What Keeps Squirrels Away: How To Keep Squirrels Out Of Garden

A Squirrel In The Garden
(Image credit: Tommy Lee Walker)

If you have a yard, you have squirrels. Yes, that's right, even if you don't have trees! Sometimes the squirrels get so pesky that they will damage new crops and pop the buds on your flowers to get the seeds or tender insides of the bud. Or they may dig up your flower bulbs and corms. These things can damage your plants and ruin all the hard work you've put into your garden. If you are wondering how to keep squirrels out of gardens or how to get rid of squirrels, keep reading to find out more.

How to Keep Squirrels Out of Garden

So, what keeps squirrels away? There are some things you can do that will help with repelling squirrels. However, depending on where you live, you might find that these methods are truly inconvenient and inappropriate. For instance; shooting, trapping, or burrow fumigation can be appropriate out in the country, but if you live in the city, these are actions that might get you in trouble. What keeps squirrels away in some areas might not work in others, depending on the breed of squirrel you are dealing with. If these are ground squirrels you might want to try flooding their burrows. This keeps them away because they then have no home and need to find another. They will seek out drier ground and stay away from the area you have flooded. You can also try using a natural squirrel repellent, like predator urine or ground chili pepper. These will keep the squirrel pests away for at least a short period of time. Be aware though that any squirrel repellent eventually becomes ineffective as squirrels become use to it. Additionally, you can plant bulbs that squirrels don't like in areas where you do not want them.

How to Get Rid of Squirrels

If you are looking to kill squirrels, anticoagulant or acute toxin bait traps will accomplish that. They are a far cry from natural squirrel repellent, but they are a way to keep squirrels out of the garden. Just set up the traps and leave them alone. Timing is important for when you set them up. Right after hibernation is the best time to kill squirrels with this method. During this time food is scarce and the squirrels will easily accept the bait traps with the treats in them. If the climate is warmer and there is little hibernation, what gets rid of squirrels are the same type of traps but you may want to handle your control in late spring or early summer. If you are not keen to kill squirrels you can use live traps. A bait of peanut butter or sunflower seeds can be used. Once the squirrel is trapped, you can release it into an area where it will not cause damage to your garden. In some areas squirrels will hibernate in the summer during the peak heat season. This makes controlling squirrels ineffective because a lot of the population won't be around when you place the bait traps out. So time your job of repelling squirrels correctly to get the most effect out of natural squirrel repellent and bait traps.

Kathee Mierzejewski
Writer

Kathee Mierzejewski was with Gardening Know How in the very beginning, writing many of the site's foundational articles.