They don’t hibernate, so tree nests are perfect for them. They have a strong instinct to store food, which helps them survive during these months.
Squirrels can be a nuisance to gardeners because they are playful and extremely agile. It can be difficult to keep squirrels out of your garden, but with patience and a smart strategy, you can do it. Read on to find out how!
ARE SQUIRRELS BAD FOR YOUR GARDEN?
Squirrels may look adorable as they scamper around your yard, but these tiny rodents can cause major problems.
TREE DAMAGE
Squirrels are known to chew on branches and scrape the bark of neighboring trees as well as the foundation of the tree. In addition to aesthetic problems, excessive chewing can cause stress to the tree. Continuous bark stripping can even destroy an entire tree in some cases, especially those with woody plants and young shoots.
DISEASES AND PARASITES
Most squirrels do not live much longer than 3 years, as they are commonly carriers of parasites and diseases. Ticks, lice, and mange are examples of diseases and parasites carried by many native squirrels.
DESTRUCTION OF PLANTS
Squirrels are always looking for food. They pose a serious threat to any flowers or plants you grow, including daffodil bulbs, as they dig to eat the cambium. Since squirrels are constantly looking for food, they also damage lawns.
FOOD THEFT
Squirrels frequently steal fresh, ripe fruits and vegetables from your garden or organic farm for their own consumption. The constant search for squirrels decreases the total production of fruits, crops and nuts, which is a major problem for family farms.
DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME
Squirrels in the yard sometimes enter homes through electrical cables or overhanging tree branches.
In this case, the presence of squirrels increases the risks of rodent intrusion, pests and diseases in a house, not to mention the structural damage caused to the residence because, when building their den, squirrels gnaw electrical cables and furniture, and sometimes get stuck in the building.
7 GARDENING TIPS FOR A PERFECT LAWN
HOW CAN I KEEP SQUIRRELS OUT OF MY GARDEN?
The popular gray squirrel, which weighs 16 to 24 ounces, is probably the type of squirrel that damages your yard. It can also be light brown or dark brown in color. It has a body length of 11 to 13 feet and a maximum width of 10 to 15 inches.
You may recognize them by their shaggy tails, a type of fur they use to keep warm. Squirrels have a keen sense of taste, which most gardeners attribute to their bulb-stealing activities. Squirrel-proofing your garden is primarily aimed at saving spring bulbs, since bulb theft by rodents is a real and widespread problem.
THE DISADVANTAGES OF HAVING SQUIRRELS IN YOUR GARDEN
Are your spring bulbs being eaten? Squirrels, meerkats or wild pigs are most likely the culprits. Squirrels love to dig up spring bulbs during their fall hunt, both to eat the flowers and to hide their snacks in.
Squirrels can also be detected if you notice that some of the plants in your garden are destroyed or missing. Squirrels are known to steal juicy foods from crops like tomatoes, berries, peppers, eggplants, and apples. Surprisingly, they don’t always eat them all!?
You may catch squirrels scratching at the soil in pots if you raise plants and vegetables in pots. Squirrels and meerkats have also been known to raid containers for insects or other treats, uprooting crops in the process.
Squirrels don’t just attack your plants, but also your fruit trees. You probably have problems with squirrels if you notice that the bird food that comes from the plants is quickly running out.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR SPRAY
Squirrels are turned off by the smoky taste and aroma of apple cider vinegar. In squirrel-infested areas, it is used to spray floors and even appliances. This spray is designed for use on hard floors.
