Squirrels are tree-dwelling rodents with massive bushy tails that are notorious for digging. They will frequently explore the floor for any nuts and seeds they might discover and bury them for later use when food sources become scarce.
Although many people think of squirrels as beautiful little animals, they can cause quite havoc by digging up your plants. But how do I keep squirrels from digging up my plants?
A dog is one natural way of preventing squirrels from digging up your plants. This is because dogs are predators that chase squirrels away.
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Are Squirrels Dangerous to Plants?
While we have established that squirrels can damage your garden and plants, you might wonder if the pests are hazardous.
Because squirrels are rodents, many people believe they contain diseases that can be transmitted to humans. That, however, is not the case. Squirrels are excellent environmental indicators.
So, unless you've been bitten by a squirrel or come into contact with squirrel poo, there's no need to be concerned about disease.
However, the damage they cause to lawns can be rather bothersome. Not only will the holes dug by squirrels ruin your entire yard's landscape, but they will also affect your soil and plants.
Squirrels are also known to gnaw through the cables that power outdoor lighting and other electrical utilities.
And if they abandon their tunnels, other pests, such as gophers and moles, may move in. If this occurs, the tunnel system will expand, resulting in even more ugly lumps of soil on your lawn, among other issues.
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How Do I Keep Squirrels from Digging Up My Plants?
We'll look at a variety of squirrel deterrents to prevent squirrels from digging up your plant.
1. Get a Dog
A dog is a wonderful deterrent to squirrels since they are less likely to be around while the dog is present. Along with the presence of dogs, squirrels find the smell of the dogs’ urine repulsive.
2. Get a Fake Owl
This is also another effective way to get rid of squirrels from your garden. Get yourself a fake owl and move it around the garden regularly.
Owls are natural predators of squirrels, and they will avoid an area if they believe an owl is watching them.
3. Fox Scent
Foxes are squirrel predators. It follows that the scent of a fox can be enough to keep squirrels at a distance and out of your garden.
Fox fragrance can be gotten in most garden shops and also on Amazon. Sprinkle the fox fragrance on the grass to make squirrels think twice about burying their food in your garden.
4. Wire Mesh
If squirrels are digging up your flower beds in search of bulbs, putting some wire mesh may be the way to go. To keep squirrels away from the bulbs, lay wire mesh over the flower bed before the first branches sprout.
The good news is that your plants and flowers will be unaffected because they will continue to grow regardless.
5. Strong Smells
Squirrels have a keen sense of smell and are immediately repelled when they detect anything they dislike.
Squirrels despise chilies and garlic, and you may easily produce a natural treatment to sprinkle on your grass. Boil some garlic and chilies, combine them together, then spray heavily over the lawn.
Related Post: What Flowers Do Squirrels Hate?
6. Electronic Gadgets
There are a variety of electronic, motion-activated devices that have been shown to keep squirrels from digging in your lawn.
The success of these devices is entirely dependent on you, as they are not a simple "turn it on and leave it" device. You will need to move the device around to prevent squirrels from coming close to your garden.
If you utilize a combination of noise and water and trigger them at different times, the squirrel will most likely locate a safer place to dig.
How to Keep Squirrels Away from Your Garden
There are a few more things you should consider to keep squirrels out of your garden. Below are some of these tips:
1. Dispose of Garbage
Squirrels will absolutely scavenge what they can! Digging through your garbage cans isn't just for cats and foxes; squirrels will do it as well.
If you have a squirrel problem, you should utilize a wheelie bin or a trash closet so that no animals may rummage through your garbage hunting for crumbs.
2. Maintain the Lawn
Acorns are one of a squirrel's favorite foods. If you have an oak tree, it will drop acorns, which the squirrel will love to pick and store for the winter. Ensure that when your oak tree drops its seeds, you remove them as soon as possible.
3. Get Rid of Bird Feeders
Bird foods are especially appealing to squirrels since they typically contain the nuts and seeds that squirrels enjoy eating.
Related Post: Will Mothballs Keep Squirrels Out Of Flower Pots?
