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Squirrels might be fun to watch as they dart around the yard, but when it comes to your garden, especially your ripening tomatoes, they can quickly go from cute to downright frustrating. These curious critters are known for digging, nibbling, and helping themselves to just about anything that catches their eye, including your tomato plants.
If you’ve ever walked out to check your garden and found a half-eaten tomato or disturbed soil around your seedlings, a squirrel is likely the culprit.
There are practical, effective ways to keep squirrels out of your tomato garden. Here are 14 smart strategies you can try.
Companion Planting
Incorporating certain plants into your tomato garden can help repel squirrels due to their strong scents and taste. Effective squirrel-deterring companions include
17 Plants That Will Keep Squirrels From Eating Your Garden
Eliminate Food Sources and Shelter
Eliminating nearby food sources and shelter will minimize squirrel attraction to your tomato plants. Clean up fallen tomatoes, rotting vegetables, and nuts daily. Also, prune bushes, trim overhanging branches, and clear out potential hiding spots to expose squirrels.
Coffee Ground Barriers
Used coffee grounds serve as an eco-friendly squirrel repellent. Spread the grounds around the perimeter of your garden to create a scent barrier that squirrels find unpleasant. Reapply after rain to maintain effectiveness. The caffeine and acidity in the grounds may also enrich the soil as they decompose.
Dogs and Cats
Use dogs as natural squirrel deterrents. Dogs actively chase away squirrels, while cats intimidate them with their presence and scent. Regular patrols by your pets can instill fear in local squirrels and alert you to their presence through barking or hissing.
Alternative Food Sources
If a squirrel sees a bird feeder with its favorite treats—nuts and seeds—it might go for that instead of your tomatoes. You can buy a squirrel-specific feeder or set up your own DIY decoy food stations instead. Squirrel-friendly snacks include unsalted nuts, chopped apples, carrots, spinach, bean sprouts, and celery.
Install Motion Sensor Lights
Motion-activated lights are an effective way to deter squirrels, as they tend to avoid well-lit areas due to their increased vulnerability to predators. Install motion sensor spotlights around your garden, targeting the areas near your tomato plants.
Unique Sounds
Squirrels are sensitive to noise, making startling sounds a practical deterrent. Install battery-powered ultrasonic repellers around your garden, which emit high-frequency sounds detectable only by squirrels when motion is detected. These sounds are irritating to them, although inaudible to humans.
A Sprinkler System
Motion-activated sprinklers are an effective way to deter squirrels from gardens. When squirrels approach tomato plants, the system sprays a quick burst of water, which deters them from returning. The surprise of being sprayed with water is effective at keeping squirrels from trying to snack on the tomatoes.
Provide a Water Bowl
Some squirrels likely nibble on tomatoes not out of hunger but because they’re thirsty. Seeing only small bites on your tomatoes could indicate that the squirrels are looking for moisture. Placing a small water bowl near your garden can keep them hydrated and deter them from biting into your tomatoes.
Owl Decoy
Just as gardeners use scarecrows to deter birds, owl decoys can be effective for keeping squirrels away. Squirrels are naturally afraid of owls, which are natural predators of rodents.
Applying Predator Urine
Squirrels have a keen sense of smell that they use to detect predators. You can use this to your advantage by applying predator urine, such as from coyotes or foxes, around your garden. The scent triggers a fear response in squirrels, deterring them from the area.
Using Fences and Cages as Barriers
Physical barriers such as fences and cages are effective in protecting tomato plants from squirrels. These barriers prevent squirrels from accessing ripe tomatoes and discourage their attempts to raid. There are various fencing and caging options available that use simple, cost-effective materials.
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Chilli Pepper Sprays
Chili pepper spray, crafted from hot chili peppers, is an effective deterrent against squirrels targeting tomato plants. Squirrels are sensitive to capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers, which they find unpleasant in both taste and smell. To make the spray, blend or process the chili peppers, then mix them with water and strain out the pulp before applying.
Apple Cider Vinegar Solutions
Apple cider vinegar, due to its pungent smell and tartness, is effective at deterring squirrels from tomato plants. To use this method, soak cotton balls in apple cider vinegar and secure them to plant stems with twist ties. The vinegar will diffuse through the air, repelling squirrels as they approach. Remember to replace the cotton balls periodically as the scent fades.
Related: Homemade Fruit Fly Trap with Apple Cider Vinegar
Plant More Tomatoes
It might be disappointing to hear, but it’s nearly impossible to completely stop squirrels from occasionally biting into your tomatoes. One practical approach is to plant a bit more than you need and accept sharing some of your garden’s bounty with them.
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