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Squirrels Eating Flowers |
| By Ellen Brown |
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Q: My grandparents have a problem with squirrels. They're always in our yard, and eat my grandmother's tulips by breaking off the center of these flowers and then spit the petals. In doing so they destroying my grandparents favorite spot! What can we do to solve this problem?
Matt Santos-Drolet from Bristol, Rhode Island
A: Dear Matt:
Unfortunately, Tulips are one of a squirrels favorite garden flowers to snack on-especially it seems, the lighter-colored ones. If your grandmother is currently feeding the squirrels that come into her yard, you might suggest she move the feeder far away from her tulip bed and offer them an appealing alternative (like corn cobs or peanuts) while the tulips are in bloom. If she isn't feeding them, she may want to start. I keep my squirrels very well fed and place chicken wire over my tulip bulbs after planting them in the fall. So far, the squirrels don't seem one bit interested in my flowers.
Next year have your grandmother soak her tulip bulbs in Deer-Off or a similar repellant before she plants them. Most squirrels will also stay away from ammonia, urine or the scent of a predator. Products containing these scents can be purchased at a garden center and sprayed around growing plants. If you or someone you know has a dog, next time the dog gets a hair cut, you might save some of the clippings to spread around the flower bed. You could use your own hair, too. Cats also make good deterrents, but they shouldn't be allowed to run loose in the city where they can easily prey on songbirds. Let your grandmother know that squirrels dislike daffodils, ornamental onions and hyacinths. Live-trapping and relocating them is kind of a last resort and only works for a short time until new squirrels to move in.
I hope these ideas help! Good luck!
Ellen
About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
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RE: Squirrels Eating Flowers
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Post By Michelle (Guest Post)
(05/30/2007)
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I appreciate all the helpful hints for the squirrel problems with flowers, I just planted 4 flats of marigolds and most of them have no flowers on the top within 2 days now of planting them. I would suggest to anyone at this point do not make my mistake, I feed the birds every morning and started giving the squirrels some food too-- BIG MISTAKE--
now I have tripled the amount of squirrels in this area and I have no flowers - and they chase the birds away now. DO NOT FEED THE SQUIRRELS I am going to try the moth balls or irish spring soap ideas.
RE: Squirrels Eating Flowers
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Post By Bronwyn (Guest Post)
(05/03/2006)
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Well, so far I've tried mothballs, cayenne, ginger, deer/rabbit repellent that smells like carnivore urine, and black pepper, and nothing seems to keep it out of my violas and primroses. I think the primroses are a lost cause by now, but the violas seem to be considered an ever-renewing salad bar. It's a small 3rd flr apt deck that we're out on all the time, so human smell isn't working either. Oh, and it appears to be nights after the blinds are closed that they get munched. Any other suggestions?
RE: Squirrels Eating Flowers
Mix hot pepper sauce with water and spray it on the tulips. You will have to reapply after rain.
RE: Squirrels Eating Flowers
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Post By nancy80501 (Guest Post)
(04/13/2006)
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Sprinkling moth balls among the tulips also will keep them from eating the flowers or the bulbs.
RE: Squirrels Eating Flowers
I own a hair salon and from time to time I will get a customer coming in asking for a little bag of hair for their garden. It works like a charm if you just spread it around underneath the flowers. It gives off just enough of the lovely human scent to keep the squirrels out. Eventually the rain and wind move it away but I think once they are turned off of the area you they won't be back or you might have to do it again. I know it does work though.
RE: Squirrels Eating Flowers
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Post By (Guest Post)
(04/13/2006)
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Before planting bulbs wrap them in a wire type mesh, that the roots can grow through, and then plant them in the ground. the rodents cannot eat them.
RE: Squirrels Eating Flowers
hubby had this problem with chipmunks getting into the flowers at the country club where he works as grounds keeper. he said one thing is to plant daffodil bulbs they hate them. another is pieces of irish spring soap. and to keep some animals out of gardens just sprinkle some human hair around. so next time you get your hair cut remember this tip, and ask for it back...lol.
hth
brenda-ohio
RE: Squirrels Eating Flowers
Sprinkle cayenne pepper over all the tulips. They won't be back.
RE: Squirrels Eating Flowers
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf452062.tip.html I just found this on here too. There are a few ideas there.
RE: Squirrels Eating Flowers
Maybe try leaving food out for them. They get into our bird feeders, maybe you can try to leave them some food to keep them out of the flowers.
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