How to Deter Grey Squirrels

Grey squirrels can be a nightmare for gardeners, and you need to take action to protect your plants. There are several ways to deter these birds from destroying your precious crops. You can frighten them off, or use cages and feeders that are designed for the purpose.

Protect your plants

Grey squirrels can be a nuisance to gardeners. The grey squirrel is imported from the US and is legally classed as an invasive species in the UK. Squirrels are known for raiding beds and digging up bulbs.

Fortunately, there are some natural ways to protect your plants from squirrels. One of the easiest ways to deter squirrels from destroying your garden is to spray a repellent on the plants. You can buy a commercial product or make one yourself.

Another natural way to deter squirrels is to use cayenne pepper. This hot pepper contains capsaicin, a substance that squirrels dislike. If you sprinkle the pepper over the plants, squirrels will avoid the area. Alternatively, you can add some cayenne to the soil of the plant.

You can also protect your plants with netting or a fence. A cage placed over the entire bed of your plant will discourage squirrels. Also, consider securing your bulbs with metal mesh.

A cage can be made by hand or bought in varying sizes. It should be about eight to twelve inches below the soil.

A fruit cage can also be used to protect your fruit. Bird netting is especially effective, as it can be woven over a large area. These can be purchased from a home improvement store or at your local garden center.

You can also create a cage by attaching chicken wire to the sides of your plants. Chicken wire will keep squirrels from digging into your plants.

Squirrel-proof your feeders

If you are having problems with grey squirrels at your bird feeder, you are not alone. Squirrels can be annoying because they can enter your house through the windows or roof. They can also damage your bird feeder.

In order to keep grey squirrels from gaining access to your bird feeders, you need to take the following precautions. First, you should ensure that your feeder is hung at a reasonable height. Usually, you need to hang it at least five feet off the ground. This will make it more difficult for squirrels to climb.

You should also clean underneath the feeder. Squirrels like to chew on woodwork and your feeder could be damaged. It is best to keep your bird seed in a container that is chew proof.

Another effective way to keep squirrels away from your feeders is to use a squirrel baffle. These devices can be homemade or purchased.

A dome-shaped baffle looks like an upside-down serving bowl. The curved edges and steep curves will discourage squirrels from climbing. Baffles can be purchased online or at your local home improvement store.

A plastic tubing is another deterrent. Place it around the pole of your bird feeder. Use petroleum jelly on the tubing to discourage the squirrels.

Lastly, consider purchasing a caged bird feeder. A caged feeder is normally a seed or suet feeder. It will keep the squirrels out, and other birds from feeding there.

Use fruit cages

If you’re wondering how to protect fruit trees from squirrels, you’re not alone. Squirrels are a nuisance to many homeowners and if you’re looking for a way to deter them, there are a few different strategies to consider.

One option is to use a cage to cover your fruit. These can be as big or as small as you need them to be. You can purchase cages that range from waist high to tall enough for you to stand inside.

Squirrels can also be discouraged from attacking your trees by putting up bird netting around them. It’s important to make sure the netting is tightly stretched.

Grey squirrels can damage your trees by eating bark off the branches. They can also eat buds and young shoots. This can lead to wood-rotting fungi.

Another way to discourage squirrels is by growing plants that repel them. These can include geraniums, mint, nasturtiums, and marigolds.

Bird netting can also be used to keep squirrels from eating your fruit. However, it’s best to use metal mesh, not plastic. Also, if you don’t want to invest in a cage, you can use chicken wire to protect the tree trunk and stem.

There are also several squirrel repellent sprays you can make. Some are simple, like a mixture of water, vinegar, and hot sauce. Others have a strong scent, like garlic and pepper.

Creating a food station for squirrels is another way to discourage them from eating your plants. Make sure to place the food station in a separate area from your planting beds.

Grow food plants

If you are having a problem with grey squirrels, there are a number of ways to discourage them. These methods can help you save your plants.

Squirrels are known to raid plants and bird feeders. Their food preferences include nuts, seeds, and fruits. Often they will nibble on leaves, or leave part of a tomato or fruit behind.

One of the easiest ways to deter a squirrel is to plant an edible, squirrel-resistant plant. Many gardeners grow extra tomatoes to keep these critters away from their crop. Other ways to discourage them are to build a cage or use a netting. You can also plant companion plants that will repel squirrels.

Some common food plants that are not eaten by squirrels include daffodils, snowdrops, lily of the valley, and bulbs. They also dislike garlic, nasturtiums, and mint. Adding a mulch around your bulb plants will disguise their scent.

Another way to deter squirrels is to place a dish of water around your crops. Squirrels enjoy a good snack, so placing a water dish near your crops will discourage them.

Another effective method is to use motion-activated air blasters. The squirrels are drawn to the sound and you can scare them off.

In addition, if your area is prone to grey squirrels, consider purchasing a humane trap. Squirrels are nocturnal creatures and will lay low in the winter. This will allow you to get rid of the problem without risking your pets.

Frighten them off

Grey squirrels can be a nuisance in your garden. They’re smart animals, adept at finding food and shelter. Their presence can be troublesome, as they can wreak havoc on trees, fruit, and other wildlife. Luckily, there are a few ways you can frighten grey squirrels away.

First, you’ll want to make it hard for squirrels to enter your home. Ideally, you’ll want to close all holes and gaps in your home. You’ll also want to place a mesh guard on the chimney.

If the squirrels are already inside your home, you’ll need to find an escape route. You can use a live trap, or you can set a rope through the chimney.

If you’re a bit more adventurous, you can also scare them off with sound and smell. Some flowers have a strong odor that will deter squirrels. For example, hyacinths and cleomes have a scent that is similar to that of skunks.

If you’re worried about your pets, you can spray your yard with hot sauce. It should be diluted with water. Do not use it around children, though.

Squirrels are very sensitive to high-pitched frequencies. This means that a rock concert will not only be an unpleasant experience, but it may even cause a squirrel to become scared of it.

If you’re not into using chemicals, you can also try making a repellent spray out of vinegar and garlic. Mix the two ingredients together and spray it on fences, stakes, or the leaves of plants. Repeat the process once a week.

Watch out for breakable containers

Squirrels can cause a lot of trouble in your garden. They can strip plants of leaves, roots, and bulbs. Additionally, they can also damage your roof. This can lead to costly repairs and potentially damaging your property.

There are many ways to get rid of these pesky critters. You can use rodent poison, repellents, or other humane methods.

If you want to keep squirrels from entering your yard, you might consider installing fences and netting. You can also cover up holes and gaps in your roof with steel netting.

Using a squirrel repellent will also work. These products take advantage of the fact that squirrels are naturally afraid of predators. Some include predator noises, flashing lights, and ultrasonic soundwaves.

Another easy way to deter squirrels is to sprinkle hot pepper around your plant beds. The capsaicin found in pepper has a deterrent effect on squirrels.

Squirrels can also be deterred using human hair. Put some on the base of your plants or in your bird feeder.

A humane trap is also an effective means of getting rid of these critters. However, be careful not to step on any of the traps. Similarly, plastic nets are not completely effective at keeping squirrels out.

Another good method is to use human hair in your bird feeder. This not only will attract the attention of the squirrels, it will also discourage them from taking the food.