Keeping Squirrels Out of Garden!

Christina's answer is probaby the way you'll go about protecting your home-growns. However, I had to read your question when I saw the title, as my husband's been shooting squirrels with a BBgun that are in our yard. So that's my suggestion. Yes, they're God's creatures, but they're rodents. Would you have any problem shooting a rat in your back yard?

Anyways. Maybe that's just how some of us do it in Texas. Hopefully removing the birdseed will be a quick and easy fix too.

To keep squirrels away from or keep them from eating your garden plants, mix this:

1 gallon of water
6 capfuls of Murphy's Oil Soap
2 Tbsp. of cayenne pepper
Spray onto plants. This does not harm the plants and will keep the squirrels away.

Also:

Red fox urine will drive away squirrels, rats, mice, cats, etc. You can pick it up at a natural gardening store or even from an exterminator. You can buy in pellet form or liquid. The pellet form is generally the easiest to use. Just sprinkle it around you garden.

If all this fails:
Get a humane box trap, catch the little bugger and relocate him some miles away.

Good luck

I used to buy cayenne pepper and sprinkle it on the soil around my flower bulbs and herb plants to keep the squirrels away. I only had a porch and so my things were planted in pots. The squirrels loved to dig but once I used the cayenne pepper - they were gone. I did have to reapply. SInce it comes in a dry powder maybe try that instead of any spray that involves water. I also bought a big container at Sams - much cheaper than the grocery store. Good luck!

Ok. There are several options for you.

Spray some soapy water on your watermelons and let it dry. IT won't hurt the melons, the plants will love it, and it will put a bad taste on the mouth of the pest who eats it. Now, I am just talking about a small amount of soap in the water. a few drops or a very short squirt per gallon.

There is a product called scare tape. It is metalic on one side, red on the other. We have had mixed success with this.

My strawberries were being chewed up. I went to Target (any toy store would work) and bought several rubber snakes that I have placed out in the garden. So far, so good with the strawberries.

Dogs tend to scare squirrels off. If you do not have any dogs, see if you have friends who would give you pet hair from the brush to put out with your melons or hang on mesh bags from the trees.

Also, see if you can get your hands on some zoo poo...especially fresh carnivore variety.

Put little posts with tin foil flags on them. The squirrels and birds will stay away from the fruit. Keep the bird feeder and move it to an area in the yard away from the fruit you are trying to grow. Also put out corn for the squirrels. If they have a full belly they won't bother your fruit. As far as getting rid of them shooting them would be the only sure thing. Do not spray anything on your watermelons. It will ruin them. You can actually go into Walmart and buy the stuff to spread around the outside edge of your yard to keep all animals out. It really does work. I know someone that uses it every Spring. Get a cap gun and when you see a squirrel in the yard shoot it. They don't like the sound and will soon leave you alone. Natural ways are the best ways to get rid of them. We always grew a big garden in Michigan and never had a problem with any kind of pests or animals. We planted marigolds all the way around the garden. The animals and insects don't like the smell of them. We actually planted them around the house for a few years to keep the bugs out. a roach won't even cross a path of a mairgold.
They are pretty and do the job...

You can also feed the squirrels, they make squirrel post and you attach corn to it...........that way they will fill up on it instead of your garden.

I don't recommend shooting them, that might be against the law........

I think the snake idea might work, we have dogs, and although they don't get into the garden, it doesn't keep the squirrels out of our yard either......

The bird feeder is the biggy.....once it is gone, you should see the squirrels slowly disappear.....

Good luck....take care.