The Natural Solution You Can Whip Up To Easily Deter Squirrels From Your Yard

Squirrels may be adorable little creatures, but if you've ever had them tearing up your flower beds, you know how quickly that appreciation can fade. You don't want to harm them, of course, but you do want them gone, and luckily there are a few humane ways to keep critters out of your yard. One simple fix is probably sitting right in your kitchen cabinet as you read this: apple cider vinegar. As it turns out, apple cider vinegar is more than just a pantry staple to brighten up a salad; you can also use it to deter squirrels from wanting to enter your space. 

To pull this off, you don't need any other fancy additions. Just mix one ounce of ACV into one gallon of water and pour it into a spray bottle before spritzing it around flower beds, plant bases, or other spots where you may have seen squirrels. Remember, if you're spraying plants, it's essential you dilute the vinegar first as full-strength ACV can damage leaves. But, for hardy surfaces like wood or metal, you could spray undiluted vinegar. Simply re-apply every few days, especially during rainy seasons.

If you want the deterrent effects to last even longer, you could soak rags or cotton balls in apple cider vinegar and hide them around the garden. And, for a united front, you can also keep squirrels out of the garden with an easy-to-grow flower they can't stand — marigolds. Their strong scent is another natural repellent that makes squirrels run for the hills.

While we humans find it enjoyable to consume vinegar in small doses, squirrels do not agree — they have sensitive little noses, and the smell of ACV may make them think twice about entering your garden. ACV may also cover up food smells that could entice squirrels to your yard. But, while many gardeners swear by this trick, there's not really any scientific research proving its effectiveness. It's best seen as a budget-friendly, try-it-and-see fix rather than an absolute guarantee. (ACV is also a common home remedy for repelling ants if you use it the same way as you use it for the squirrels. And spraying tables and chairs with apple cider vinegar is a good trick to deter bugs from landing on your patio furniture.)

Of course, vinegar isn't the only trick in the book to keep squirrels and other creatures at bay. If it's a recurring problem, you might want to look into building a sturdy fence, because a good barrier, paired with natural repellents like vinegar, can make your garden a no-go zone for any curious critters. Sometimes, it's the simplest solutions that bring the best results.