Aaaauuugggghhhh!!! Squirrels?

Question

Any ideas for keeping squirrels from digging out the bulbs from my garden? Aside from staking out my beds with a pellet gun or slingshot....

I'd like to state for the record that, while I respect their right to existence, I cannot reconcile myself with these nasty, mean, thieving, destructive little God's creatures digging up the flora that my children and I work so hard to cultivate.

Answer 1

I had the same problem a few years back. This sounds a little weird, but after I did this it was "bye bye squirrels." What you do is take a container of cayenne pepper and sprinkle it over the garden. Don't worry, it won't harm the plants or the squirrels. Whenever the squirrels dig through your garden it will be like snorting cayenne pepper up their noses. This obviously causes irritation, and they will leave like that. Hot sauce will have the same affect with causing irritation, but when the liquid soaks through the soil I noticed that it had a negative outcome on some of my plants. I would just go with the pepper.

Answer 2

Blend blood meal into the soil around the bulbs to deter squirrels from digging and eating the bulbs. Voles are bigger problems for me 'cause the little beggars tunnel for them from underneath. Be sure to mulch it or it may attract dogs, racoons or others.

The trick for me is to plant them deep enough, at least 8 inches down. Another good deterrent is to put about an inch of gravel over the bulbs before you finish filling the hole in. The bulbs will grow through it OK, but the squirrels won't want to dig in it.

Plant covers are also effective against squirrel damage to bulbs. Chicken wire flat on the soil marks the planting site and prevents digging.

A diluted solution of hot sauce (one tablespoon hot sauce to one gallon water) misted on the soil and bulbs is another effective deterrent.

I believe squirrels get blamed for much that voles may be doing. Voles are rodents, eating both plant material and some insects. The Townsend meadow vole makes tunnels but also cruises on the soil surface. The little creeping meadow vole is more apt to stay underground, often sharing mole tunnels.
As insectivores, moles eat worms, slugs and bugs, including many garden pests. Though they favor prey that moves, moles also relish slug eggs, juicy tidbits that look rather like pop beads. Though plants seldom attract foraging moles, an occasional Townsend's mole may eat tulip bulbs. However, most moles will refuse them even when the bulbs are offered to them in cages.

Answer 3

When you plant your bulbs, get some hardware cloth with about one inch squares, and when you dig the hole place the hardware cloth over the bulbs and cover with dirt. The hardware cloth is not cloth, it is like fencing with small holes. you can get it at any hardware store. You will have to cut it with snippers for each bunch of bulbs that you plant. The squirrels can't chew through it though. Good luck, pain in the butt, aren't they?

Answer 4

Pellet guns or a Slingshot!?How nice--they are creatures,too,who feel pain like we do.

Plant daffodil bulbs,instead next autumn--animals dislike the taste of them.

Answer 5

You can place moth balls around the flower beds. You can also make a mixture to spray on the flowers.
1 small bottle hot sauce
1 gallon water
1 tsp mild dish liquid (helps the mix stay on the plants)

Answer 6

squirrels are super cute!!!
I have an idea, at places like lowes, home depot, & walmart... they have these thing that r squirrel feeders that u put on the ground & they get on and it is super fun 2 watch! its so cute, jus put it near ur garden, & they should go after it instead =)