Here's a problem I had last summer that I'd like to avoid this year . .

The army of squirrils who populate my backyard are constantly digging in my vegetable beds . . either burying nuts/food or digging it up. Often this digging is not too good for the plants and, in the case of potatoes, I found them digging and eating the potatoes.

There are all kinds of products for deer, rabbit, mole repelling . . any one have any ideas on how to repel squirrils without resulting to violence or traps?

Matt in Maine

the only cure for squirrels it either a gun or poison.

I use chicken wire. Chicken wire is my friend. Under my raised beds it keeps the moles and voles out. Over my beds it keeps digging critters out, and keeps cats from using the soil as a litter box. Around the beds or individual plants it provides support for short vines, floppy plants, and keeps animals from nibbling. Lying on the grass around the beds, it deters the deer, who don't like walking on it. Indoors it keeps the cats from destroying my plants by peeing in them.

To keep squirrels out you need to make cages that will completely cover the area. Fences they can climb. The mesh of what ever you use needs to be small enough so the buggers cannot squeeze through, although the 2 x 4 welded wire fabric I use discourages them enough they go elsewhere.

To keep squirrels from eating my eggplants,I have sprayed them (the fruit) with a mixture of garlic and red pepper, pureed in the blender with water and a little oil to make it stick. I only had to use this the first month, after which the critters avoided the fruit. I also covered the fruit with sections of pantyhose legs, held on by rubberbands. The hose stretches as the fruit grows. The combo of these two- covers + spray, has worked very well for me.

I found leaving peanut butter sanwiches with hot peppers in them a help.