Desperate to Keep Squirrels out of my garden

usignuolo

The squirrels in my garden are driving me crazy. I recently put some tomatoes in pots out on the path to harden up and grow a bit more, and even though they were around nine inches high, every pot was turned up and scrabbled through. Last year they uprooted and ate all my bulbs except the daffodils and climbed my 12 foot sunflower, which was nowhere near a wall, and bit all the heads off.

I have tried one of the sonic scarers but it seems to have no impact on squirrels. I have asked gardeners I know and it seems the squirrels in my garden must be very aggressive as they do not have similar problems. Any suggestions?

(And please don't post that they are lovable creatures, if your garden is being destroyed by them such comments are not appreciated chez moi)).

Whitefiver

Assuming you are talking about grey squirrels, how about one of these, and a powerful air pistol to despatch the blighters?

They really ARE vermin, however bushy their tails!

Regards,

White.

usignuolo

Yes they are grey squirrels.

I have thought about air pistols and traps. In both cases I am concerned that if I clear out the existing varmints by killing or trapping, others will just take their place. (I assume squirrels are too daft to learn from experience of other squirrels).

I was wondering about something more permanent. Someone has recommended pepper dust to me or chilli powder. Anyone got any experience.? My garden is enclosed and I have no pets of my own, so anyone else's who venture in do so at their own risk.

ForkHandles_2

Hi,

I used to be plagued by grey squirrels although not to the extent you are. I'm pretty sure someone close to me has started using an air rifle as I hear 'noises i remember from my youth' every now and again. The squirrels haven't been a problem this year so I guess it works, although It will probably be an ongoing task.

I would comment that if you do go down the air rifle route then get a decent one like whitefiver said with a full 12 foot pounds of power to ensure a humane kill. I couldn't do it myself though .

I also heard (Urban myth???) that it's illegal to release grey squirrels, you have to kill them once caught.

Hope you sort 'em out.

FH

Whitefiver

ForkHandles wrote: »

I also heard (Urban myth???) that it's illegal to release grey squirrels, you have to kill them once caught.

Yes, I believe you are committing an offence if you "re-locate" them, once trapped. Also, as you rightly speculate, nature abhors a vacuum, and you will get squirrels coming in from the neighbourhood - you have to be persistent, but it does work.

Regards,

White.

RAS

Hi

In some parts of the country they are eradicating all greys. Trap and trap and trap. Eventually the numbers go down.

Plasticman

Something has been digging in a few of my pots recently and I suspect that the local squirrels are to blame. I had to put netting over my carrots as they kept getting dug up. I'm also worried that they will start of eat my blueberries when they arrive.

I can't shoot the squirrels though as the neighbours feed them and consider them almost as pets!!!!! I would rather keep my good neighbours and not have the blueberries!

olly300

I have the same problems with grey squirrels.

Firstly there is no point trapping and killing them as squirrels have territory and another squirrel will take it's place.

Secondly it's illegal in England and Wales to trap them and release them in the wild.

Finally the solutions to keep them at bay are:
1. Chilli powder - the hotter the better. (Buy it in bags that cost about a pound from Asda or an ethnic food store.) Sprinkle this on the soil of all pots you put outside. Commercial squirrel deterrents contain this ingredient as like if a human gets chilli in their eye it hurts squirrels in the same way, so they learn to avoid it. You must replace it when it rains or you water it off so I tend to water my pots from the bottom. A fine sprinkling does the trick.

2. Bulbs - all bulbs must be either:
a. planted under chicken wire i.e. all my daffodils, alliums and tulips are deep under chicken wire in pots or planted in chicken wire cages this has the affect that it stops foxes as well.
b. amongst evergreen vegetation as squirrels will dig up bare soil - for example my crocuses are planted in the grass and I have lilies planted amongst my fuschias.

3. Nearly planted - Anything newly planted must have chilli powder sprinkled on the soil around it and the leaves of the plant where ever it is until it's established. As they presume that there is something edible under dug up soil or mulch.

4. Flowers - if you find the heads of your flowers missing then either:
a. don't grow them for example I don't bother growing tulips or large sunflowers anymore as I have caught squirrels eating the heads of them but can grow crocuses,daffodils, alliums and nastrutiums as they don't like the taste. You may find a flower missing or see them bitting the head of flowers to see if they like them but after they have had one of these they don't do it again.

b. every time you water your plants or weekly, water with a garlic wash that is used keeps slugs and snails off. (You have to search for the mixture but it's on a few threads.) Wild animals don't like the taste of garlic.

5. Fruit and veg - anything edible they will try and eat unless they are grown under cover i.e. fleece, sprinkled with chilli or are chillies. So in the case of plants that are edible like tomatoes that are grown in pots you need to sprinkle chilli powder on the leaves and the soil of the plant. In some cases I've had to sprinkle chilli powder on the fleece but I couldn't work out whether it was the squirrels or foxes having a go.

Whitefiver

olly300 wrote: »

Secondly it's illegal in England and Wales to trap them and release them in the wild.

But NOT to trap and kill.

Regards,

White.

loobyloo2

I find most people that have traps set for squirrels, do this as they are damaging the 'inside ' of the house, not damaging plants in gardens.
Chilli powder sprinkled liberally over the plants you really want to protect is the best solution.
Sonic anything that you buy in the shops is just a complete waste of money.
Try not to feed them or give them an easy food source and they will go to pastures greener

tim_n

Air rifle + squirrel + tasty seasonings + pointy metal stick & heat = squirrel kebab

mmmm.