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The squirrel returns to do his damage
June 24th, 2008
Aha! But he’s staying out of the gardens. I think the Shake Away has been a success.
Today I went outside and saw that my diffenbachia plant, which I keep on the back step, was GONE. In its place in the pot, two large holes. Obvious digging from that bad boy squirrel. I had not applied Shake Away to any potted plants, and will probably get some lava rock tomorrow at the Home Depot. Supposedly lava rock as mulch on potted plants hurts their tender paws and they leave pots alone. We’ll see.
I did find the diffenbachia in the back yard, just lying there, root and all. So I’ve put it back in the pot and hope it does fine. A certain squirrel should thank his lucky stars I didn’t see him. I would have yelled.
Squirrels are still behaving
June 16th, 2008
After so much trouble with the squirrels digging holes everywhere, they seem to have stopped. I’m afraid to say it out loud (or post it), but I’m very pleased.
I’m going to have to give props to Shake Away, the urine powder that I use every year with astounding results. When we first moved in, the back yard was overrun with wild rabbits. Having raised rabbits as a child, I love rabbits. But I didn’t want them eating everything, and that’s the first time I tried Shake Away.
It actually worked a little too well. I haven’t seen a rabbit in at least two years. I didn’t mind them in the yard; I just wanted them out of the gardens. But I guess they moved on, fearful of the invisible fox and bobcat I have in the yard.
Then last year, shortly after our neighbors moved, the squirrels moved in. The neighbors had a pit bull and little yappy dog behind a huge privacy fence. But their presence and barking was apparently enough to keep the squirrels away. Those squirrels began to eat the tomatoes, picking the best, biggest, most ripe fruit, taking a bite or two, then tossing it in the yard.
I would have shared if they weren’t so wasteful and picking the fruits I had my eyes on. I did a little Shake Away, but in the end, just started picking tomatoes a day before they were perfectly ripe. And accepting that I had enough to share with the squirrels.
But this year, this constant digging has me mad. Not a single bulb bloomed in spring, so I guess they ate my bulbs. No tulips, no daffodils, no crocus.
I began using Shake Away again, but the results weren’t good. I still found digging in my cucurbit hills and around my vegetable garden. I also think they may have swiped some flower tubers. I finished off a can of the urine powder, and decided to try another. But there are different flavors, including a kind for squirrels that is in rain-proof bags. I called the company’s 800 number to ask what kind would be best. (The bags are primarily for bird feeders, not for gardens.)
The young lady was VERY kind and helpful, and said squirrels are the toughest to get rid of. It wasn’t sounding good at all. But she gave me very specific instructions on how to use it, instead of the haphazard way I’ve used it since day one. And she said if this can didn’t work, then I shouldn’t waste more money on it, and I could get a full refund on the last can. GREAT POLICY!
Well, it seems to be working! I haven’t seen any evidence of digging in any of my gardens. I’ve seen a few holes in the yard, but I can live with that. And they seem to be digging in some of my potted plants. I’ve read that lava mulch will stop that. It hurts their paws I guess.
So thank you again, Shake Away. When it works, this is the greatest product in the world. And their money-back policy is fab. How can you beat that?
I really researched squirrel control, but it seems they’re hard to deal with. Even when you kill them, more come in their place. The only real method it seems is a dog in the yard, and even then, it’s not a guarantee.
I also *wonder* about some castor bean plants I’m growing. Could they be helping as well? They’re only a few inches high now, and I grow them because I love the look. But they’re also called the mole plant, because they supposedly repel moles. Could they work on squirrels too?
I’m just thrilled that for now, they aren’t bothering me. I’ve also planted an entire row of extra tomatoes I had grown from seed, and that’s my sharing row. If the squirrels need a few, fine. The rest are going to the local food pantry. I planted those on the side of the house where a little bit of sun shines through. So far, they’re looking great.
I wondered about the acidity of that patch of soil because there’s a pine tree that drops needles. Those needles turn the soil very acidic. We’ll see.
The bees were also out in force this morning. In the hairy vetch and in the back garden. Oh, and the aphids have gone nuts in the butterfly weed. I sprayed some off, but need to do more. They’re kind of cute.
Update on my squirrel problem
June 2nd, 2008
Well, knock on wood!
I”ve been very carefully applying the Shake Away (Small Critter), and so far, so good. The squirrels had been digging in my curcurbit hills out back (cucurbits are cucumbers, melons, squash). They killed my best County Fair cucumber plant and I was furious about that. (but more are coming up, as well as another kind of cuke, from bonus seeds…gotta love the bonus seeds!) And they dug like crazy in all the hills, plus in the areas I’d planted new dahlia and canna tubers. Grrr.
I had been sporadically applying Shake Away; went through an entire can. But I wasn’t doing it like the can said, and probably way over powdering. So I wanted to buy another can, but called Shake Away’s 800 number and asked whether I should use Small Critter or Rodent. She said Small Critter. I also wanted to know if I should use their sealed packets for squirrels instead, but she said those were more for bird feeders and I should stick to the powder.
Very helpful young lady! She also said squirrels were very tough to get rid of. I had mentioned the stuff had worked so well on the rabbits, but she said rabbits are pretty easy. So she gave me some tips, and said try one more can, but if it doesn’t work, to call them back for a refund. I’ve heard before that Shake Away has good customer service, and yes they do.
I’ve been lightly sprinkling it on the hills and around areas that have been troublesome. You’re only supposed to do it twice a week, so I’ve been working at restraining myself (a little dab’ll do ya). And so far, not a single dig!!! I’m almost afraid to post, because it’s only been a few days.
But I did see near the big tree where they’d dug a few big holes. I guess looking for nuts they buried. Why is it they bury nuts and forget where they are??? That’s not very efficient.
There’s still the tomato problem later in season. Last year, they started stealing tomatoes and it was infuriating. They would choose the most beautiful, ripest and biggest tomato, take a bite or two, then toss it on the ground. You’d find it covered in gnats in the lawn.
So THIS year, I have a new idea. Not mine, my friend thought of it.
I grew a bunch of tomatoes from seed, and most are going to go to waste because I usually grow more seedlings than I need, in case some die. Well, there’s an area on one side of the house, where nothing will grow. I’ve been working on it every year, adding compost, and planting samples of various plants (mostly groundcovers) to see what lives. So far, only the ajuga has survived. It came back and had pretty purple flowers. Some workmen stepped all over it, and it’s still alive. But it hasn’t spread at all. I’ve got a clump of Scotch moss I bought (Stepables) that I intend to plant as well. I would love a nice patch of moss.
Regardless, there’s that spot where nothing grows, and there’s one tiny area that gets direct sunlight. (It’s mostly shade, which is part of the problem) I’m going to plant those extra tomato plants there. For the squirrels. It’s near the tree they love, and if I just let that go, they can have all the tomatoes they want. I’ll use the Shake Away in the main veg. garden, and hopefully will divert them to the “trap tomatoes.”
So that’s phase two of my “Squirrel Containment Plan.” I hope they’ll play along.
Other than that, things are looking good. I’ve got Blue Mountain (a type of Penstemon) about to bloom, a surprise coreopsis blooming out back, my favorite deep red Asiatic lilies are ready to bloom despite being nearly murdered by hedge trimmer man, and my butterfly garden is going to be THE most spectacular ever. It’s already so full of bees and other beneficials. The bees just make me happy, because they’re doing hard work.