Squirrels can be a bother in your landscape by nibbling on your veggies, fruit, tree bark, or birdseed. These pests also have a way of getting into your crawlspaces or attic, making their home. Below are tips on how to get rid of squirrels in your outdoor space and keep them out of
Squirrels can be a bother in your landscape by nibbling on your veggies, fruit, tree bark, or birdseed. These pests also have a way of getting into your crawlspaces or attic, making their home. Below are tips on how to get rid of squirrels in your outdoor space, keeping them out of your home.
You create a meal for squirrels when you’re sprinkling plant seeds or putting up a bird feeder. You might have to decide between the pleasure of bird watching with the likelihood of enticing squirrels with uneaten bird seed.
How to Get Rid of Squirrels: Suggestions
Get rid of what attracts them:
The smell and sight of seeds, fruit, and nuts entice squirrels. Rake your yard frequently to eliminate these items from beneath trees and bird feeders. To keep squirrels out of your trash, be sure to use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.
Scare them:
A cat or dog might keep squirrels out of your garden, especially if your dog enjoys chases squirrels. If you don’t have a woof or meow, you could put fake owls around your landscape on raised surfaces like a roof or fence post to scare squirrels away. You could also get containers of tiger or wolf urine to spray around your outdoor space. The smell frightens several animals, including squirrels. You have to reapply the product after it rains.
Spray them:
A motion-activated irrigation system could keep squirrels out of your landscape.
Don’t include them:
Keep squirrels out of your garden by obstructing their entrance. Stop squirrels from running along utility wires by placing pieces of lightweight plastic pipe surrounding non-electrical wires. Cut the pipe lengthwise, push it open, and put it over the wire.
Deter them:
If you can’t keep squirrels out of your yard, you could keep them far from your trees and plants with squirrel baffles. Place a metal collar around trees, around six feet off the ground. You could also use squirrel baffles on poles that hold your bird feeders.
Place a net or fence around your plants. Construct a fence using a mesh wire. The fence should be approximately 32 inches high, going at least six inches underground. There need to be another six inches beneath the ground curved outward to deter digging.
An electric fence is an extra deterrent. Put two electrified fence strands around four inches from a current fence, one at the fence height and one six inches over the ground. Cut little pieces of plastic bird netting and drape it over-ripening fruit. Use stones, mulch, or ornamental rocks on top of your soil to keep squirrels from burrowing in your garden.
Repel them:
Use a taste repellent like capsaicin or a chemical repellent to treat bulbs, flowers, and seeds. Reapply these products after it rains. Be sure not to use repellents on fruit or vegetables you’re going to eat. Put mint around the perimeter of your garden. Squirrels don’t like the smell of mint.
Contact Durham Tree Service to learn more tips on how to keep squirrels out or if you need any tree maintenance work.
