Monday, November 16, 2009

How to deter squirrels?

Squirrels eat buds of camellias and other plants in our garden. How to deter them?

How to deter squirrels?
The fuzzy tailed tree rats are crafty devils. They always find a way to get what they want. Just ask anybody who has tried to by a "squirrel proof" bird feeder.
Reply:Squirrels will get whatever they want unless you go to extreme measures. You can try a very noxious deterrent that is made from rotten eggs. i don't remember what it's called but there should be several on the market, sometimes marketed as deer repellent. i dipped my tulip bulbs in this and it worked. it is expensive and you have to use a lot, but it works. you will probably have to reapply when it rains a few times.
Reply:I would not deter them i would just plant flowers that they do not like...Would you rather have a garden full of beautiful flowers and plants of one of mother natures creatures........Put in a balance and enjoy both......
Reply:shoot em the little beggers
Reply:They did a piece about this on Radio 4's Gardeners World last week.





I'm afraid the conclusion was that there's really nothing you can do.





The suggestions were use of lion dung and leaving lots of squirrel food around (so they get too full to eat your plants, but neither worked. One person said their very aggressive cat shooed them away, but they came back when the cat died.
Reply:I think there are things you can buy at plant stores that have sprays to keep away the squirrels but not kill them. Also, you could get a dog......
Reply:Get a pet falcon. You can train them. Have him perch in your backyard. No more critters.
Reply:I dont know, but if you know how to get rid them out of our attic without killing them let me know.
Reply:apparantly unless you want to poison them and have dead squirrels on your lawn - there is another more humane way. There is supposedly a kind of device that you can plug in, it lets out a high pitched frquency that deters the squirrels - humans won't be able to hear it though.....perhaps you could ask at your DIY store...
Reply:With camellias, and shrubs that attract squirrels, you can buy light frost-netting( from the garden nursery), which you can throw over the plant, and tie firmly at the stem. OK, the plant will look odd for some weeks, but when the buds are bursting, you can remove the net and admire!


Some say that if you spray the netting with strong perfume, it adds to its defences!


For protection of bulbs, try placing wire, hanging baskets, upside down, over the planting area.
Reply:with a 12 bore
Reply:Get a cat and let him have the squirrels for lunch. Not one of those sissies that are declawed and never breathe fresh air. A real cat, one that hunts birds, mices and likes to go outside, where they belong by the way.





Those squirrels will be in for a chase, trust me, and you'll have a rodent free land. :)
Reply:AS JAMES SAID GET YOURSELF A DOUBLE BARRELL, DAM ,CRITTERS
Reply:I have had some success by sprinkling mothballs around the plants. Keeps cats out too. I have watched Blackbirds pick them up with their bills and brush the mothball under and against their feathers apparently providing insect repellant.


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