The Practically Free Way To Help Your Yard And Garden Stay Squirrel-Free

It's no secret that squirrels love playing in your yard and eating from your garden as much as you do. In fact, some days it may seem like they own the property with the way they dig up your grass, climb on your roof, play on your potted plants, and weave through your bushes. There are plenty of tips to keep these rodent rascals at bay, such as how to protect your potted plants from squirrels, but there might be an easier solution to solve your furry friend fiasco: regular landscape maintenance. Since you're likely doing lawn maintenance anyway, keeping your yard tidy can be a simple and essentially cost-free way to deter these animals, especially when you consider the money you'll be saving from potential squirrel damage or pest control. 

A yard's landscaping typically draws squirrels, as trees and bushes provide both food sources and shelter for them. A variety of these plants is particularly tempting because it means a more diverse food source and an increase in vegetation like twigs, grass, and leaves to create nests. In addition to food and shelter, the trees help them climb up to your roof and overgrown bushes provide hiding spots from predators like hawks and coyotes.

The first rule for deterring squirrels from your yard is to keep it tidy. Trimming trees away from the house, pruning bushes, and raking up leaves keep squirrels away from your home by making it less inviting, possibly preventing future damage. Taking care of trees may sound daunting, but you can actually prune your trees the right way without calling a pro. Focus on the trees near your house, as those are the main squirrel highways up to your roof. Trim back any dead or diseased branches, starting at the top and working your way down. This will help the tree to look neater as well as cut down on the pathways for squirrels. 

Pruning bushes is another way to limit high-trafficked squirrel areas and tame your overgrown shrubs. By keeping shrubs and bushes neatly trimmed, you'll be cutting down hiding places for your furry friends and limiting their cozy shelters. Similar to trimming your trees, you'll want to cut off any broken or dead branches and work your way down. Any other brush or debris can be swept or raked away. 

As for leaves, you don't need to pick up every single leaf that falls in your yard, but cleaning up most will limit nest materials for squirrels. Raking up heavy piles of leaves from your grass and under shrubbery will help clear the grounds and serve to make your yard less squirrel-friendly. Although it'll come with additional costs, calling in a pro, especially for tree-trimming, can also be beneficial if you don't have the equipment or feel comfortable with the task.