I have a small garden in my yard, about 25x25. Last year I planted some corn, to my surprise it grew. I couldnt wait to pick a piece and eat it. Well one day while I was weeding I noticed not one ears had any kernels on them. DAMN SQUIRRELS!!!
I got my farm, as my 4 year old calls it, going and we planted corn again. Any ideas on how to keep the squirrel away, my two dogs aren't helping so I need some other methods.
Make wire snares, and put several on each stalk at different heights and sides. This way you will have some meat with your corn. They made a mess of my place also, but after the snares, I don't have as much of a problem!
awesome idea! You can also try spraying fox urine around your garden. Put out actual corn in an area away from your garden to encourage them to feed there. Spray hot pepper spray on stalks they would have to climb up. Put netting over corn. Get a motion sensor sprinkler to soak them when near. Shoot a squirrel and get your dogs worked up by playing with it tied to a string and see if they dont start chasing them. run a wire mesh fence around garden 2" off ground and electrify. Remove any squirrel nest you see, fall is easiest. A 12 gauge should work nicely.
Sorry Magic Jeep but I have to include Off the wall ideas:
digging a moat.... unless that pesky waterskiing squirrel is near
posting no squirrel signs
replacing all nut trees with non nut bearing trees
hiring chip n dale to negotiate with them
Install a park bench and encourage elderly people to feed them peanuts
__________________ Most of my life I've spent hunting,... the rest of it I've just wasted
White, Cross, Thanks for the tips. White, my wife would kill me if I came in with a squirrel to eat. Cross, my dogs eat the squirrels when they catch'em but my garden is fenced so the dogs can't get in, they eat other veggies. I don't think shooting my 12 gauge will go over with my neighbors or the PD. I am considering digging a moat, it can double as a swimming hole for the kids in the summer. I did put the bench in but the old people kept wondering away and not returning. Chip & Dale are currently not available. These squirrels cant read and There are not nut trees in the yard. So I think I am going to try the hot pepper spray. Again thanks guys.
Mjeep, that is funny, glad you got a sense a humor like me, you gotta laugh at problems like that.
AH is right, I remember Oxford talking about a squirrel problem too, he is a great resource for garden info. I think the pepper spray should help out, I have read that it is very effective, just need to respray after a hard rain. I did think of another "real" idea too. How high is your fence and how is it constructed? If you bought a cheap roll of tin roof flashing and put it at an angle at the top of the fence, its slippery surface would prevent them from climbing up and over it. I have seen it done around bird feeders to keep them from climbing up... not sure of the logistics, but a thought none the less
best of luck
next time put your invisible fence dog collar on those old folks, may at least keep em' in the yard LOL
__________________ Most of my life I've spent hunting,... the rest of it I've just wasted
You might try a trick we use to keep the lil pests out of the bird feeders, mix 1 part apple cider vinegar to 5 parts water, add 4-5 tbls ground red pepper add 1 quartered habanero pepper (if you can get them) add 1 tbls plain old dish soap (helps the stuff stay on the plant longer) warm the mix up in micro to lukewarm remove stir and let sit at room temp at least 6 hours (to release as much heat from the habanero as possible). If you don't have one get yourself a cheap 2 gal pump sprayer (dollar general usually has em for less than 6 bucks) pour the whole mix pepper and all into the sprayer and spray the corn ears as they emerge up until they silk out and tassle .
You can also treat your bird seed with a dry mixture of ground and crushed red pepper and mic with the bird seed. Birds will still eat the seed as birds lack the tastebuds which taste heat, but the deer, squirrels and other pests won't eat it!
__________________ "You can have my Freedom when I'm done with it!"
I have a small garden in my yard, about 25x25. Last year I planted some corn, to my surprise it grew. I couldnt wait to pick a piece and eat it. Well one day while I was weeding I noticed not one ears had any kernels on them. DAMN SQUIRRELS!!!
I got my farm, as my 4 year old calls it, going and we planted corn again. Any ideas on how to keep the squirrel away, my two dogs aren't helping so I need some other methods.
Purchase a CO2 powered pellet rifle, shoot the squirrels then eat them.
COUNTRYSIDE: I raise Red Savina hot peppers and squirrels leave my bird feeders alone. Spray your vegetable plants with the pepper spray to keep rabbits out of my garden. I also use it on berry branches and rose branches at the beginning of garden rows; and have a friend that likes to use the hot pepper powder.
The hottest peppers you can grow are Red Savina (Amazon), then orange Habanero
Let the peppers ripen or buy from a store, however garden grown and fresh would probably be more effective since most vegetables in stores are picked early and ripen on transit to the store.
Some plants need 120 days, so start early. Do not pick ripe peppers with bare fingers. Do not touch eyes with gloves (and do wear gloves), keep away from children and pets.
Cut peppers into sections, remove seeds, then dry to brittle texture, grind into powder, mix with salad oil. Spray this onto bird seed, tree trunks, shepherd hook rods or stones.
Handle these peppers carefully. Also use rose branches, berry thorn branches (or any thorny branches), and spread them out around the bottom of the feeders.--Karl Hoes, Wisconsin
__________________ Most of my life I've spent hunting,... the rest of it I've just wasted
