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Ok DU Gardeners. How do I keep the squirrels from eating my tulips? (Original Post) FSogol Apr 2017 OP
Little assholes. They did the same to my begonias last year. Squinch Apr 2017 #1
I've read that some types of peppers discourage them. spooky3 Apr 2017 #2
This message was self-deleted by its author Xipe Totec Apr 2017 #9
It's dumb to consume capsaicin? You don't know what amazing cuisines of the world Nitram Apr 2017 #10
This message was self-deleted by its author Xipe Totec Apr 2017 #11
I'm not sure why you think you have more experience with peppers than I. I'll write that off as Nitram Apr 2017 #16
This message was self-deleted by its author Xipe Totec Apr 2017 #17
Ah, but the old world found various and wonderous new culinary uses for our wonderful peppers. Nitram Apr 2017 #18
This message was self-deleted by its author Xipe Totec Apr 2017 #19
Keep in mind that you wrote, "Only humans are dumb enough to consume them." Nitram Apr 2017 #20
I've grown tomatoes for years without any problem. CrispyQ Apr 2017 #3
They do that in drought conditions. NutmegYankee Apr 2017 #15
There's a product I used to keep deer from eating my plants BeekeeperInVermont Apr 2017 #4
I don't know if it works yet but cilla4progress Apr 2017 #5
I'll try this one first. Thanks. n/t FSogol Apr 2017 #22
Eat the squirrels? SeattleVet Apr 2017 #6
Don't they taste a little fuzzy when you cook them? hedda_foil Apr 2017 #7
No... SeattleVet Apr 2017 #14
I sprinkle with ground Cayanne pepper. I order it by the gallon on ebay. It's cheap. Comes in a big OregonBlue Apr 2017 #8
Bulbs are something I am just getting into teezy Apr 2017 #12
plant daffodils. we keep getting gifts from squirrels. we had a new crocus. pansypoo53219 Apr 2017 #13
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll try a few of these. n/t FSogol Apr 2017 #21
moth balls that are crushed up. Botany Apr 2017 #23

Squinch

(52,739 posts)
1. Little assholes. They did the same to my begonias last year.
Sat Apr 8, 2017, 01:57 PM
Apr 2017

I yell at them, but they just yell back.

Response to spooky3 (Reply #2)

Nitram

(24,604 posts)
10. It's dumb to consume capsaicin? You don't know what amazing cuisines of the world
Sat Apr 8, 2017, 03:16 PM
Apr 2017

you are missing!

Response to Nitram (Reply #10)

Nitram

(24,604 posts)
16. I'm not sure why you think you have more experience with peppers than I. I'll write that off as
Sun Apr 9, 2017, 04:04 PM
Apr 2017

more bombast. I'm into flavor, not pain. Spent a lot of time in West Africa, Thailand and India.

Response to Nitram (Reply #16)

Nitram

(24,604 posts)
18. Ah, but the old world found various and wonderous new culinary uses for our wonderful peppers.
Mon Apr 10, 2017, 01:57 PM
Apr 2017

I'll repeat: it's not how hot they are, it's about how they taste in combination with other ingredients.

Response to Nitram (Reply #18)

Nitram

(24,604 posts)
20. Keep in mind that you wrote, "Only humans are dumb enough to consume them."
Mon Apr 10, 2017, 02:05 PM
Apr 2017

I can't let such an idiotic statement pass.

CrispyQ

(38,245 posts)
3. I've grown tomatoes for years without any problem.
Sat Apr 8, 2017, 02:07 PM
Apr 2017

Last year, the squirrels got almost every one! They would take one bite & leave it on the ground. I found one tomato on a fence post, a couple of bites taken out of it. Little shits. They've never done this before. ???

4. There's a product I used to keep deer from eating my plants
Sat Apr 8, 2017, 02:25 PM
Apr 2017

called "Plantskydd" and it is made for a variety of different annoying animals including small rodents. It comes as a powder that you sprinkle on and around the plant, also as a liquid spray and is certified organic if that matters to you. Although I never actually saw deer eat my plants, the damage to leaves was consistent with deer nibbling. The stuff seemed to work: the plants put out new foliage and I didn't see any more damage.

cilla4progress

(25,904 posts)
5. I don't know if it works yet but
Sat Apr 8, 2017, 02:31 PM
Apr 2017

I made a concoction of garlic powder, hot red pepper, egg (to make it adhere) and water. Spray it around the tulips. Friend told me about it.

In the past I was successful with shaved Irish Spring soap, but it seems the deer got used to it.

SeattleVet

(5,589 posts)
6. Eat the squirrels?
Sat Apr 8, 2017, 02:36 PM
Apr 2017

Really good in a stew, or fried. I used to like to put them in the slow cooker with some herbs and a little garlic.

Also excellent with dumplings - squirrel and dumplings instead of chicken.

SeattleVet

(5,589 posts)
14. No...
Sat Apr 8, 2017, 04:30 PM
Apr 2017

sort of like mildly-flavored beef. Unless it's a red squirrel that lives in pine forests; they taste a little like they are already seasoned with rosemary.

OregonBlue

(7,923 posts)
8. I sprinkle with ground Cayanne pepper. I order it by the gallon on ebay. It's cheap. Comes in a big
Sat Apr 8, 2017, 02:44 PM
Apr 2017

sprinkle jar and I put it all over my bloomers. Squirrels hate it and so do the deer. I also put it around the perimeter of my lawn since every cat in the neighborhood had started pooping in my nice beds. They sniff it once and they don't come back. Just don't use too much. You don't want to hurt them. Just teach them your lawn is not a fun place to be.

teezy

(269 posts)
12. Bulbs are something I am just getting into
Sat Apr 8, 2017, 03:46 PM
Apr 2017

I read online that the reason squirrels dig up bulbs is because when they see fresh soil, they assume some type of food has just been buried. They don't actually like bulbs, which is why they take a bite and leave it... but they rummage through trying to find whatever it is that's been buried, and in the process ruin your garden.

The solution I've seen over and over, which I'll be doing very soon, is to dig up the area you want to plant and lay chicken wire or something like that down. Bury it, plant the bulbs, and then put another layer of chicken wire on the top and bury it. The tulips will grow through the chicken wire. And then according to a youtube video I watched, cover it with mulch so the squirrela don't see the turned up soil.

Gotta say, they never disrupted my garden beds when I mulched them. Nervous to try, but hopefully it works.

pansypoo53219

(21,724 posts)
13. plant daffodils. we keep getting gifts from squirrels. we had a new crocus.
Sat Apr 8, 2017, 04:01 PM
Apr 2017

i think the alliums were all squirrel gifts. they GAVE us a lot of alliums. moved them + not stolen again. gotta check. think squirrels gave us tulips. they do not like daffodils.

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