Keep Squirrels OUT of Your GARDEN

The How Do Gardener ^ | March 8, 2022 | The How Do Gardener

[Myrddin]

I have 2 apple trees, an apricot tree, a cherry tree, an Italian plum and a pear tree. Some years, I have little production due to weather. In recent years, I had pretty good fruit going and hoped to leave it on the trees to become ripe and sweet. The squirrels took it all. My neighbors feed them, so they remain fat and able to decimate my fruit trees. I put bird netting on the cherry tree and protected a half quart of good fruit. The Italian plum usually yieds 2 or 3 bushel baskets. This year, only pits under the tree.

I have strawberries in the front garden. Most years, it's only a quart of fresh berries. Less last year, but some good ones.

[orsonwb]

Same problem with being in a suburban environment though for me.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

LOL!

[orsonwb]

We’ve got several stray cats that hang around our backyard, but I think the squirrels just come out while the cats are somewhere else. Plus, sometimes the cats end up leaving a little something in my garden.

[orsonwb]

Sounds like me. My plum tree provides me with NOTHING after the squirrels get through with it. It’s really too big to try to put bird netting over it. As far as my strawberries, I’ve had good luck with something called a “Chicken wire crop coop” from Gardener’s Supply. Just a metal box with chicken wire over it.

[orsonwb]

I thought it was funny too. I liked the “...so I asked my wife” part. I don’t think that would fly for me either.

[FamiliarFace]

Squirrels don’t do anywhere near the damage to my garden as the chipmunks, rabbits, and deer do.

[avenir]

I despise squirrels (have my reasons): so I LOVE that gif. Lol!

[clockwise]

Have a Heart trap plus a pellet gun.

[orsonwb]

For some reason, we don’t seem to have chipmunks or rabbits here. Lots of deer, but in our suburban neighborhood, they don’t seem to make it into my yard. I count myself lucky.

[orsonwb]

We’ve got a dog, but the squirrels just tease him. It’s like the old “Fog Horn Leg Horn” cartoon where he stood just beyond the dog’s chain’s reach.

[1Old Pro]

Have a Heart trap plus a pellet gun.

Does the pellet gun dispose of the enemy or just startle them?

[Magnum44]

[FamiliarFace]

You are lucky! There seems little I can do to get rid of these little critters.

[Little Pig]

To sum up, for anyone who doesn’t care to watch 6 minutes of pointless rambling about what *didn’t* work:

Homeowner eventually surrendered his fruit trees to the squirrels, and build cages over his raised vegetable beds.

Doesn’t sound like a successful outcome to me.

[Myrddin]

My Rat Terriers were efficient at desquirreling the back yard. I had 4 that were very good. My oldest Jack/Rat is 13. Still pretty spry, but not an aggressive hunter. The 6 year old Rat Terrier is fast, but isn't real interested in hunting squirrels. The Chihuahuas are too old and small. The 3 big girls aren't fast enough. C'est la vie!

[bobbo666]

Cats will do the job.

Got a beagle. At 8 months we found to our horror that she was fast enough to catch a squirrel and kill it.
“horror” in that I caught her trying to bury it — for ripening, no doubt. I know, KNOW, that a few days later she’d have brought it into the house for display of her hunting prowess. Ick.