Squirrels and Frost go hand in hand

Our favorite pest, i.e. those dratted squirrels, are becoming more active. They hadn't done much digging in the garden up in September. But now that it is October, I have noticed quite a few holes in the middle of beautiful patches of brand new seedlings.

Squirrel Deterrent......sort of

I've been watching the squirrels sauntering through the garden, looking for the perfect place to carefully dig a hole and place the treasured nut they were holding in their mouth.  Even though it is a nuisance to move the netting every time I work in my bed, I'm glad I went ahead did it preventatively.  At least this way I don't come to the garden and get instantly aggravated at what was destroyed nor do I have to keep replanting!

The chilly temperatures Sunday morning jump started my thought processes - when is the 1st frost. Or the question really should be, when is the 1st frost usually (but not always).

The answer - October 31st. Though it can be sooner than the 31st and as late as Nov 15th. A light frost doesn't cause as much damage as a hard freeze. This year I'm probably going to just let nature take its course but I will fight the good fight for awhile with the lettuce since I just got it going.

If you plan to use a frost cover now is the time to think about it, acquire your supplies and construct your frame.  And while you are at it, do a trial run to see if you have everything you need to anchor the cover! There is nothing worse than putting it together and then getting a call or email that your frost cover has come untethered and is flapping in the wind or the whole thing has collapsed.

If you are interested in protecting your bed from the dratted squirrels or your plants from frost and freezes, here are links to posts I've done in the past.

http://greenmeadowscommunitygarden.blogspot.com/2012/11/simplest-frost-blanketrow-cover-to-use.html

http://greenmeadowscommunitygarden.blogspot.com/2012/12/bed-41-vickis-frost-cover-method.html

http://greenmeadowscommunitygarden.blogspot.com/2012/11/denises-frost-cover-tall-sturdy-any.html

Good luck in the squirrel wars!

Vicki
Bed 41 

Boo hoo.....tomatoes being eaten

Last week I saw a squirrel lazily sauntering through the garden with a grape tomato in his mouth towards his favorite tree. I've also found tomato parts scattered all over the garden as well.

Here someone lost a beautiful vine ripe tomato because those squirrels said YUM! and stayed to dine. They tend to carry off cherry, grape and small tomatoes but eat the big ones "in house".

 Unfortunately for us, leaving tomatoes to get to the vine ripe stage is dangerous...you might get the tomato or the squirrels might get the tomato.

Vicki - Bed 41

Now you see them, now you don't

The sunflower border is looking gorgeous these days! My vision of what I wanted to achieve actually worked. Woo hoo!

 
What I had NOT anticipated was those darned 4 legged tree rats with bushy tails (squirrels)discovering the ripening sunflower seeds in the more mature heads and climbing the plants to eat the heads. Boo hiss! Be sure and admire them before the squirrels do them in.
 
We have quite a few different varieties of sunflower cultivars which  have been lots of fun watching flower. By the way, the view from outside the fence is quite a bit different from the inside of the fence.


Watch me disappear.....

 


because now I've been eaten.





Eaten, broken off and left crushed on the ground.

Serious Squirrel Defense Structures!

Yes....squirrel defense structures are popping up left and right!

If you are lucky, they only dig deep holes that dry out the ground and cover up the plants like in this bed. If you are unlucky...you lose the plants like I've lost a number of carrots in one corner of my bed.

There is no way the sunflowers will survive if we didn't create a structure to keep the squirrels from digging in the bed. They've already destroyed the one sunflower plant we had! This will also protect the seeds and seedlings from the birds as well.

I ramped up my squirrel repelling cage because I didn't want them to destroy my newly planted tomatoes or tear up my lettuce and carrots while I'm gone. Once I'm back I'll put the cages on the tomatoes themselves and figure out exactly how I'm going to protect everything until the plants are bigger.

 

Squirrels for Peace

In your dreams buddy!  I owe you big time!

Denise, Beds 25 & 29

Team Squirrel!!

 Look at all these great holes...perfectly spaced, perfectly shaped.

 And look at all those toothpicks showing where future holes are

 going in. A perfect bed to plant pecans in!

  

 

Hmmmmm.....look at this. These squirrels are just like Denise.

Notice how precisely the nuts have been planted - carefully

 centered in the middle of each beautiful hole.

 

 

Ah well...those pecans were very tasty but I'd better plant this one.

 

 

Decisions, decisions - which hole, which hole..

 

 

Ahhh....I'm trapped! Where did that netting come from!

 It wasn't there a minute ago.

 

 

The Great Reveal!

Denise and Rick finally arrive to see the Squirrel Escapade!

 

BUT WAIT!!! There is MORE!!

 

 

What was in that last batch of pecans?  The squirrel is in a very

festive mood and has decided to concede the battle.

HO! HO! HO!

 

War on Squirrels is Declared

Yes, you are reading this correctly.  War has now been declared on the squirrels in my bed!   I actually think the squirrels are getting back at me for taking more than my fair share of their nuts.  Kind of the eye for an eye theory.  Dalita thank you so much for letting me know I had issues.  Most days when I come to the garden, I see a little digging but nothing too unreasonable.  Well let's just say, today wasn't that day. What a mess.....

Since shooting the little critters is probably out of the question (I really wouldn't do that), I thought I would search for a kinder and gentler resolution.  After all I am gardening in their environment and do realize they were here first.  Nevertheless, really squirrels, if you want a carrot that bad, I will bring you one from the fridge.  Leave these alone, they are Mokum's and White Satin's.   I did come across some information and thought it may be helpful if any others are having the same issues.

The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control (speaking of which is an excellent resource for those who are environmentally conscious) suggests poultry netting, repellent sprays for deer and rabbits, blood meal barrier, and drenching the bed with a castor oil repellent, commonly used to repel moles and chipmunks.  The book suggests using the netting in combination with another tactic as the best line of defense.  In addition, an eHow website (listed below) has a variety of other means to try such as used cat litter, blood meal barrier mentioned again, and a homemade hot pepper spray.  I am surprised to see cat litter as an option as to me this is a horrible choice to add to the soil.  I would love to hear if anyone has any knowledge of this tactic.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5411541_keep-squirrels-out-garden.html - link to the eHow website on How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden

Normally, I use a little blood meal in the garden on a regular basis as an excellent source of nitrogen. Since I have it on hand and no additional cost would be incurred, I think it will be my first line of defense at getting the problem resolved.  I am thinking about putting a barrier around the base of the bed on the outside so I do not overdose my garden on nitrogen at this time of year.  Too much of a good thing scenario.  I figure that way it will only need replaced after a rain and will just settle into the ground naturally.  If this does not work, I would probably be inclined to try some pepper and garlic spray.  Does anyone have some thoughts on using a blood meal barrier?  Good idea, bad idea?

Consider this your notice little squirrels; you will be baffled by the mystery of the netting, repelled by the smell of blood, using a non-cow source, of course, and victory will be mine!

Called to Duty,

Denise, Beds 25 & 29