Squirrels can be a nuisance to gardeners, causing significant damage to plants and soil. However, a gardening expert has shared a simple DIY hack that can help deter these bushy-tailed rodents from your property. The expert recommends using coffee grounds, which not only repel squirrels but also fertilize plants.
“I didn’t think squirrels would be an issue as I hadn’t seen them in my garden before until I came down one morning to find lots of soil on the grass and nuts buried deep into my plants,” the garden pro said. She continued: “Squirrels are very fond of some bulbs as they are simply tasty to them, but in my garden, they were using the soil to hide nuts.”
After researching different methods and looking through her kitchen cupboards, the expert found coffee grounds and decided to give it a try. She sprinkled a light dusting of coffee grounds onto every plant in the garden, making sure there was an even layer.
While most of us love a cup of joe in the morning, squirrels detest the smell of coffee. The gardening enthusiast explained that most plants also thrive when exposed to coffee grounds. “This is significantly cheaper than buying object deterrents or installing motion-detector water sprays which could harm the animal,” she added.
It is important not to fertilize plants too often with coffee grounds, as it can lower the pH of the soil into the acidic range in the long run. The expert advised amateur gardeners that the DIY solution will be less effective in the rain. “After observing the plants for a couple of days, the soil had been left untouched and although I still saw the odd squirrel in my garden, they were going nowhere near my plants,” she said.
In addition to coffee grounds, there are other natural squirrel repellants such as hot peppers. However, it is important to note that these methods may not work for all gardens and situations.
Overall, gardeners can benefit from trying out this simple and cost-effective DIY hack to deter squirrels from their property. By using coffee grounds, gardeners can repel squirrels while also fertilizing their plants. So, the next time you make your morning coffee, don’t throw away those grounds – put them to good use in your garden!