13 Best Solutions To Protect Your Garden From Squirrels

Squirrels are lovely animals to watch, but they can become destructive and bothersome within no time. If you have flowers, vegetables, or fruits growing in your garden, then you need a way of protecting it against these animals.

Different ways to protect your garden from squirrels exist. Choose the most appropriate one which is legal in your state or country.

State laws protect wild animals such as squirrels. So, countercheck that the squirrel control method you are about to use is legal.

We will discuss ways of keeping your garden safe from possible damages that squirrels can cause.

We present different methods and best alternatives, just in case others do not work for you. Keep reading to find all you need about squirrel control.

Solutions To Protect Your Garden From Squirrels

There are effective methods of keeping squirrels at bay. If you value your garden, then you need to take the initiative of protecting it against these invading animals.

Among the methods to consider include constructing physical barriers, using repellents, setting traps, etc

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We will explain each of these in detail. Keep reading for more information on how these methods work and how to implement them in your garden.

Use Physical Barriers

Using physical barriers to keep squirrels out of your garden is the most eco-friendly way of controlling them.

It is a simple procedure that locks their path into the garden. The following are some of the ways to achieve it.

Besides squirrels, humans have used barriers to keep other animals such as chickens, goats, etc … out of their property for thousand of years and it always works perfectly.

A Wire Fence

You can protect your garden or valued plant from damage by squirrels. But before doing this, you need to confirm that your property is infested by these animals.

Observe if there are droppings, freshly dug earth, or plants chewed. These signs will confirm the statement, and hence, necessitate further action.

A wire fence is like any other fencing. The idea behind it is to stop the squirrels from accessing your garden.

You might need to fence the entire homestead or just the garden only. Use a quarter-inch galvanized wire mesh to make the fencing.

On the list of things you need, we have fencing posts, nails, and wire mesh. Dig holes for the posts all around the area to be protected and erect the poles.

Nail the wire mesh on the posts to form a physical barrier. Since squirrels can dig, bury the mesh at least two inches into the soil.

Tight-Fitting Trash Cans

Squirrels are vegetarians but can eat almost anything when they get hungry. They will raid your trash can for food leftovers and anything else edible.

Once they realize that they can get something from your trash can, they will keep on coming.

The best way to keep squirrels away from your trash cans is by keeping the lid tight. But there are still other things you can do to make this method more effective.

The first approach is by sorting out your wastes. Keep food-related refuse and packets in a trash can with a tight lid and others in a different trash can.

The second approach is by keeping the can in a secluded or enclosed area. Think of your garage or shed as a possibility. Since these are small areas, you can close them or fence them with wire mesh to keep squirrels at bay.

The third and last approach is taking your trash can out in the morning on the trash collection day. This will avoid inviting squirrels and other rodents to your home at night. But remember to close the lid tight.

Aluminum Foil

Squirrels do not only chew the nuts and leaves of your garden plants. These notorious animals can also damage decks, houses, trees, and other wooden structures within your property.

Aluminum foil or aluminum flashing can help you to protect these vulnerable places.

Aluminum flashing is available in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Visit the nearest hardware store and buy an appropriate piece.

An L-shaped aluminum piece is preferred for protecting square edges, while the flexible aluminum foil is best for rounded surfaces.

Identify vulnerable areas, including wooden fences and trees. Wrap the foil around these features to protect them from further damage by squirrels. The aluminum foil also prevents the squirrels from climbing up the structure.

Use Natural Repellents

Natural repellents can help you keep squirrels out of your garden. There are many ways of doing this, and these are the commonly used methods:

Urine

Human urine can help keep squirrels away from your garden. But how does that happen? Urine is rich in urea. This turns into ammonia after about 24 hours. This is the smell that rodents such as squirrels and raccoons hate.

Urine is an effective rodent repellent that you can use to protect your vegetables or flowers in the backyard garden.

Use a urine sprayer to spray the urine around the garden you want to protect from squirrel-related damages.

Mix urine and water in the ratio of 1:10. This helps in controlling the odor and harm that urea in the urine can cause to your plants.

Only use fresh urine and a spray bottle or any container set aside only for this. You can label it to avoid confusion. Also, re-spray after rainfall or irrigation.

Human Hair

People have found a clever way of using human hair at last! Squirrels cannot withstand the odor from human hair. This makes it a crucial tool in deterring squirrels from damaging your garden.

Human hair clippings are spread around the garden or mixed with soil to protect the tubers and bulbs.

However, you should not rely on this method in the long term. Its effectiveness declines rapidly, often taking just six days or shorter during the rainy season.

Spice Out With Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper or chili pepper is very effective as a squirrel repellent. You can plant the flowers in your garden or use them to make a repellent solution, which you can spray on your garden.

This might not be a very kind approach to controlling squirrels if you put yourself in their shoes. They can transfer the hot pepper into the eyes, causing irritations or temporary blindness. But it is a risk worth taking to protect your garden.

Squirrels will try to avoid places where they encounter the hot pepper. Whether they eat it from your garden or just get into contact with the repellant made of pepper.

To protect your bulbs and tubers from being eaten by squirrels, spray cayenne powder or chili flakes on the garden.

Prepare a chili sauce and smear it on the vulnerable wooden structures to prevent squirrels from chewing them.

You can also make a squirrel deterrent spray by simmering cayenne powder, fresh pepper, or chili flakes in water. You can spray this on your garden.

Garlic Sprays

Garlic sprays are also effective in keeping squirrels away from your garden and home. Garlic or onion produces a smell that these troublesome rodents do not like.

It is easy to make garlic spray. Just grind the garlic and add water to it. Mix thoroughly until all smell is transferred into the water. Filter the solution and spray it on your garden.

Peppermint Essential Oil

Squirrels are not naturally attracted to spicy foods. They will avoid the strong smell. That is what makes this an effective repellent.

This oil can be extracted from garlic, red pepper, thyme, lemongrass, cinnamon, and clove.

You need some peppermint essential oil and cotton balls. Soak the balls in the oil and strategically place them around your garden.

This approach is effective in deterring squirrels as long as the oil still produces the scent that they hate.

Plant Flowers

You do not have to struggle with the repellent or barriers to control squirrels. Just plant flowers in your garden to deter them away.

This is far more effective than using other approaches we have discussed here because the flowers add beauty to your garden.

Plants such as daffodils, hyacinth, geraniums, lily-of-the-valley, Galanthus, fritillaries, alliums, and others are effective squirrels repellent.

Use the best flower plants that repel squirrels in your garden to effortlessly control the squirrels.

Scaring Them

Scaring squirrels is also an alternative. Cats, dogs, or dummies are effective in keeping these destructive rodents at bay.

Dogs and cats will not just give them peace of mind when they invade your garden. Squirrels will not return to a place where they are scared of.

Alternatively, you can make objects that produce sound. This will give them the wrong information that you are awake, just like the dummies do.

Remove Things That Attract Squirrels

You might be the reason why squirrels have all migrated from the wilderness to your home. Some things naturally attract them, and you need to identify all these things and remove them.

Corns or grains on the ground will quickly attract squirrels. Using bird feeders with some food spilling on the ground is also another way of inviting these rodents to your home.

If you plant nuts in your garden or leave trash cans open, then you should blame yourself.

Remove all these things that will naturally draw squirrels from the wild to your home. Once these rodents know that they get food in your home, stopping them from coming is not easy.

And if they don’t get that food, they will start destroying structures.

If Prevention Fails Then Catch Squirrels

Squirrels can keep coming to your garden despite all the efforts to keep them away. Should you lose hope?

No! There is one last shot, and that is catching them. You can catch squirrels using different techniques. These include:

Catch Squirrels By Blanket And Hand

Step 1: Set Bait In A Area To Attract The Squirrel

Use any food such as nuts or bulbs that rodents like to lure them. You will strike when the squirrel’s attention is drawn to the food.

Step 2: Put On A Thick Pair Of Work Gloves

Squirrels’ nails are lethal weapons that can cause injuries to you. Protect yourself as much as possible and avoid touching it with bare hands.

Step 3: Approach And Throw The Blanket Over The Squirrel

Once the squirrel starts feasting on the bait, time it and take bold action. Throw your blanket over it as fast as you can, or it will jump away before your very own eyes.

Step 4: Roll The Blanket Up To Trap The Squirrel

Act with speed and roll the blanket to cover the squirrel. You can decide what to do with your catch on your catch depending on the state laws.

Catch Squirrels By A Live Trap

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Step 1: Buy A Live Squirrels Trap

A live squirrel trap offers a safer and more effective way of catching squirrels. Visit the nearby store to buy one.

Step 2: Set Bait For The Squirrel

Again, look for the squirrels’ favorite to attract them. This food will be the bait that lures them to the trap.

Step 3: Try To “Chum” The Squirrels To Attract

Do anything possible to attract the squirrels to your home. Also, remove other possible food from your garden or homestead to increase the chances of squirrels moving straight into the trap.

Step 4: Set The Trap

Set your squirrel trap ready for the action. You should be taught how to do it from the store where you bought it. Alternatively, read the manual if it has one.

Step 5: Check The Trap

Check your trap the following morning if you had any success. You should have at least one squirrel trapped if they have been coming to your garden.

You Can Cook A Squirrel

After catching a squirrel, you can turn it into a delicious meal to complement your off-grid food source.

Squirrel meat is edible in many parts of the world, and it is nutritious, just like all other meats. You can fry, grill, or prepare stew, depending on your preferences.

Steps To Fry Squirrel

Prepare Materials

• 2 Cleaned Squirrels (Cut into Strips)
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 Cup Flour
• 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• Frying Oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Wash and place the squirrel pieces in a large saucepan and cover with water.
2. Dry it with paper towels to remove extra moisture.
3. Mix the flour, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and a few pinches of salt and black pepper in a bowl. If you want to plant and grow a black pepper at home, we have it here.
4. Pour oil into a frying pan and heat over medium heat.
5. Dredge the squirrel pieces in the flour mixture.
6. Cook while turning until the breading is golden brown.
7. Serve with mashed potatoes, corn, or green beans.

Steps To Stew Squirrel

Prepare Materials

• 1 Cleaned Squirrel (1/2-Inch Pieces)
• 1/2 Cup Flour
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• Water
• 1 Teaspoon Thyme
• 1 Cup Potatoes (1/2-Inch Pieces)
• 1 Cup Fresh Corn
• 2 Onions (Chopped)
• 2 Cups Canned Tomatoes w/Juice (Chopped)
• Salt
• Pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix the flour and a few pinches of salt and pepper in a bowl and dredge the squirrel meat chunks in the mixture.
2. Melt the butter in the pot or Dutch oven.
3. Place the squirrel pieces in the pot and cook for two to three minutes or until they turn brown.
4. Cover the squirrel pieces with seven cups of water.
5. Add the thyme, potatoes, corn, onions, tomatoes, and a pinch of salt and pepper and heat the mixture under medium heat to boil.
6. Reduce the heat and cook for two hours or until the meat becomes soft.
7. Serve with bread or any favorite.

Steps To Grill Squirrel

Prepare Materials

• 1(Or More) Cleaned Squirrels – Cut into Four Pieces
• Salt
• Water
• Pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the squirrel pieces in a large nonreactive bowl and add water to cover them.
2. Add salt, cover the bowl, and refrigerate overnight (soaking is optional when you want to grill over a fire).
3. Set up the grill, light it, and wait until you get steady heat.
4. Drain the squirrel meat and season with salt and pepper.
5. Put the squirrel pieces on the grill and cook for one hour or until the meat is cooked while turning the pieces from time to time.

Warning

• Always check the wildlife laws in your state before trapping a squirrel.
• The best time of year to trap a squirrel is either in late spring or early winter.
• When trapping a squirrel outdoors, anchor your trap or place a heavy object on the top of the trap to prevent another animal from tipping it over and stealing the bait.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this article on the Em Offgrid. We discussed ways of keeping squirrels out of your garden, catching them, and finally preparing the meat.

We hope this information is useful, and we urge you to read other posts on off-grid survival ways.