I have a begrudging respect for the little shitheads, but I’m worried that their mindless industriousness is going to significantly hamper the growth the prairie.
Seeds went down at the end of November and at this point the yard is at 30% covered in overturned piles of dirt from their digging with no sign of slowing. The seeds are a mix of native (south texas) wildflowers and grasses. There is about 1,000sqft of bare soil that’s been seeded.
Have other folks dealt with this issue? Steps to mitigate? Or will the seeds find their way anyways?
by latina_expert
10 Comments
I’m not sure if there’s a “proper” way but I usually just put extra seeds conpared to whats recommended. The squirrels inevitably miss some, i think of it as free mixing of the soil
After the squirrels ate mine one year, I started sprinkling red pepper flakes or drops of tabasco in with or above the seeds. But then that year there was some other reason the seeds didn’t come up so what do I know.
if you go to war with the squirrels, you will lose.
you gotta sow more seeds than they have the ability to consume. or, the easier way, start seeds in pots and transplant them as plant plugs
Brutal – I have a lot of squirrels so I’m hesitant to try broadcasting and opt for winter sown plugs.
Chili pepper has worked for patio plants in pots but you have to stay on top it and make sure you constantly reapplying it after it rains.
If you feel like getting your hands dirty you can get a squirrel trap …or a .22
yeah those f$&@!?s are so annoying. i got some cool specimen ferns and only one of each and they killed the one by digging it up. they also flip over moss all the time in my moss garden…. anyways my only advice (which probavly isnt much use to you since you seem to be doing a “mass planting” of seeds) is to use plugs. Im stratifying a ton of plants this year by means of the jug method which im sure you have seen. then ill transplant those and hopefully not lose many to those damn squirrels.
I usually put a big clearish tarp over my seeds for a couple weeks until they get established. It’s a pain to move it every other day to get them watered but the tarp also has a greenhouse effect so the seedlings seem to take a bit quicker.
Maybe try giving them a distraction, in the form of a feeder?
Amazon has hardware cloth for sale at clearance prices from various sellers, 3 and 4 foot wide rolls in 100’ lengths. It’s not great for rabbit cages (ask me how I know…) but does work well for keeping pests out of plantings. Sections of that overlaid on your plantings and some landscape fabric metal pins to hold it down and side cut pliers to cut it away from the sprouts if they grow through it. Chicken wire could work as well but I’ve not personally used it and it has a larger opening as well.
It might backfire but could you offer them an alternative food source instead? Peanuts in the shell, walnuts (pricey!), black oil sunflower seeds…? I’m not positive on the allopathic properties of sunflower seeds for plantings, so might be something to be aware of if you elect to try this.
That’s a solid plan! Squirrels might help mix things up, and extra seeds can’t hurt. Nature’s chaos at its best!!
Yep, it’s a numbers game. They won’t get em all!! When you realize what species are less abundant you can add some more in a couple years