WANTED Dead or Alive: How to Stop Squirrels from Digging in Your Garden

Attention bounty hunters:

This squirrel has sharp teeth! Be aware that he sometimes appears with a gang and will hide among the trees. He has been spotted on NUMEROUS occasions slinking through my tomato plants, digging up my flower beds, and generally stealing whatever he can.

The last straw was finding him swinging in my hammock chewing a hole!

I would like him captured DEAD OR ALIVE!

Every gardener eventually has that one pest that seems determined to undo all of their hard work. For me, it was the neighborhood squirrel. He seemed to think my tomato plants, flower beds, and even my hammock belonged to him. After one too many garden raids, I decided the only appropriate response was to issue a humorous "Most Wanted" poster.

The Real Battle with Garden Squirrels

As amusing as this little "wanted poster" was, squirrels really can become a challenge for home gardeners.

Some of their favorite mischief includes:

• Digging up freshly planted seeds
• Stealing tomatoes before they're fully ripe
• Burying nuts in flower pots
• Chewing irrigation tubing
• Damaging outdoor furniture and cushions
• Sampling bird feeders before the birds get a chance

Sharing the garden with wildlife is part of homesteading, but sometimes the squirrels seem convinced they planted the tomatoes themselves.

Over the years I've found that a combination of patience, garden netting, raised beds, and squirrel-resistant planting techniques works better than trying to outsmart them. Truthfully, once you accept that squirrels believe they own the neighborhood, gardening becomes a little less stressful—and a lot more entertaining.