Squirrels are a big problem in my urban garden but I finally outsmarted them, they’re not going to ruin my veggies again
A HOMEOWNER was not about to let one type of rodent ruin their urban garden.
Let’s just say that instead of getting mad at the animal, they decided to get even.
Redditor Papier183 shared how they planned on waging their silent war with the disruptive squirrels.
“Squirrels are a big problem around here. They even dig and break the potted flowers for no apparent reason,” they said.
“Well, they’re not going to ruin my vegetables again,” they continued.
Not one to put up with their plants getting destroyed, they made their own wooden enclosure to keep the unwanted invaders away.
Another Redditor was curious about how they built the cage-like structure.
“I really like this idea! What kind of wood did you use? Did you treat or seal the wood before assembling?” they asked.
“It’s 2 x 2 spruce. It wasn’t all pretty and straight though, I don’t think it’s typically used for things you would see,” they replied.
They explained how the DIY project was also affordable.
“But it was pretty cheap, so I bought a few more than I needed and chose the best-looking ones for the front and the curved one in places where I could hopefully straighten it up by screwing into other parts,” they said.
“I did treat the wood before assembling.”
They also explained how they connected six frames to each other using bolts with wingnutes.
“It can be disassembled if needed,” they said.
They also used L brackets in the corners with a screw connecting the two sides, as well as wood glue.
“Just measured as I went along with the general idea in my head,” they said.
If you want to try your own outdoor DIY project, Home Depot sells a J-Grade Spruce Pattern Board that measures 1 inch x 6 inch x 10 feet for $11.22.
The board is described as meeting the “highest grading standards” when it comes to strength and appearance.
Another platform user shared what they used to combat their own pesky creatures.
“Personally, I went with a BB gun and The Squirrelinator,” they said.
“Squirrels now actively avoid my backyard unless they really want to meet their ancestors.”
“Ah, yes. I know someone who went BB gun for a while too, but he finally gave up this year and made smaller cages for his plants,” the Redditor replied.
Tips for keeping pests from your garden
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- Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats.
- Place Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, Amazon, over your flowerbeds.
- Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs.
- Spray plants with Neem Oil, $9, Target, to repel ants, flies, and spiders.
- Dust your flowerbeds with Diatomaceous Earth, $8.26, Amazon.
- Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds.
- Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails.
They explained some potential issues with the method.
“Can’t always be there at the right time. Don’t know about the Squirrelinator, but happy this works for you,” they said.
“I went for a build once and stop worrying approach. Whatever keeps them away.”