| I have a squirrel in my yard that eats my squash blossoms when they get big. Should I put a net over my plant, or is there a better solution? |
| Squirrels, bless their cute little hearts, can really be a pain in the neck for gardeners. They are quite enterprising and may find their way under, or through, a netting cover. I would give it a try anyway. Another option would be to spray the plants with a hot pepper spray. There are several brands on the market. These sprays contain capsacin, the compound that makes peppers hot. It is used in some of the suet cakes made for birds to discourage squirrel from eating them. I have found it to be an effective squirrel feeding deterrent. You will likely have to reapply the spray often as new squash blooms open daily. Perhaps mixing it in a spray bottle for easy application to individual blooms and fruit would be best. Once they get a hot mouthful a few times they may decide to look elsewhere for munchies! |
