To learn how to keep squirrels out of your house, scroll down! To keep squirrels away, try planting marigolds, nasturtiums, mint, or mustard in your yard, which squirrels don't like the smell of. Tie the sock to a tree with a piece of string or twine. Does anyone have any advice to stop either of these? Support wikiHow by This article discusses how to feed the squirrels while implementing this strategy… You may need to attach more than one wire. Squirrels are known for their persistence and craftiness. Another cool way to use the hot sauce is to mix it with birdseed to keep squirrels away from your bird feeder. If you don't want to do this yourself, hire a contractor or repair person to do it. He has over 20 years of experience in the pest control industry and specializes in commercial and large facility pest control management. Deter squirrels from eating your vegetables by sprinkling the ground with cayenne pepper. Squirrels are fascinating to observe with their tiny paws and big bushy tails. Stopping the squirrels from eating the fruit on your trees will help ensure a good harvest. squirrels and possums are very much alike /here in oz we keep possums from getting into and eating the trees by wrapping the trunk of the tree with thick plastic .the kind used for hanging strip blinds on doors etc. 1. The springs allow the tree to grow while keeping the metal band in place. Some of the signs they have been present can include: Eating fruits, nuts, seeds, flower buds and vegetables; Digging up and eating bulbs and corms; Raiding bird feeders and occasionally taking eggs from birds’ nests; Damage to lawns by burying or … A common reason squirrels will jump onto your house in the first place is to escape from predators. Repel squirrels by hanging a sock soaked in ammonia from a tree limb. How can I stop squirrels from chewing my patio furniture seats? Or, you can put down a layer of mulch around your plants, which squirrels don't like stepping on. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. How do I entice a squirrel to go into the cage? Make your yard as uninviting as you can and protect the plants you want to hide form squirrels. unlocking this expert answer. Place a metal band around the tree 6 feet off the ground to stop squirrels from being able to climb it, according to Colorado State University. Secure the metal collar by wrapping it once on the top and once on the bottom with galvanized wire. As a bonus, you can also use your leftover hot pepper sauce to spray garden plants to deter squirrels and other animals. % of people told us that this article helped them. The Evergreen Animal Protective League advises against trapping squirrels because new animals will simply move in and begin breeding, ultimately increasing the number of squirrels. Some succeed, some fail and a lot of money is spent on purpose made squirrel busting products. Joshua Bloom is a Pest Control Specialist and the Vice President of Operations of Standard Pest Management, a pest control company based in New York City. Squirrels can be really adorable, except when they are decimating your fruit trees. Apply the repellent once per week or after a heavy rain. In addition, you can take steps to protect your bird feeder and your home from squirrel invaders. Unknowingly, many homeowners are feeding the entire neighborhood of squirrels. With this method, squirrels can’t get a grip on the trunk to climb. The Best Ways To Prevent Squirrels From Climbing Your Trees The Tin Foil Method This method involves wrapping a strong sheet of tin or aluminum around the tree. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 116,070 times. By using our site, you agree to our. How do I keep squirrels from digging up flower seed? ", "Recipe and exact amounts to deter squirrels.". If a squirrel can use a branch to get over to your home, they'll do it. Trees are for squirrels, it is nature, I am sorry, they do not live in apartments and go to McDonals to eat! © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Squirrels will also eat the leaves of plants. Substitute cayenne pepper repellent with predator urine, such as fox or coyote urine, to keep squirrels away. If your trees are relatively isolated from neighboring trees that you don’t own, consider wrapping the trunks with aluminum flashing at least 18 inches high. Fasten the band in the back by attaching the wire on one end to springs on the other end. If you leave the squirrels in the attic when you close up the holes, you could end up with an awful smell. Place the flashing at least 4 feet off the ground so they can’t jump over it. Homeowners, however, often consider them pests. The only drawback is that it needs to be repeated whenever it rains or sprinklers are used. Answer + 6. Bodine is passionate about gardening, travel, education and finance. Place several moth balls in nylon stockings and hang about a foot down off the branches throughout the tree. This article has been viewed 116,070 times. She has produced thousands of articles for online publications such as Demand Studios, GoBankingRates and WiseGeek. If you know where the squirrel's nest is, hang extra near the nest. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. While it seems like a kind gesture to help an animal out, you might actually not be doing it any good- they may become sick, weakened, or fatigued as a result of the human food you give them. One of the methods I frequently recommend for deterring squirrels from bird feeders, gardens and fruit trees is to feed them elsewhere in the yard. Common squirrel deterrents for fruit trees include Ro-Pel, capsaicin or hot pepper oil and sticky topical applications for trunks and limbs. Grey squirrels are usually easily spotted. You can use homemade sprays with garlic or strong citrus oils, or sprinkle hot cayenne pepper on the leaves as well as the surrounding soil. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. They can jump 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3.0 m) horizontally. "Using tree collars. Squirrels can reach feeders 8 feet away from a tree branch. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Keeping Squirrels out of the House Fill in any holes in the attic to keep squirrels from getting inside. Mint is also an odor squirrels don't like. Wrap sheet metal that is at least 2 feet wide and 4 to 6 feet away from the ground around the trunk of your tree. Spray the tree with a squirrel repellent that contains cayenne pepper. … How do I keep squirrels from eating holes in my trash cans? I have an apple tree in my yard that is being decimated by deer at the bottom and squirrels at the top. Put a layer of river rock on top of the pot soil. Trim the branches of your peach tree away from fences, garages or other areas that give squirrels access to your tree. Squirrels cannot climb up this slippery material. Finally you can see your plant bloom in all its glory. This DIY bird feeder is squirrel proof thanks to copper and glass! While birds can … Squirrels can be seen scampering around in all four seasons but are most active in the two hours following sunrise. You can wrap pieces of flashing at least 2 feet wide around the trunks of the trees with the top at least 5 feet above the ground. https://morningchores.com/how-to-get-rid-of-squirrels/, https://newengland.com/today/living/pests/squirrels-bird-feeders/, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20707164/keep-squirrels-away-from-birdfeeder/, https://newengland.com/today/seasons/fall/keep-squirrels-away-from-fall-bulbs/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This will not work if the squirrels can jump from another tree or structure to a tree. Standard Pest Control also specializes in ant, bed bug, cockroach, fly, and rodent control. If there is a lot of competition for food, squirrels will strip tree bark to eat the inner tree bark. Squirrels (and other wild animals) will eat basically anything that comes their way because they’re so used to having to scavenge for food. You can keep squirrels from eating the leaves of your plants by spraying them with I Must Garden Squirrel Repellent. Wrap the wire around the metal collar on the tree and thread the end of the wire through the other side of the spring, pulling it taut against the collar. Cover the plant with the netting and weigh it down with rocks around the edges. How do you deter rodents like squirrels from getting into buildings? Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Squirrels aren’t easily deterred like that and will continue to harvest their little glass nuts anyway. A simple metal collar 2 feet (0.6 m.) wide around the trunk of a tree prevents entry to the canopy of the fruit tree too. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. People have tried many ways to prevent squirrels getting to their bird seed. If squirrels are bothering your bird feeders, rub shortening or petroleum jelly on the pole so they can't climb it. A relatively easy way to keep squirrels out of your potted plants is to make them as unappealing as possible. It is just their nature We have chipmunks and can not do anything about THEM, we have tried everything, so now we just plan around them, if we want to plant something, etc. Twist the wire back on itself to hold it in place on the spring. You can also use safflower seeds for the birds instead of regular bird feed, as squirrels don't like these seeds. Mix the ingredients in a small bowl. “Place some pesticide on your roof and in your gutters.” Squirrels eat several plants, but hibiscus plants have tender stems and plenty of green material that squirrels … If your tree stands outside of jumping distance from other trees, your home or fences, here's a good solution: Purchase sheet metal or very slippery plastic 12-18 inches wide. When done in excess, this can cause stress for your trees and result in damage, and possibly death. How do I keep squirrels out of flower pots? Call a Department of Natural Resources conservation officer before trapping squirrels. If you’ve been feeding squirrels in the backyard, there’s a good possibility that you’ve noticed animals chewing the bark off trees. You can find these at most garden stores, as well as online. How do I keep a squirrel from eating the wiring on my car? Well, we called the customer back, explained our theory, and he instantly knew that that was the problem. Stop squirrels from eating your garden plants by giving them something else to eat. If you have outside pets, beaware that they will get a surprise if they start nosing around yourplants. Squirrel control for a few rather isolated trees is as simple as placing metal flashing (available at any building supply or hardware store) 18 inches wide around the trunk about 5 … Spray apples with a hot pepper sauce mixture once the fruit begins to come in. Answered. When the bark is removed from the tree it makes the tree vulnerable to parasites and microorganisms that can enter the tree. Alicia Bodine has been a professional writer for 13 years. Cut a piece of sheet metal to fit around the trunk of your pecans tree, about 2 to 3 feet wide, using sheet-metal cutting shears. Pest Control Specialist. How to Install a Plant Hanger Hook in a Tree, How to Prune English Laurel to Make a Tree, How to Transplant a Young Black Walnut Tree in the Fall, How to Grow a Japanese Umbrella Conifer Pine, University of Minnesota Extension: Squirrels, Professional Wildlife Removal: Squirrel Control and Removal, Evergreen Animal Protection League: Wildlife Problems, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, Denver County: Animal Pests in the Garden. Place traps near the squirrels' burrow entrance or the tree where you see the most squirrel activity. Leave the sock in a bowl of ammonia until the sock has become completely saturated. Loop the wire into a metal spring on one side and twist it around itself to keep it in place on the spring. nail it on about i metre or so from the ground so they can't jump above the plastic By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Squirrels sometimes get into pots to take a "dust bath", which is their cure for itchy skin. You can usually find a bag of river rock at garden supply stores, including Home Depot. Rocks should be the size of an egg, or larger. Apply a taste repellent to the side of the house. After the spray dries, hang your lights. If you're just trying to keep the squirrels away from one area of your yard, try feeding them birdseed or nuts in another area of your yard. Put a dab of peanut butter inside the cage - that will attract plenty of squirrels. Spray capsaicin, a natural extract of hot peppers, on … Blood meal or fish emulsion can also … While they're cute, they can also be destructive to your property, and they can run birds off from your bird feeder. Joshua Bloom. Aluminum flashing works well for wrapping tree trunks, and also prevents squirrels from running up trees. If squirrels are a problem in your backyard trees, you'll need to use a combination of removal methods to completely eradicate them. Trimming tree branches allow the squirrels to stay safe without causing you a bother in the first place. Cayenne pepper can be painful on thenose, and that’s not just squirrels. When tin foil is wrapped around the tree, squirrels will be unable to climb it. It curves down from the feeder, making it difficult for the squirrel to climb up a pole. What are some some repellents for squirrels to keep them off of my peach trees? Plus, they may eat plants you're trying to grow for yourself. An indoor/outdoor cat will also have squirrels thinking twice about visiting your yard. How do I keep squirrels from chewing on the wires in my car? Another way to keep squirrels off your roof is to trim the vegetation in the area. You'll need to sprinkle it on again after it rains. Trim Surrounding Trees. Seedlings and young trees can have an expandable protective wrap around their trunks. Overall, you don’t want a ton of squirrels hanging around your property. Copper and Glass. Joshua is licensed by the NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) for termite control. Just mix the sauce with some water in a spray bottle and cover the wires. Create a barrier with these flowers, and the squirrels won't want to pass through it. If the squirrel has a reliable food source, it won't have any reason to vacate the area. This is a guide about keeping squirrels out if fruit trees. How to stop deer and squirrels from eating apples from my tree. Tree twigs and bark are other foods favored by squirrels. Most methods work in some way but which are the most effective and which method will keep squirrels from eating your bird food? Paper bags will enable sunflowers to fully ripen without molestation. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. You can also use this recipe to keep squirrels and other pests from devouring your garden. Another option is to place black plastic netting over the bulbs in the same way to protect them. There are 26 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. To prevent squirrels from eating your hibiscus plants, create a galvanized poultry wire cage over the plants, use blood meal for newly planted bulbs, and create an easier food source for them. Place a metal band around the tree 6 feet off the ground to stop squirrels from being able to climb it, according to Colorado State University. Don’t Feed Them. Sprinkle the natural repellent around the perimeter of your yard and throughout your garden. Here we give you our ten tips on how to stop squirrels getting in your yard and home. Squirrels will not only eat the fruits or buds on your trees, but they will gnaw on the bark, too. This article was co-authored by Joshua Bloom. Take down any bird feeders that are on the tree as well as any nearby bird feeders that squirrels can access by jumping from the tree. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Keep-Squirrels-Away-Step-18.jpg\/v4-460px-Keep-Squirrels-Away-Step-18.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Keep-Squirrels-Away-Step-18.jpg\/aid3729365-v4-728px-Keep-Squirrels-Away-Step-18.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"