Just like thieves, squirrels invade a garden without invitation. These small animals can be a nuisance for gardeners. These animals are destructive, noisy, pest-infested and worse off, difficult to get rid of off. Luckily, removing squirrels in Guelph from a garden is not impossible. Here are the best pieces of advice on how to protect a garden from squirrels:
Get rid of all food sources in a garden
Squirrels are attracted by food sources lying around a garden. Fallen fruit, seeds, nuts, and berries are known to attract squirrels. Cleaning up all food sources from the garden will ensure that squirrels have no reason to come around.
Fencing
Another effective way to eliminate squirrels from a garden is to put up a fence which will keep the animals out. It’s also a good idea to trim low-hanging branches from trees which squirrels climb and gain access to a garden.
Use of repellents
Repellents help to get rid of these pesky animals. Effective repellents are powders that smell like squirrel predators and will keep them from approaching anywhere in the vicinity of a garden.
Alternatively, a gardener can sprinkle a concoction of red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and paprika around the base of the plants to keep off squirrels.
Use of exclusion doors
Exclusion doors can help to get rid of squirrels especially when their point of entry is known. The door should be placed outside the hole so as to allow the squirrel to exit but not to enter. Once the squirrels are gone, it’s advisable to use foam sealant to close up the holes they use to enter a garden.
To keep squirrels from plants, install a cage. Plastic netting, hardware cloth, chicken wire and summer weight row covers all provide effective protection.
Mulching
Mulching bare soil in seed beds and around newly planted seedlings is an effective way to get rid of squirrels.
Peppermint plants
The strong smell of peppermint plants keeps off squirrels. Some gardeners can use dogs to scare away squirrels.
Use of live traps
This is arguably the best way to eliminate squirrels from a garden. An effective trap should be made of sturdy steel cages that close when a squirrel steps on it.
Hire professional squirrel control service
Hiring a professional pest control service is a sure way to get rid of squirrels from a garden. A reliable pest control service has what it takes in terms of knowledge, equipment, and tactics to get rid of squirrels.
Squirrels in a garden can be a frustrating experience but with the above-mentioned tips, eliminating them is a breeze.
