Squirrels Eating the Roots of My Plants?

poehere
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts

October 10, 20170 found this helpful

Here are a few things you can try.

1. You will need to buy some cayenne pepper and sprinkle around the plant, soil and leaves. This will heat up their paws and they will stay away from the roots of your plants.
2. There are some other home remedies that can be used to repel squirrels in your yard. You can try peppermint oil or vinegar. You would need to spray this on your plants and around your plants.
3. If you are afraid to hurt them you can set up a food station for them in your yard. Give them some of their favorite foods to eat. They love sunflower seeds, peanuts and feed corn. Make a feeder for them in your yard and add these nuts and grain to the feeder. This will help keep them away from your plants.
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4. You can also try mulching your soil so the squirrels won't dig in your soil.
5. A dog or cat is wonderful to scare them out of your yard.

jsoderberg2

October 10, 20170 found this helpful

Thank you for your advice. I'm going to put a food station out for them. These idiot squirrels seem to like Cayenne pepper. I've even tried blackening seasoning that includes red and black pepper and garlic powder. I'm just making a spicy meal for them. LOL! I do appreciate the response, though.

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dittyryan

June 4, 20190 found this helpful

I used to put Cayenne pepper around plants, then I read if a squirrel gets some in his eyes it could blind him. So, no pepper.

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nucladysj1

April 30, 20200 found this helpful

I have black rubber mulch and the squirrels just kick that mulch out of my garden all over my sidewalk to bury little nuts from a tree. They dont like hot sauce, but you have to re-apply.

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paulbowdler761

May 29, 20200 found this helpful

Wont peppermint oil or vinegar kill my bedding plants

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haysie
Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 424 Answers

October 12, 20170 found this helpful

Before you plant your bulbs in the hole that you have dug, line it with either chicken wire, small stones or foil, then plant and cover with dirt. Squirrels will not dig up your bulbs.

attosa
Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,246 Posts

October 10, 20170 found this helpful

• Try a cayenne pepper spray on the plants they go for
• Hang high-reflective objects that flash lights at them as they're afraid of that
• Motion-activated sprinklers in that general area
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• Sprinkle safflower seeds. They hate the bitter taste

jsoderberg2

October 10, 20170 found this helpful

Ooh, Safflower seeds is something new! I'll try that, thanks!

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coville123
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 433 Posts

October 10, 20170 found this helpful

Squirrel repellent

Step 1
Boil 1 1/2 quarts of water.

Step 2
Add 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper.

Step 3
Add two onions,and one chopped jalapeno.

Step 4
Boil for 30 minutes,let cool and strain vegetables.

Step 5
Put in a spray bottle and spray around your garden to repell squirrels.

edviv2001_1

October 17, 20170 found this helpful

I took 4 five gallon buckets to the butcher shop where they filled them with the slaughter blood. Gross, right? No big deal if you spread the blood immediately. By the way, the animal bood is not all liquid, therefore I had to strain the liquid from the solid in order to spread it with my half gallon buckets.

cybergrannie
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks

October 17, 20170 found this helpful

A feeding station may be a temporary solution but they will probably return to your plants. Coleus plants are not from bulbs but have tubers and apparently there are some areas in your yard that are an attractant to squirrels.

• 1. Try adding bone meal to soil around your plants or dig some holes. Bone meal can be purchased at any garden center and a bonus as it is very good for your plants.
• 2. Purchase some small screen wire (any type - wire or plastic wire) and put around your plants. It can be cut to size and place mulch on top or stake it down.
• 3. Add human or dog hair to soil around your plants. It does not take very much and can be scattered and covered or placed in small holes. Just ask for your hair to be placed in a bag when you get your next trim (or trim yourself). Dog hair works too.
• 4. Cayenne pepper mixed with a little dish soap and sprayed around plants may help (I would not spray the plants).