Effortless Stick Technique Deters Squirrels from Invading Your Garden, Causing No Harm to Them
In the ongoing battle between gardeners and squirrels, a simple and natural method has emerged as a potential solution to keep the furry critters at bay from your vegetable patch. Known as the Stick Trick, this method can provide temporary respite for your growing seedlings, especially during the vulnerable seedling stage.
The Stick Trick involves using sticks, twigs, gardening stakes, bamboo stalks, or wooden kabob skewers to create barriers around each desirable plant instead of creating a perimeter around the entire vegetable bed. By placing sticks just above the soil and having them emerge further from the soil, you can obstruct squirrels' faces as they try to reach or dig for vegetables. Sharp and pointy sticks are particularly beneficial for this purpose.
While the Stick Trick can be somewhat effective in deterring squirrels in the short term, it is important to note that squirrels are intelligent creatures and can adapt to repeated patterns. Changing the stick arrangement every few days can prolong the trick's effectiveness, but this can be labor-intensive and may not be practical for everyone.
In the long term, the Stick Trick alone is unlikely to be fully effective. It is usually necessary to combine multiple strategies to protect a vegetable patch effectively from squirrels. Other methods such as covering vulnerable plants with wire mesh or sprinkling cayenne pepper on and around vegetable plants can complement physical barriers like the Stick Trick to improve deterrence.
Interestingly, squirrels do not seem to enjoy spicy foods, and the use of cayenne pepper can be an effective deterrent. Feeding birds can attract squirrels to a vegetable patch and should be avoided or done far from the patch. Providing water near mature vegetables may discourage squirrels from eating them due to their thirst.
Dogs can also be used to scare squirrels away from a vegetable patch. However, it is essential to ensure that your furry friend does not pose a threat to the plants themselves.
In summary, the Stick Trick is a useful short-term deterrent during early plant growth but is not a reliable standalone long-term solution to keep squirrels out of vegetable gardens. Squirrel-proofing a vegetable patch usually requires multiple strategies and tricks. By understanding the habits and preferences of these agile creatures, gardeners can better protect their hard-earned produce from unwanted visitors.
[1] Gardening Know How. (2021). The Stick Trick: A Simple Method to Protect Your Vegetable Garden from Squirrels. [online] Available at: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden/pests/animals/how-to-keep-squirrels-out-of-vegetable-garden.htm
[2] The Spruce. (2021). How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Vegetable Garden. [online] Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-keep-squirrels-out-of-your-vegetable-garden-1808790
[3] The Old Farmer's Almanac. (2021). How to Keep Squirrels Out of the Garden. [online] Available at: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/how-to-keep-squirrels-out-of-the-garden
[4] HGTV. (2021). How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden. [online] Available at: https://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoors/gardens/how-to-keep-squirrels-out-of-your-garden
The Stick Trick may prove beneficial in gardening and home-and-garden practices, working to shield seedlings in vegetable patches from inquisitive squirrels during their vulnerable stages. Moreover, the lifestyle adjustment suggested by the Stick Trick can be expanded to other gardening methods, such as employing sharp, pointy sticks as a physical barrier around desirable plants.
