Keep Squirrels Away From Your Garden With This Budget-Friendly DIY Feeder

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No garden is complete without the ongoing use of pesticides and deterrents to keep creepy crawlers from chomping away at your plants and shrubs. You'll often hear gardeners refer to common garden pests such as moles, aphids, rabbits, and even deer when discussing ways to keep garden-grubbers at bay. But there is one garden pest that also ranks high on the list. This pest is squirrels. Many people believe that squirrels only eat nuts and wild seeds for sustenance, but they'll often consume fruits, vegetables, and even flowers. They're also known for digging holes in accessible garden beds to bury their food, leaving gardeners with tattered shrubs and a low harvest. However, there is a budget-friendly way to deter these bushy-tailed burglars from your garden. The solution: Use a wooden tray, rope, and food to create a squirrel buffet.

Offering them an easily accessible daily meal close to their tree-based home front doesn't get rid of squirrels, per se, like a trap would. However, it can effectively redirect them away from your garden when it's time to find some grub. So, if you're not interested in laying traps or using odor deterrents, this may be a suitable DIY to protect your garden and nearby plants. You can purchase a wooden tray from Dollar Tree for $1.25 and a 9.5-foot rope for $1.75. You'll also need a feed mix, such as Pennington Squirrel and Critter Blend, to add to your feeder tray, or you can create your own mix, including nuts, corn, squash, sunflower seeds, and fruits such as apples and grapes.

If you want to protect your potted plants from squirrels, it's best to choose a feeder location that's several feet away from your garden. But it should be close enough in the general vicinity and in clear view so they can find it easily. Once you've found your spot, choose the nearest tree and locate a sturdy, low-hanging branch that you can easily reach.

Next, cut your rope into two pieces of about 2 to 3 feet in length. Take one end of each piece and thread it through a side of the wooden tray, tying a tight knot on both sides. Then, take the opposite ends of both ropes and tie them together in a secure knot, leaving a few inches of rope at the top. Next, pour your squirrel feed into the tray and spread it out evenly. Finally, place the feeder on the limb, ensuring it hangs steadily and doesn't tilt to one side.

The woodgrain of the tray may blend in well with your yard. But if it doesn't mesh with your garden theme, consider painting it for a small splash of color. You can also glue nature-inspired elements to the tray's outer edges or along the rope of the feeder. This can include simple touches such as pinecones, twigs, or flowers. Using a chain instead of rope to hang the feeder is also a great way to add a more contemporary look. You can even attach a plastic cover to the rope above the tray to help provide coverage for the squirrels on those rainy days, making it even more enticing for them.