Here’s how to outsmart the wily critters that dig up and nibble your favorite flowers.
First of all, think about why these creatures do what they do.
They eat nuts, leaves, berries, roots, and seeds.
Credit: Doug Stremel
Generally, there is enough food for them inour backyard habitats, and they don’t become pests.
Squirrels spend much of their day burying little food stashes in multiple places around their territory.
That’s why they often dig into the lovely, soft soil you’ve just prepared.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Available at almost any grocery store, finely ground cayenne pepper canspice up your foodand backyard.
Sprinkle the soil with cayenne pepper, and you’ll have no more dug-up plants.
you could also use several repellents marketed specifically for squirrels and chipmunks.
Credit: Jay Wilde
These products contain ingredients that don’t harm your family or other backyard wildlife.
Many gardeners have luck by drenching the soil in plant containers with castor oil repellent, sold formole control.
Other repellents use predator urine to frighten rodents away.
Credit: Scott Little
These products must be reapplied after a time and certainly after rain.
Also, minimize attractive habitat sites such as rock piles or fallen logs.
For example, squirrels and chipmunks do not like the smell or taste ofdaffodils.
They do, however, love to eattulip bulbs.
Planting daffodils with your other flowering bulbs can help mask the scent of tulips and help protect them.
Plant tulips andhyacinths6 to 8 inches deep.
Smaller bulbs, such ascrocusesand grape hyacinths, should be planted 3 to 4 inches deep.
Bulb cages (bought or homemade with chicken wire) work well for small plantings.
If you have a large area to protect, try covering it with chicken wire afteryour fall plantingis done.
Tack down the wire and cover it with a thin layer of mulch to hide it.
Remove the barrier in early spring when you see your bulbs coming up.
Protect Your Yard from Other Critters
Squirrels and chipmunks have another partner in crimerabbits.
Dogs scare rabbits away better than a scarecrow or strobe lights do.
Add somerabbit-resistant flowersand plants to keep them away, also.
