Hostas are popular garden perennials, but their tender leaves and stems often attract common backyard wildlife, including squirrels. While squirrels are not the primary predators of these plants, they do occasionally target them, especially under certain environmental conditions. Understanding why this happens and how to distinguish squirrel damage from that of other garden pests is key to effective plant protection.
Understanding Why Squirrels Target Hostas
Squirrels do not typically consume hostas as a staple food source, but they will eat them under specific circumstances. The most vulnerable parts are the new shoots, tender young leaves, and flower buds that emerge in the spring. These parts are softer and contain more easily digestible nutrients than the mature foliage.
A major reason squirrels turn to hostas is a need for moisture during periods of drought. Hosta leaves are succulent and water-rich, making them an appealing target when natural water sources are scarce. The animals consume the foliage to hydrate themselves, often leaving only small stems remaining near the ground.
Damage also comes from the squirrel’s habit of burying and retrieving nuts. They frequently dig at the base of plants to cache food or investigate disturbed soil. This digging can damage or completely uproot young hostas, sometimes consuming the roots or “eyes” of the plant.
The damage is often a matter of convenience or simple investigation rather than a deliberate dietary choice.
Identifying Squirrel Damage Versus Other Pests
Determining the source of hosta damage is necessary before applying deterrents. Squirrel damage is characterized by clean cuts on the stems or buds, or the scattering of partially eaten pieces. They also leave signs of digging, such as small holes or disturbed soil surrounding the plant’s base.
In contrast, damage from other common pests includes:
- Deer damage typically presents as ragged, torn edges on the leaves, as they lack upper incisors and must pull and rip the foliage.
- Rabbits prefer new, young shoots and graze them down smoothly near the ground, but rarely bother with mature leaves.
- Slugs and snails leave distinct, irregular holes within the leaf tissue, often with a slimy trail present.
- Voles and other tunneling rodents focus their damage underground, nibbling on the roots and crowns, which causes the entire plant to wilt and collapse.
The specific pattern of the damage helps pinpoint the culprit and guides the choice of protection strategy.
Practical Methods for Hostas Protection
Employing a multi-faceted approach that addresses the squirrel’s need for food and water can help protect hostas. Providing alternative water sources, such as a bird bath or a shallow dish of water away from the garden, reduces the animal’s incentive to chew hosta leaves for hydration during dry spells. Placing a dedicated squirrel feeder filled with preferred foods can redirect their attention away from the plants.
To deter chewing, repellents that contain capsaicin can be sprayed directly onto the foliage. Mammals find the taste and scent of capsaicin highly unpleasant, and this solution must be reapplied after rain or watering. Other scent-based deterrents, such as blood meal or strongly scented soaps, can be scattered around the hosta to discourage investigation and digging.
Physical barriers offer the most reliable protection, particularly when hostas are young and vulnerable. Small wire cages or netting can be temporarily placed over emerging plants to prevent access to the tender shoots. To stop digging, a layer of hardware mesh can be installed just beneath the soil surface around the plant.