

Tips to Keep Squirrels Away from Your Vegetable Garden

The first step to preventing squirrels from damaging your vegetable garden is to make it difficult for them to access it. Here are some tips to keep squirrels away from your vegetable garden:

Create a physical barrier. The most effective way to keep squirrels away from your garden is to erect a fence around it. It should be at least 4 feet high and made of wire mesh or chicken wire. It should be buried at least 6 inches deep into the ground to prevent the squirrels from digging underneath it.
Remove any potential hiding places. Squirrels like to hide in the underbrush, so be sure to clear any debris or brush away from your garden. This will make it more difficult for them to hide and make it easier for you to spot them.
Trim back any trees or shrubs that are close to your garden. Squirrels like to use these as a launching pad to jump into your garden, so make sure to keep them trimmed back.
Sprinkle cayenne pepper around the perimeter of your garden. The smell of the pepper will repel the squirrels and make them avoid your garden.
Place decoy animals in your garden. Squirrels are territorial and don't like other animals invading their space. Placing decoy animals such as owls or snakes in your garden will make the squirrels think twice before entering.
Use motion-activated sprinklers. These are triggered by the squirrels' movement and will spray them with water, scaring them away.
Install a squirrel-proof bird feeder. Squirrels are attracted to bird feeders, so if you have one in your yard, make sure to make it squirrel-proof. This will prevent the squirrels from raiding your bird feeder and then heading over to your vegetable garden.

Harvesting Your Vegetables to Keep Squirrels Away

Another way to keep squirrels away from your vegetable garden is to harvest your vegetables as soon as they are ripe. The sooner you harvest them, the less likely the squirrels are to find them. Be sure to check your garden regularly and pick any ripe vegetables right away.

If you notice any vegetables that have been damaged by squirrels, then pick them right away as well. This way the squirrels won't be able to eat the vegetables and will be less likely to return to your garden.

Using Repellents to Keep Squirrels Away

There are several repellents available that can be used to keep squirrels away from your garden. These repellents contain strong odors or tastes that squirrels find unpleasant and will help to deter them from entering your garden.

You can purchase these repellents at most garden centers or online. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package when using them and reapply them as needed.

Trapping and Relocating Squirrels

If all else fails, then you may need to resort to trapping and relocating the squirrels. You can purchase live traps from most garden centers or online. Make sure to follow the instructions on the package when using them. You will need to check the traps regularly and release the squirrels far away from your garden.

Conclusion

Squirrels can be a nuisance in vegetable gardens, but there are ways to keep them away. By understanding why they are attracted to your garden and taking preventative measures, you can protect your vegetable garden from these pesky critters.

By using physical barriers, removing potential hiding places, trimming back trees or shrubs, sprinkling cayenne pepper, placing decoy animals, using motion-activated sprinklers, and installing a squirrel-proof bird feeder, you can make your garden less attractive to squirrels. You can also harvest your vegetables as soon as they are ripe and use repellents to keep the squirrels away.

If all else fails, then you may need to resort to trapping and relocating the squirrels. This should be done as a last resort and only with the help of a wildlife expert.