Gardeners’ Forum: “Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!”
Back to Gardeners’ ForumSquirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by Pat on Sunday, July 1, 2007 4:24 pm ADTWhen I found the little rodents after my beautiful tulips a few years ago and decided to go to daffodils. Now they seem to be fine dining on my Asiatic lilies. The local garden centre suggested bone meal--it isn't working. Any ideas out there on how to get the chipmunks and squirrels to stay away! By the way, new to here (Northern Ontario) is the influx of black squirrels--think they are the real pests!
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by Terry Hurst on Wednesday, July 4, 2007 9:31 am ADTTry to find a product called Skoot. It does not hurt the animal but they take one bite and it tastes so foul that they don't come back for a second. Apparently you only have to apply it once per season but I would suggest a couple of times as the plant grows new leaves and they would be unprotected. Good Luck!
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by Frann on Thursday, July 5, 2007 11:27 pm ADTHello, I think the garden centre should have recommended blood meal, not bone meal, to help drive off the squirrels. Blood meal is made of just what it sounds like (blood & blood products from the meat processing industry) ... it's a good fertilizer high in nitrogen. Because it smells like blood the squirrels pick up this scent and fear that there is a predator in the area. At least, that's how it's supposed to work. You can also try sprinkling cayenne pepper powder on the soil surrounding your lilies; just be sure to reapply after rainstorms -- this has worked well for me. Cheers,
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by Mandy Paine on Friday, July 6, 2007 8:21 am ADTParry Sound Area here the land of the Chipmunk.This is my first year of having Probs. with Chipmunks who have clear cut my Asiatic Lilys this year (Just starting on my Orientals)I am using Ro-Pel, which has taken 24hrs to work but BUT looking Good,I have also placed ash trays with anti freeze and beer nuts Nr the roots,Cayenne Pepper, Sprinkled Nr roots, One cat,One very Large German Shepherd,but we do not know which is working I believe it is the Ro-Pel which is now difficult to obtain Good luck Mandy
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by Terry Hurst on Friday, July 6, 2007 10:55 am ADTBe careful with cayenne and black pepper and products that contain them. Some animals, rabbits in particular have very poor tear ducts so cannot flush these irritating substances away causing agony and sometimes blindness. Please try to find a more humane solution Thanks Terry
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by Mandy on Saturday, July 7, 2007 8:09 am ADTthank you so much Terry,I have seen the Cayenne use advised so much,fortunatly I have never seen a Rabbit here (Maybe the German Shepherd) but would hate to harm them Mandy PS to all One of the above has worked no fallen Asiatics for two days now
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by Leslie Huget on Thursday, July 19, 2007 7:08 pm ADTCalgary here. Squirrels are a big problem for my spring bulbs. Constant applications of blood meal works for me and I now plant my tulips and glads under plastic fencing (2 inch mesh size) which is about 2 inches below the soil surface so not visable. The plants can grow through it but the squirrels can't seem to pull the bulbs through it. Hope this helps.
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by Sharyn Mitchell on Friday, July 20, 2007 9:17 pm ADTI would not use anti freeze to get rid of the squirrels. Dogs are attracted to it and it can be deadly to them. Sharyn Mitchell Morell
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by Howard Harvey on Sunday, August 19, 2007 4:39 pm ADTThe only final solution is to trap them, in a humane trap, and take them a distance away. I took 29 squirrels from April 1st to June 30th which seems to have solved this year's problem. The traps go into action again next spring !!
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by curtis on Thursday, August 23, 2007 5:48 pm ADTwe live in a small village, and are often the recipients of the towns folk unwanted squirrells. My husband and I have found that feeding them unshelled peanuts at various feeders around the property keeps everyone happy.. they don't destroy plants, and the Bluejays also love them. This is the 4th year now that we have the Jays and their young each year. The babies are truley a sight to behold. Our motto is if you can't beat them..feed them. Enjoy.
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by MJ on Thursday, April 24, 2008 1:51 pm ADTSquirrels destroyed my tulips two years ago and my Solomon Seal last year. I have an Afghan Hound and when I brush him I keep the hair so that I can wrap it around the stalks just under the buds. It really deters them.
squirrels - what do they eat?? All plants?
Posted by Letitia on Saturday, May 3, 2008 1:20 pm ADTI'm new to the New England area. Urban neighborhood. There are two living in my yard. Will they eat new plants? Should I fit tem or feed them?
re: Squirrels and chipmunks after my lilies!
Posted by Heather on Sunday, June 15, 2008 9:16 pm ADTI've been having the same problem .. I went out today because my neighbor said chipmunks had gotten her Asiatic lillies . Sure enough they had gotten at mine too .. It's so frustrating and I have glad and dallia's planted nearby . I put some curry out because I dont have anything else and used black pepper . Just saw the post about the rabbits but I don't see any around . As for the chipmunks don't eat my lillies and your eyes won't hurt lol.. going to try to find some blood meal tho
