Squirrels and chipmunks, while charismatic, are significant garden nuisances known for relentless digging, consuming flower bulbs, and raiding ripening produce. Their actions quickly undermine a gardener’s efforts. Managing these small mammals requires strategies that make the garden physically inaccessible and unappealing as a food source or habitat. The most successful approach integrates exclusion, sensory deterrence, and a reduction of primary attractants.
Physical Barriers and Exclusion Techniques
Physical exclusion is the most reliable method for protecting specific garden areas because it completely blocks access. Barriers must account for the distinct behaviors of each animal, as squirrels are adept climbers and chipmunks are burrowing ground dwellers. For ground-level protection, an L-shaped barrier is highly effective against chipmunks and other digging rodents. This involves burying galvanized hardware cloth 6 to 12 inches deep, then bending the mesh outward at a 90-degree angle to create a horizontal footer extending 12 to 18 inches away from the protected area.
Use 1/4-inch hardware cloth to prevent the entry of smaller chipmunks and juvenile rodents. To protect an entire garden bed from ground access, the barrier portion above ground should be at least 3 feet high for chipmunks. Squirrels, being aerial threats, necessitate the use of overhead netting or caging to protect fruits and nuts, which must be secured tightly. For newly planted bulbs, a small cage constructed from 1/4-inch hardware cloth can be placed directly over the bulb before planting to prevent digging.
Sensory Deterrents and Repellents
Sensory deterrents manipulate the animals’ strong sense of smell and taste to discourage feeding. Capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their heat, is an irritant to both squirrels and chipmunks, and capsaicin-based sprays can be applied directly to plants or bulbs. Reapplication is necessary after rainfall or overhead watering, typically every seven to fourteen days once feeding behavior has ceased. Avoid applying these sprays directly onto fruits or vegetables close to harvest to prevent altering their taste.
Another deterrent uses scent to mimic a predator, with commercial fox or coyote urine products commonly available. While these repellents can initially startle small mammals, results are often mixed, and animals become habituated if they do not perceive a real threat. Rotating the type of repellent, such as alternating between a predator scent and a strong essential oil like peppermint, helps maintain effectiveness. Motion-activated sprinklers provide a brief, startling burst of water that successfully deters animals without relying on taste or smell.
Eliminating Primary Food and Shelter Attractants
A long-term management strategy involves reducing the garden’s overall appeal by removing or securing the primary resources that attract these animals. Bird feeders are a major attractant, and securing them requires placing the feeder at least ten feet away from any jump-off points, such as tree branches or roofs. The use of a pole-mounted baffle, a dome-shaped barrier, placed below the feeder can prevent both squirrels and chipmunks from climbing up the pole.
Regular garden maintenance is necessary to eliminate other food sources, such as immediately cleaning up fallen fruit and harvesting vegetables as soon as they ripen. Store any outdoor bird seed, pet food, or bulbs in secure, thick metal or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Reducing potential nesting sites is also important, particularly for chipmunks who burrow under structures. Inspect the foundation of decks, sheds, and porches, sealing any gaps with hardware cloth or copper mesh to prevent them from creating dens. Before sealing an entry point, leave a single opening for a few days to ensure no animals are trapped inside.