Try These 3 EASY Ways Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden

[@MiladaKaiser]

I use the tulle fabric. Like for the wedding. It is incredibly cheap on Amazon. I cover the seedlings with it and squirrels, raccoons, possum - they are somehow repelled. It is a great protection, seedlings get enough sun, I can water over it and the leaves do not grow through. Like they do through the net. And later on, when the plants are bigger, I do not need it any more. I have a years of good experience with tulle.

[@mercurybard9794]

I planted a bed of garlic yesterday and immediately covered it with hardware cloth. This young, punk squirrel and I have been having an extended "discussion" about whose garden it is. In fact, he was in my recently denuded tomato bed when I sat down to watch this video. (Am I the crazy lady who has been known to throw open her kitchen window and scold him like he's a misbehaving puppy? Yes, yes, I am... and he slunk out of the bed and over to a tree stump and gave me the cold shoulder when I did it.)

[@pattithompsett9540]

are we neighbors because i get the same thing. only its not just one, theres a whole gang!😂

[@linbut7241]

Me too, girl!

[@tammyfahrney7682]

😂

[@34freesmooth]

😂😂😂

[@tinampattersonesq]

It's not just you. I literally run out of my kitchen, into the garden screaming, yelling, and clapping my hands to scare the squirrels away!!! 🤪🫠🙃😅😂

[@deeziemann5478]

Thank you for timely advice on dealing with squirrels. I don't know why they are such a problem this year. We have not experienced this much damage by squirrels in past gardens.

[@FatcatandFriends]

Reminds me of the kids’ book, “Those Darn Squirrels.” I used to love reading it to my students & now that I’m gardening, I understand how the man in the story felt! If only my garden could have the same happy ending…

[@wayneu1233]

Thanks for this! We have a 175+ years old black walnut tree in our yard, well away from where I grow vegetables, and this year, perhaps because of the drought, it dropped THOUSANDS of nuts, which attracted huge numbers of squirrels. Keeping ahead of them was a daily job!

[@kevino3357]

How does this man always release videos at the exact time i need them?

[@camicri4263]

It helps that he is dealing with same issues as we are!

[@dianejordan1983]

We have a neighbor who walks around feeding the squirrels peanuts and walnuts and I’m always finding pots dug up so they could bury them. Cayenne works great but you have to keep up with it. I have used chicken wire cut to the size of the pot with an opening for the plant and it worked very well

[@amykeast7789]

A peanut plant just popped up in my green beans. This is so relevant right now! I lost so many lettuce and bunching onions.

[@crystalspaint6483]

I think I'll give the peppermint oil and cotton balls a try. Besides digging up holes in my flower bed, squirrels seem to love to digging into my potted plants.

[@healthyfitmom]

Planting FORKS pointy side up in small beds can create a physical barrier while plants are small. Also mixing cayenne with old eggs and water while using an old brush to "paint" plants helps keep cayenne sticking on the plants. I did this with corn and it worked. We did have lots of rain that year so it got a bit tedious to redo it. Would love more videos like this. Critter pests are a huge issue. We had to stop filling our bird feeder because of racoons so the cayenne tip in bird feed is great.

[@darrenwalker905]

Our planters are prime targets for the rascals. Thanks! Will give your suggestions a try!

[@kristantaylor1087]

Definitely an acorn and hickory nut abundant year here at my North Carolina home. Squirrels are digging in all my pots and raised beds!! We are surrounded by woods and the squirrel population is very healthy!

[@eyes2see-ears2hear]

I have been at war with squirrels/chickmunks for years. I have used netting for a whule but they figured out how to get under or over it. This year, by Gods grace, I found the solution. Layers of netting. I started with one layer and let the tonatoe plant grow thru it. Once those branchs start flowering, I put in another layer. Now at end of season I have 4 layers. Ive only lost a few tomatoes to the vermin since this discovery. The only issue is that it makes it hard to prune the plants. But the plants have been healthy with good fruit despite the lack of pruning. 😊

[@stephanygates6491]

I had to thank you for showing me watermelon can grow in Michigan! I still have melons to harvest. Best I ever tasted!. Can't say that about most of my efforts, frankly. Keep on educating! (FYI, no link appeared when you said "click here" for another video).

[@gferraro8353]

Good news ! Found more garlic bulbs from you that i misplaced. Went to plant and accidentally dug a spot where one was planted. It had huge roots already!! Used your fertilizer!

[@sharibc3597]

I have not used peppermint in the garden but have used it a lot in my home and I’ve added a few drops to my natural bug spray! It works well to keep certain pests away! I’ll give it a try in the garden next year! 😊

[@seanaames6855]

Thanks, Luke!

[@nikkikoz4720]

Luke you just made my day and saved me a bunch of money in bird seed

[@davegbp]

red pepper flakes work well also. You can find the large bottle for around five or six dollars. Just remember to reapply after a rain...

[@Steampunk_Samurai]

You can dry your excess pepper harvest and do the same. Good idea. I was literally just thinking about that.

[@afrocraft1]

Neither flakes nor ground pepper work. Ask me how I know.

[@peggyrhoads-ro8us]

Thanks for the info. I gave up on growing lettuce and carrots this fall thinking the squirrels were eating the seedlings. I'll be using chicken wire next year for sure.

[@sheribaioa7585]

Oh my gosh Luke! You heard my cry for help with back yard squirrels! Thank you! You gave me great ideas for next year!

[@mommaoinnh2674]

Squirrels drive me crazy also! I’ll try the peppermint and cayenne pepper tricks!

[@lesta.artist]

Thanks for addressing this. I have trouble with an abundance of well-fed squirrels, mice, and rats in my garden. They dig, but eat tomatoes, peas and beans as well. I had not thought about peppermint oil or cayenne in the garden. Thanks!

[@carolparrish194]

The squirrels got about 1/3 of all my tomatoes. I will try the hot pepper or peppermint spray on them next year. Two years ago the squirrels dug up my newly planted tulip bulbs and yes they ate some of them. After replanting them three times I covered them with some old sheer curtains. It worked. This year when I planted my garlic I covered them with burlap I had and a used furnace filter. So far it is working well. They are still digging in my flower pots I will try the hot pepper.

[@susanmarty5107]

I love the Cayenne pepper idea. I'm using some old garlic powder this year... Thank you for the peppermint oil idea. I didn't even plant squash this year because of the squash vine borer.

[@susanxoxo5825]

I've tried cayenne pepper. It's ok. But you need to sprinkle it on almost every few days. Watering and rain wash it away often.

[@DanaN43]

Good info, I also bought a pet water dish at the dollar tree and put out for critters, somewhat away from garden. Has definitely reduced squirrels eating my fruits and veggies

[@kat6084]

we just built an enclosure around most of our garden to keep the berries, melons & sweet corn safe. It's about 7 feet tall & has industrial chicken wire which is black & really disappears. Have been considering enclosing all the other raised beds.

[@smith452011]

Thank you so much for the tips!! I just stated seeing them in mine ☹️

[@stacylee8919]

Thank you

[@juliekovach9784]

Thank you so much! All of these tips will be very helpful!

[@christydiehl7705]

Thank you so much for the tips.

[@dyoung-g2k]

Chicken wire and hardware cloth are not the same thing. Chicken wire the openings are big enough they'll just go through. Hardware cloth holes are 1/4 or 1/2 inch square. That's what you want.

[@JupiKitten]

You'll want to make sure it's steel and not galvanized too.

[@ams228HU]

Accurate. Chicken wire is hexagonal shaped. Hardware cloth is square. Chicken wire is to keep chickens in but not to keep anything out.

[@ams228HU]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4rJepJvhrt0gKMfeature=shared

[@lesta.artist]

Thank you for pointing this out. Lately, I’ve heard a couple of people say this not realizing the difference is huge if people have chickens or if someone needs to keep mice, rats, and anything out that could get it’s mouth around the bigger holes and chew into chicken wire. Hardware cloth(what we used to call ratwire) has small enough holes to prevent anything from chewing into it.

[@jamiehopkins630]

Yeah. Garlic won't do well trying to grow through the tiny holes of hardware cloth but should be fine growing through the bigger holes of chicken wire. I use both in my garden as I have a nuisance groundhog that tries to eat EVERYTHING in my garden.

[@Jade118he]

Perfect timing. I have the exact same problem

[@afishnsea]

I am going to get some bulk cayenne next year, but I'm willing to accept a certain percentage of loss for the squirrels. Gray squirrels are beneficial to the environment and are native to the eastern US. They reforest oak trees with the acorns they plant, which supports biodiversity more than the more aggressive yellow poplar. I love watching the squirrels "meerkat" in the backyard and chase each other around 🐿️

[@chicachicboom]

I mainly plant in containers for a variety of reasons. I also have an old black walnut tree in the yard, so during bumper crop season, combating the squirrels is an extreme sport. They dislike the smell of hen manure (pellet form easily purchased at local hardware stores and garden centres), but so do I. I use that occasionally to try and get my point across to them. I also use small branches and twigs from my yard and arrange them sort of cross hatched on the surface of the soil around the base of the plants. A lot of people use small rocks, but I worry about soil compaction with that. The branches are light and easy to lift up for fertilizing. Anything that will make it harder for them to dig and bury things is beneficial.

[@donnayoung5942]

Oh my!! I can’t wait to try the peppermint oil on the SVB. They are horrible here in south Texas. Good video, Luke! Thanks

[@Steampunk_Samurai]

This video is perfect timing omg. Literally was trying to think of something because my garlic beds are getting dug into by squirrels too. I thought about sprinkling my dried peppers over the top of my straw mulch

[@cardstockcollector]

Thank You!

[@carmelassanctuaryofsquirrels]

Thanks for these squirrel-friendly tips on ways to keep them out of your garden without harming them in the process. As a wildlife rehabilitator that specializes in squirrels, it's refreshing to see someone recommending methods that don't harm the squirrels. Didn't know about the peppermint oil trick... I'll have to try that one out in my strawberry beds next year. My garden is actually planted FOR the squirrels - so that I can feed them while rehabilitating them. But I have found that the chipmunks (a ground squirrel) will actually eat all of them as they ripen, so I don't end up with any for the rehabilitating squirrels. Looking forward to seeing if this will be the solution I've been looking for! Thanks!!! ~ Suzanne

[@Earthy-Artist]

I love your comment, thank you on behalf of the squirrels for the work you do for those innocent little cuties🐿! I watch a channel here on youtube you might possibly enjoy called 'Squirrels at my Window' by a woman who feeds neighborhood squirrels from her window. She films them up close, and has names for them and knows all of their personalities. Just an idea, perhaps you might consider putting a low tunnel over your strawberry bed? Or a high tunnel if you have the room for one?

[@tobruz]

Pellets of dried hen manure works! I also use empty 10/20 netted flats upside down

[@ChristiLynnOutside]

Thank you for the great tips! I use chicken wire sometimes to keep away cats and squirrels. Another barrier I like to use is my folding A-frames. I just lay them across the bed and it usually creates just enough of a barrier to discourage the rodents.

[@TheGPFilmMaker]

The squirrels went crazy on my plants this last year!! Ate at least half my cucumbers and peppers. I'm going to try the peppermint oil technique next year to try and keep them away!

[@slacker7481]

Thank you for your advice! I have a Hugh squirrel problem. But i live in Central New York and i don't know how the rain will do with these ideas. Especially the powder. I'll keep setting up my live trap and take them for a ride. Love your channel and thank you

[@janisnelson26]

I have used a recording on my iPad of a local owl (predator) every night during early gardening season to deter them. This is the first year we have used this method, it did help. Also plastic netting.

[@norat6126]

Awesome video. Thank you very much. Perfect timing.

[@camicri4263]

Awesome! Thank you Luke!

[@judifarrington9461]

Oh, thank you!! I recently planted my beautiful MI Gardener garlic in my raised bed and my pup pointed out we had chipmunks visiting that bed. I'm going to give the Cayenne pepper a try.

[@wenn9366]

I use tulle in my garden to keep the squirrels from bothering stuff. It's easy and cheap to use, but since the holes are tiny and it's soft, birds don't get tangled in it. I also drape my berry bushes in it since it doesn't harm the birds, but keeps them from snacking on the fruits.

[@kikiinthegarden]

Thank you for the info! I’m going to try this!!

[@sunsetsky594]

I will definitely try out these tips. Thank you so much for this video.

[@kaydavis5495]

You can also use irish spring soap. I use it in mesh bags and put them around. I hang one, say at the corners, trying to make a barrier so that soap does not get in the soil

[@ScarletAdhesive]

Oh good info! Thanks!

[@BackyardPumpkins]

I use bird netting however I bunch it up around my beds like a birds nest keeping it low to the ground. Squirrels won't go near it and birds don't get caught in it. Bonus tip: go to the fabric section at Walmart and get the nylon (or nylon-like) fabric with the tiny holes in it and bunch it up around your needs like a birds nest, same as the bird netting. It's like 34 cents for 4 feet or something 😆

[@texasnurse]

AKA tulle. I use it to keep insects out too.

[@BackyardPumpkins]

It's not tulle, the holes are bigger, about the size of a pencil eraser. Tulle should work though also 👍

[@tinabloomfield7228]

Glad this popped up ...ive had enough of squirrels right now 😂

[@AlexAnder-rv1gu]

Don't listen to his bad advice. NONE of these old wives tales work. Just get yourself some rat traps and bait them with leftovers.

[@marley9904]

Me too 😡😡😡, and ground hog are just as bad, if not worse.

[@FatcatandFriends]

Very helpful video. Still skeptical if the peppermint oil will work, but I have it on hand & hardware cloth is expensive!

[@maryseturcotte-ir8ye]

Here in Canada, Actisol is quite efficient. It's a great product for gardens in general too!

[@honeybadgers1996]

Great tips. Thanks, Luke.

[@fransekerak8339]

I’ll be trying this method of yours to deter squirrels,small mammals.. thanks for sharing.

[@Way.Truth.Life.John14_6]

My husband and I built covers this past spring made out of 2x2s and chicken wire that we stapled to the wood to cover our larger garden beds. Worked great for newly planted seeds and sprouts until the plants were big enough to withstand rabbits and squirrels. The chicken wire even allowed our garlic to sprout and grow pretty tall before we removed the covers. We’re redoing our beds now, but will definitely make new ones because they worked so well. I use hardwire cloth to cover my totes and clamp them to the sides with alligator clamps. As far as my big native plant garden? I keep a huge water gun handy. I’ve thought of motion sensor sprinklers, too, but haven’t tried it yet. Also, apparently squirrels and blackbirds don’t like the taste of safflower seeds, so that is what we have. I will occasionally mix a heavier ratio of safflower into a different mix, though, which does bring in the squirrels.

[@xanthmom9096]

This year every pepper on my plants has had a squirrel bite in it. They do try the verggies if you dont protect the plants.

[@kathyengland3534]

Thank you for these tips, Luke. We continue to find pecans in our yard (or i should say our Beagle does) and ther isn't a pecan tree anywhere nearby. And yes, they get to my fruit trees and such (we tried a netting/ didnt keep them out) and squash and pumpkins. I have tried tulle..it helps some. My biggest take away is peppermint oil for the ants.

[@johnwood738]

I’ve had some luck also using Irish spring bar soap cut in the chunks and spread around. Have used the peppermint oil I find after a time they tend to get used to one so I have to go to the other.

[@dustyflats3832]

True about that light weight bird netting. We had a snake caught in it and don’t wear any buttons around it or glasses😅. I wonder how much birds can taste because our roosters always run to the Tabasco plants 😂. It rained too much this summer that it was impossible to use anything as it would be washed off-Now drought. Some sort of fence laid over is good idea as those squirrels are busy which tells me maybe winter is returning.

[@lorrigierman7089]

Perfect timing! I am so frustrated with the squirrels! I'm doing fine with keeping them out of my raised beds but they are destroying my perennial beds and the yard. They all gather their food from our neighbors but come to our yard to bury them. We have tried to be patient but are at our wits end. I've not heard about the peppermint oil. Will try one more "nice way" to get them under control.

[@Earthy-Artist]

Thank you! I will certainly be trying your grandma's peppermint cotton ball repellant to deter the gazillion ants invading my beds. I can attest, hardware cloth works super well. I do love little squirrels, I do not like their digging in my garlic.

[@angelaschettino1327]

Helpful tips. These videos are helpful since pests are so annoying!

[@twoupandadog5893]

Nice thanks Luke!

[@cindylooney375]

Loved this! Thank you!

[@alanprice9712]

I have squirrels eating my tomatoes. They pull them off the vine and chew holes in them then leave the balance to rot. Chicken wire is normally 1 inch holes and not super strong. Hardware cloth is usually made in 1/4 inch or half inch holes, is very stiff and capable to hold off raccoons. My squirrels eat my cayenne peppers so the spray you suggest will not work for me.

[@BonnieLewis-o8n]

Critter ridder has mostly black pepper. It worked.

[@ndbg46881]

Just a note that in Southern Maryland chicken wire and hardware cloth are two different things. Chicken wire or poultry netting has larger openings. Hardware cloth has very small openings and is very rigid (I use it in the bottoms of my raised beds to keep out moles).

[@cindys.w.8566]

I mix liquid coconut oil with my peppermint essential oil to help the sent stay around as the oil won't dry out and the dish soap will get washed off when it does rain. Birds might like to steal the cotton balls for bedding but if its got oil on it they are less apt to steal it.

[@diannplatt-roberts8692]

Thanks for info. Didnt know peppermint would work on ants. Will use next year.

[@musicianswife8596]

I had 5 tomatillos and only got enough to make one canner load of salsa and a couple small batches for fresh eating. The squirrels got the rest. Looking forward to trying some these to see if it helps.

[@stillwaters7730]

😂 I'm cracking up because I'm wrestling with a rescued squirrel that we have named Fern! She is super spoiled

[@guylamullins3602]

I spray a weak dilution of Dr Bronners Castile with peppermint oil as a pesticide in general. Habanero spray is a great repellant too.

[@araceliadams34]

This year, I planted Basil between each tomato plant. The squirrels must not like the smell of basil. I did not lose any tomatoes. Last year, I lost so many tomatoes they would take one bite and move on to another one. Oh, but they torchered my peach tree. Any tips on what to do for saving my peaches. Thank you

[@AndrewsVeggiePatch]

Luke, they did eat my corn last year. We put netting and hoops over that and our onions. Thanks

[@annamarie9858]

Omg - I was soooo wishing you would do a squirrel video when you posted that black walnut video a while back! My neighbors have oak and walnut trees, but I have the dog free garden safe zone. Squirrels get into everything! I find walnuts and acorns tucked in everywhere, and I spend a good solid day pulling up baby trees in the spring. Landscape fabric has helped in my decorative garden, but my veg garden and flower pots get assaulted continuously, and there are little piles of dirt all over as they are messy diggers. Thanks for all the tips - I will be trying a few out! 💚

[@impatti515]

that adds micro plastics to your soil fyi

[@annamarie9858]

@@impatti515 Wow! Really?!? (Snark, fyi) The fabric is a necessary evil in my DECORATIVE garden which is well over 1500’ square feet in the blazing sun. I’m the only one working out here. So do I use non woven landscape fabric to cover the broken glass and concrete in the native soil or do I risk more skin cancer? I’m certain you intended to be helpful, but understand that not every gardener has the options of being eco friendly all the time.

[@sassyherbgardener7154]

One time, I had an ant problem in my kitchen cupboard, so I put peppermint oil in there. It worked great, as far as getting rid of the ants, however, EVERYTHING smelled and tasted like peppermint, LOL!! We had peppermint sandwich bread, peppermint bagels, and the very unpopular peppermint sour cream and onion potato chips!! Bet it works great in the garden!! Thanks!

[@MichaelFunStories]

dr bronner peppermint soap best thing ever created

[@ithacacomments4811]

For small raised bed boxes, or pots the use of plastic forks stuck in the soil with the tines pointing up. Place them close together. Totally saved my plantings!

[@tinab7791]

Peppermint oil/cotton balls work great! The squirrels were eating my sweet potatoes that were starting to poke through the surface, and the peppermint balls totally stopped them, at least long enough for me to get them finished up and harvested.

[@andersonomo597]

When I was 11 years old, my family moved from Sydney Australia to Toronto Canada and I still remember my absolute horror that my PARENTS had moved me to a city where there were WILD ANIMALS running around EVERWHERE! 🤣 I'm a boomerang who moved back to Oz - no squirrels, but possums can be a problem (overgrown rats IMHO although some people are fond of them - until they get up in your ceiling and die there, but that's another story). At the moment the regular rats are having a field day here as it's spring. Every gardener has challenges!! Cheers from Oz.

[@kimg9606]

Squirrels! Thank you so much for this video ❤️

[@heathermj3620]

THANK YOU!!!!!!🎉

[@hollyjasinski7207]

Thank you for mentioning the warning with bird netting. I had no idea it could be such a wildfire hazard when I utilized it for the first time this year. We successfully rescued a baby bird this spring but SEVERAL snakes got caught and tangled up- most didn’t make it…

[@MK-ti2oo]

I deal with heavy, heavy squirrels, ground squirrels, gopher, mole, and vole pressure. Netting will be chewed through overnight. Cayenne only works for a day or two, they just move to different hole. Essential oils never did anything for me. Exclusion by hardware cloth is the only viable option here. I use 1/4 steel under all my raised beds and have removable covers with it that i use until plants are established. I even have to protect my garlic and onions with it because they don't seem to have any qualms with eating them as well. I feel like my gardens are fort knox doing this, plus 8ft fence for deer, plus electric for bears, plus row covers for cabbage worm and the Robins that will just yank up every seedling within a day or two of planting.

[@tamararoberts9307]

I can sooooo relate

[@grantjohnson5308]

lol I have a church yard with about 8 or more black walnut trees 😅 squirrel 🐿️ heaven. I’ll reapply my cayenne pepper 🌶️

[@carolhamilton5164]

Mine are getting several tomatoes as in a day, mine do consume as well as dig. I cover my plants with grates and wire etc. cay and e powder doesn’t bother them at nor do pest sound things or or owls etc they also strip my apple tree every year.

[@toneyjohnson8910]

I also put cotton balls with peppermint oil under our vehicle hoods we have problems with mice chewing on the wires under the hood. its works great to stop this.

[@ritagibson225]

I’ve used mint and capsaicin in my garden and in my fruit trees for years. It works. I wish I had something to deter birds.

[@glennforister84]

I planted a wine cap mushroom patch earlier this year. expecting a good return. I never had a problem before until I lived near the woods this darn squirrel has eaten my entire bed only left me with four little tiny mushrooms this is going to be a good episode

[@michaeldunwoody3629]

Great info!!!

[@iloveitUbet]

Hi I’m here because the squirrels think my Michigan backyard is a squirrel park ! Thanks can’t wait to hear how to kindly keep them away!

[@gferraro8353]

Yes same here. I didn't get one tomato this year. Squirrel was up in a tree eating them mocking me. I covered, used pepper spray , it still got in and stole every one of them 😢

[@iloveitUbet]

@@gferraro8353 yes ! It is very frustrating…it’s like they saw me eyeing tomatoes ready to be picked soon and the next day they beat me to it every time!

[@gferraro8353]

@@iloveitUbet lol .same here. Unbelievable!

[@BoycottYoutube]

I suggest sprinkling Espoma Blood Meal on the soil surface once per week. The squirrels in my area do not dig in my pots or beds when using this method. I've even seen them jump on to the deck, bark, flash their tails in anger, and leave. Additionally, it provides small amounts of nitrogen to help keep the soil healthy. Note, Espoma is the only brand I've found that works, and it doesn't stink. I tried Tru Organics, and although it's stinky, the squirrels didn't care and dug anyway.

[@freeatlast1423]

​@@iloveitUbeti have that trouble with birds and my fruit bushes and strawberries

[@lynnsarraille7360]

7-9 month old cats, cats, cats....even if you feed them well those cats want to chase those squirrels!!! We had an itty-bitty black cat named Little-Bit and she was so buff and we had no squirrels. Or large Chinese geese- they are very territorial and chase everything out of their spaces. Good Luck!

[@CB-ei3sp]

I find traps very effective also.

[@helenswan705]

Great tips, thank you! I get that chilli is only tasted by mammals, hence it's a good deterrent. But I have a question: won't it still irritate the digestive tract of birds?

[@barbaralowry6669]

Going to try the peppermint oil for ants. I had a huge problem with squirrels eating my tomatoes in my community garden plot this summer and hopefully if I use that spray it will reduce the damage. I am in Southern California and the squirrels here are very aggressive.

[@billlindhout6818]

Any ideas about keeping them from stealing my pears and taking 1 bite out of my best tomatoes?