How to Outsmart Squirrels in Your Garden: A Clever Bribery Trick

You’re not alone if you’ve ever struggled with squirrels digging up your bulbs and munching on your flower buds. These little critters can be quite a nuisance for gardeners. Fortunately, the editors at This Old House magazine have some advice that might save your garden.

The magazine editors tried several repellents designed to taste or smell foul to squirrels. While these worked for a short period, they had a significant downside. The repellents needed to be reapplied weekly, quickly becoming a tedious chore.

After some trial and error, the editors discovered that bribery was the most effective strategy. By placing ears of dried corn at the back of the yard in spring and fall, they found that the squirrels were more interested in the easy, accessible food and left the garden foliage and bulbs alone. This simple trick kept the squirrels well-fed and less likely to cause garden chaos.

One important tip for gardeners with a large squirrel population is to avoid using bone meal as fertilizer. Experts warn that bone meal acts like catnip for squirrels, attracting them to your garden instead of keeping them away.

Here’s a quick recap of the best practices for managing squirrels in your garden:

1. Bribe with Food: Place ears of dried corn at the back of your yard to keep squirrels away from your plants.
2. Avoid Frequent Repellents: Repellents can be effective but require constant reapplication.
3. Steer Clear of Bone Meal: This fertilizer attracts squirrels and can lead to more problems.

Using these strategies, you can outsmart the squirrels and enjoy a beautiful, thriving garden without constant battles.