How to Keep Squirrels Away From Sunflowers
- 1). Add a deterrent to the top layer of soil when planting sunflower seeds or plants. Most squirrels are repelled by the odors of coffee grounds, mothballs, peppermint, cayenne pepper and used cat litter, and will avoid the area. The ammonia in the cat litter is as good a deterrent as a cat.
- 2). Cover the soil around the sunflowers. Squirrels will dig in soil that is exposed, but will avoid digging through other materials. Use black plastic mesh netting to deter the squirrels. Secure the mesh and weigh it down with a layer of mulch pebbles or rocks.
- 3). Cover the growing plant with a protective wrap of black plastic mesh. The black plastic mesh is not as visible as other types of protective wraps, such as chicken wire, and is more aesthetically pleasing.
- 4). Add additional deterrents to the surface soil around the sunflowers and the flowers themselves. Use cayenne powder or make a spray from hot pepper sauce and water, one bottle per gallon, with a teaspoon of dish detergent added. Alternatively, use commercial squirrel deterrents for several weeks to deter squirrels from the plants.
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