Bubblews, Rain, and Vicious Herbivores
By The Horse
@TheHorse (221658)
Walnut Creek, California
January 9, 2016 2:40pm CST
Those of you who knew me from "that other site" probably remember that I had an on-going battle with ground squirrels last summer. The kids I work with and I planted corn, green beans, sunflowers and squash in the early Spring, in spite of the drought, and nurtured them well enough that we had a thriving little garden.
But as Spring turned into Summer, and the drought continued, the neighboring ground squirrels started visiting our garden. First they ate all the sunflowers. Then the corn and green beans were gone. And finally, they ate all of the squash plants, though the peppery taste of the pants (I tested them) seemed to discourage them for awhile. They even ate the prickly pear cacti that bordered the garden.
Even though it's early January, I'm thinking of doing some planting. If the rains continue, and the ground squirrels' normal vegetation continues to thrive, maybe they'll be more likely to leave the garden alone. On the other hand, maybe they'll just wait until our "crops" are large and delicious, and destroy them then.
What do you think? Should I give it a try? I can call it an "experiment" and do it in the name of "science." The snow peas on my balcony continue to do well, and I saw some poking through at the preschool this week. I'll attach a picture of the garden near the vicious herbivores right before they started destroying it last Summer.
25 people like this
23 responses
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
9 Jan 16
Since you are dealing with kids do you want to get rid of the squirrels or deter them from eating your garden? If you tried pepper and that didn't help, you could try a heavy mulch. I think I would get the kids to think about what squirrels eat, not in your garden, and maybe set a couple of bowls of food out away from the garden. PS They also like bird seed if you wanted to sprinkle something different out for them.
Personally, if they are eating your garden I think you should have them for supper!
4 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
10 Jan 16
I think you need to plant marigolds around the edge, it discourages many other animals.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23412)
• United Kingdom
10 Jan 16
You could plant peppermint or capiscum, chillies something that might deter them. You could always spray the area with vinegar but not on the plants. What about those little wind things you see at the sea side it may be enough to distract them and frighten them off with their constant movement?
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23412)
• United Kingdom
10 Jan 16
@TheHorse Vinegar can be used for so many things from cleaning to deterring pests. It is brilliant as a window cleaner too although make sure you scrub up after you have used it and have a hot date!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (221658)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Jan 16
@garymarsh6 I take it vinegar does not work as cologne.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
12 Feb 16
I once spent a couple months living in a veteran's home. We had a squirrel that would come around, and we'd feed it bananas and other fruits. The lady who ran the place hated the thing and would get on us about feeding it. Luckily, we didn't have a garden.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (169855)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Jan 16
Why not? You wil only find out if you try. Maybe a border of something they don't like around the garden.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (169855)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Jan 16
@TheHorse ....Marigolds? I've heard they keep pests out but maybe just bugs.
@allknowing (138935)
• India
11 Jan 16
Is there no way you can stop those squirrels from attacking your crops. As long as they continue to visit you there is no point in working in your garden.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (138935)
• India
11 Jan 16
@TheHorse Then you should create some greenery in the field next to you garden and then perhaps plan your own plantation - just a suggestion.
@LeaPea2417 (37435)
• Toccoa, Georgia
10 Jan 16
Yes, I would go ahead and give it a try, and experiment.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37435)
• Toccoa, Georgia
11 Jan 16
@TheHorse If you have a sun room, it is a nice place to start planting seeds indoors during the coldest weather. Then in the Spring, the small sprouted plants can be transplanted outdoors.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (221658)
• Walnut Creek, California
11 Jan 16
@LeaPea2417 Alas, I don't get a lot of sun in my place. But I may try some starts inside, just to see what happens.
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
10 Jan 16
the lil wee critters were jest hungry, hon. i'd sure be doin' me some plantin' 'n figure a way to keep 'em out.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
10 Jan 16
@TheHorse me's well. 'r, ya could jest box 'em up 'n send 'em here. i miss the lil darlin's myself. perhaps toss me in a couple'f squirrels, too?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (221658)
• Walnut Creek, California
11 Jan 16
@crazyhorseladycx Look fer a package. I'll send you some snow peas, corn, rainwater, and a couple of fattened up squirrels, along with my vinagrette marinade.
1 person likes this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
9 Feb 16
Go for it, squirrels are going to do what they do. Last spring I had these medium size holes in my backyard, I imagined everything from gophers to a new breed of giant rodents. My neighbor told me the squirrels were digging up food (nuts?) they had buried before the winter.
1 person likes this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10 Feb 16
@TheHorse. Hey, Animal Lover. To you they would have been cute 
, to me they looked like a scary movie was being filmed in my yard 
.
, to me they looked like a scary movie was being filmed in my yard .1 person likes this
@TheHorse (221658)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Feb 16
@sherryericha Maybe they're like the "it's just a bunny" bunnies from that Monty Python movie.
@RasmaSandra (81616)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Jan 16
@TheHorse well if I were you I would give it a try but with one difference. Our neighbors here had problems this summer with big rats not squirrels and when they planted new crops they put a light netting around the beds I just don't know how it really works but this netting covered the beds and the rats didn't bother the crops. You can search online there is something even called raised bed crop protection gardening. Just saying.
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
10 Jan 16
Wow, have you looked up online on ideas to keep these squirrels out of your garden? I know the squirrels we have, they were horrible about getting my apples and years ago a member here suggested I tie aluminium pie pans on some of the branches, because a slight movement would make them bang together, scaring off the squirrels.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
10 Jan 16
As part of the "experiment" @TheHorse , you could always grow some veggies in an area with a sign saying, "Squirrels Only" and see if they fall for it. LOL. I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (221658)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 Feb 16
Deer ate a lot of my plants when I Lived in a house in Orinda. But they can't get onto my balcony, and they don't live out near where I work. But the Ground Rats are there and lurking. We'll see what happens with the rainier Winter.
1 person likes this
