As an experienced nature lover and squirrel observer, I know firsthand the challenges of protecting your vegetable garden from these hungry critters. Do squirrels eat vegetable garden? After years of research and observation, I can confidently say that:
Squirrels do eat vegetable gardens, mostly the vegetables and fruits that are ripe or close to ripening. They particularly enjoy corn, tomatoes, apples, pears, nuts, and berries. They also eat flowers and their buds for nutrition.
Yes, squirrels may not just be passing by in your yard, they can be a serious challenge for vegetable gardens. However there are ways to protect your garden from them! In this blog post, I’ll share my insights on how to keep these unwanted guests away from your precious veggies!
Do Squirrels Eat Vegetable Garden and Nibble On Veggies?
Squirrels are often seen as cute furry animals, but when it comes to your vegetable garden, they can be a major nuisance. While the answer to the question “do squirrels eat veggies” is yes, there’s more to know about controlling a squirrel infestation in your yard or garden. From identifying signs of a squirrel problem and preventing them from finding their way into your produce patch to advise on cleaning up any mess left behind, this guide will help you protect your garden from these unwanted guests.
What Do Squirrels Eat?
Squirrels are omnivorous creatures that consume nutriment from both plants and animals. Most of a squirrel’s diet consists of nuts, seeds, vegetation patches such as leafy green vegetables and fruits like apples or pears. In certain areas where food is scarce, such as some suburban yards during winter months, they may feast on produce in horticulture beds for sustenance.
As part of their seasonal food-gathering habits, they also stash away grains for leaner times by burying them underground or in hollow trees for safekeeping.
Why Worry About Squirrels in the Garden?
The presence of squirrels can cause extensive damage to crops due to digging up holes and burrows around gardens or consuming herbage cultivated areas directly. They will often climb vines in pursuit of fruit or dig into root systems while searching for nuts.
Both activities disrupt fragile soil beds that have been carefully nurtured over time by gardeners who use traditional organic methods of gardening.
Furthermore, given that most people do not want their gardens destroyed by rodents taking refuge on their property, trying to keep these uninvited guests out is essential for preserving the fruits (or vegetables) of one’s labor!
Identifying Signs of a Squirrel Infestation
It can be tricky to identify if there are indeed squirrels present since they tend to stay hidden during daylight hours – but there are several telltale signs that may suggest an infestation is at hand:
1. Chewing Damage to Plants, Fruits, and Vegetables
One obvious sign would be gnawing marks made on shoots, leaves, fruit, and other vegetation. Squirrel teeth can cause considerable damage should they choose to make an evening snack out of whatever edible items catch their eye. These bites may leave offshoot splinter pieces which can spread disease throughout entire plants.
2. Digging Holes and Burrows Around Your Garden Beds
Another surefire indicator would be dug up dirt mounds found around certain areas surrounding one’s garden beds. If you find heavy furrow piles randomly strewn about without any visible explanation then chances are high squirreling activities were carried out earlier. There could also be scattered garbage waste indicative that rodents spent some time rummaging through compost bins looking for tasty morsels!
How to Keep Squirrels Away From Your Garden
Preventing squirrels from ravaging your vegetable garden takes dedication and a bit of luck, but luckily there are several steps you can take to insure the little critters don’t nab your produce. Read ahead for some tips on how to protect your garden from these unwanted guests.
1. Use Fences and Barriers to Deter Entry
Fencing is one of the best ways to keep squirrels at bay as they cannot climb or dig through solid barriers. A simple fence made out of chicken wire will be enough to stop them in their tracks; however, taller fences such as those meant for deer are also recommended. It’s important that the fence is securely installed so make sure it’s staked into the ground firmly.
2. Motion-Activated Sprinklers
Adding a motion activated spray device onto the fence may provide an additional layer of protection against furry burglars, although this option can be pricey. Plus, if you have any four-legged friends who like to sunbathe near the fence line, you may want to avoid this option.
3. Grow Unappealing Food & Naturally Deterrent Plants
Squirrels don’t go for veggies they find unappealing. To protect your garden, you can try growing plants they don’t usually like. Garlic and onions are an excellent choice as squirrels do not enjoy their scent. Planting marigolds around the garden will also deter them, as they really dislike its pungent smell!
Naturally deterrent plants such as chili peppers and garlic can be planted around or mixed in with other types of vegetables in order to create an uninviting scent and taste for would-be diners. Alternatively, if planting peppers isn’t ideal for your soil type, you can always grow them indoors.
- Choose varieties high in capsaicin content —Cayenne, ThaiHot Birds Eye and Habanero peppers all have higher capsaicin levels than most others!
- Plant more diverse varieties —Squirrels might pick up on one variety easier than another; opt for different shapes, colors and forms of chili peppers.
4. Repellent Spray
Using hot pepper wax or a spray of cayenne pepper over foliage may help keep these critters away from your garden for good. You can create the squirrel repellent spray DIY or purchase some of the commercially available options.
Other commercially available sprays can also employ predator’s urine, such as coyote and others. Those can also be effective squirrel deterrents if you are ok to spray them around.
Just remember to spray the repellent regularly because it will be easily washed away by the rain.
Here’s an extremely effective natural repellent based on mint:
5. Coffee Grounds
Squirrels don’t like the smell of coffee grounds, so you can put those around your garden and mix them with the soil to deter squirrels. Moreover, coffee grounds will also act as a fertilizer.
6. Offer Alternative Food & Water
A counterintuitive trick to keep squirrels away from your veggies is to offer them food and fresh water somewhere near your house but far enough from your vegetables garden.
Once the squirrels will start noticing that there is a constant supply of threats and freshwater over there, they are less likely to enter your garden, especially if you couple this with some additional deterrent. Squirrels will prefer the food and water option which requires them less effort.
Important: don’t underestimate the importance of providing them with fresh water, because, especially in the hot summer, they may be eating your vegetables just because they are thirsty!
7. Use Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders and Unsavory Seed
Keep them away with squirrel-proof bird feeders and unpleasant-tasting seed. Bird feeders can be found at most hardware or pet stores and are designed to keep the squirrels out while still allowing birds to access the food. To deter squirrels, use seeds that have an unpleasant taste such as hot pepper, which they won’t eat. You can also buy pre-treated birdseed mixes or make your own with cayenne pepper.
8. Keep Your Yard And Garden Tidy
Regularly cleaning up dead leaves, twigs and branches not only limits hiding spots but can reduce food sources too by removing potential nesting sites. Additionally by tidying away piles of broken eggs shells or corncobs regularly – no squirrels will ever know leftovers were there in first place! Be sure not erase evidence like nuts before they become edible though – else what’s left behind could easily go unnoticed by unsuspecting visitors!
9. Employ A Watch Dog (Or Cat!)
While no pet can completely prevent all rodent intruders – having a guard dog (or cat!) around your property has been found effective by many home owners. Despite being domesticated animals – cats still have natural hunting instincts while dogs give off territorial smells which tell trespassers “stay away”. Training both pets regularly never hurts either – so when problem arises they quickly react with utmost confidence!
10. Decoy Predators
Squirrels also have many natural predators, so they are always very alert about their surroundings. One harmless way to keep squirrels from entering your vegetable garden is to place some decoys of predators around it. Try placing a owl decoy somewhere close to your garden and where squirrels can clearly see it, this will deter them for a while.
Just remember to move the decoy around and place it in different spots or after some time the furry critters may notice that it is not a real owl.
11. Ultrasound & Lights
Ultrasonic devices and lights are both effective tools for protecting your trees from unwanted visitors. Ultrasonic devices emit high-frequency sound waves that can scare away squirrels and other animals, while motion-activated lights can startle them with a bright flash of light when they enter an area. These solutions are easy to install and provide long-lasting protection for your trees.
12. Trapping & Relocating the Squirrels
As a last resort option, you may also consider trapping and releasing the squirrels in a different area.Trapping and relocating squirrels may be necessary if other methods of discouraging their presence are unsuccessful.
Live traps baited with foods like peanuts or sunflower seeds prove very successful in trapping them for relocation away from gardens where they will no longer cause damage to crops or flowers.
WARNING: Always check local laws before attempting any type of trapping on your property. Some states in the USA and Canada may have regulations regarding animal relocation.
Once trapped, take extra care when transporting wildlife, choose containers designed specifically for animals and make sure you release them as far away from residential areas as possible.
Finally, consider hiring professional pest control specialists for the job. This will ensure compliance with any additional regulations that may exist in your State.
Conclusion
Do squirrels eat vegetable garden? It’s clear that do squirrels eat vegetables, as evidenced by their diet and habit of raiding gardens. However, with the right knowledge and appropriate preventative measures, you can keep these cute rodents away from your precious garden.
By following this guide to protecting your vegetable garden from squirrels, you can enjoy a thriving garden without worry. Invest in the right materials to keep them away, practice proper maintenance of your yard and garden beds, and provide other sources of food for these animals if necessary. Do it right and your vegetable garden will be safe!
You may also be interested in reading: