grey squirrels

[onethatcares]

dig the heck out of my new plantings (vegetables) and I don't want to hurt them and am wondering if anyone has had luck with mint oil or garlic oil on cotton balls placed in short sections of pvc pipe to keep them out of the garden.

[mbusby]

1. A red tailed hawk ....

... in a nest in a tree ... problem solved. Worked for us.

[Kali]

2. almost nothing works on squirels or deer

other than good exclusionary fencing. and even that isn't always squirrelproof.

[steventh]

3. Liquid Fence was recommended to me by a friend.

He said it works well to keep deer off his hostas. I'm hoping it will keep rabbits off my plants. Perhaps it's worth a try for squirrels, though the company that makes it makes no representation about effectiveness against squirrels.

[steventh]

4. Just discovered that there's also All-Purpose Animal Repellent

also by the Liquid Fence company

https://www.liquidfence.com/Products/Animal-Repellent/All-Purpose-Animal-Repellent-Ready-to-Use.aspx

All-Purpose* Animal Repellent Ready-to-Use

Starts to work immediately
Harmless to plants and animals**
Safe around kids, pets & wildlife**
Safe for edible plants**
Lasts up to 4 weeks against rabbits
*Repels rabbits, squirrels, mice and other small mammals
Covers approximately 1,000 sq ft

bold added by me

[onethatcares]

5. thank you.

I will be picking that up and trying it out tomorrow morning, 2/21/22. It's either that or the bb gun.

[steventh]

6. You're welcome. I hope it works for you.

Please let me know, maybe by private note, if it works. I know the bb gun feeling. I resorted to a nerf ball gun at one time. It didn't help at all lol.

[onethatcares]

7. I've also thought about

letting the neighbors cats have free reign. I've been chasing them, the cats, away from my yard and garden when I know they'd probably chase the tree rats away with no help from myself.

The squirrels do go crazy, barking and chattering when a feline is in my yard.. I'll let you know how things go. It might be the option that makes most sense.