Homemade Squirrel Repellent Recipe 🐿️ - House of Hawthornes (2024)

Table of Contents

How To Make Homemade Squirrel Repellent Homemade Squirrel Repellent Supplies Instructions Notes Others uses for Squirrel Repellent: Using Squirrel Repellent In The Garden What are some companion plants for your garden to repel squirrels? Frequently Asked Questions: What is the BEST way to repel squirrels? What scent will repel squirrels? New For Spring 2021: Other posts you may enjoy: FAQs References

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Last week I showed you How To Make A Fall Corn Garland. In that post, a reader innocently asked if the squirrels around the house would try to eat the corn.

Squirrels, what squirrels?

We do have plenty of chipmunks running around here, but I have had corn stalks on my porch off and on for YEARS and I never had a problem with those cute little guys eating my fall displays. Never once.

The chipmunks and I are buddies. Amigos. BFFs.

And as for squirrels, I have never seen a single squirrel in the yard. Ever.

Table Of Contents

Printable Recipe
Using In The Garden
Companion Plants That Repel Squirrels
Other Squirrel Deterrents
Other Scents To Repel Critters

Well not until Susie mentioned squirrels in her comment and then all of a sudden I see one of those stupid furry little rats with big tails poking around my porch.

Darn you Susie, you jinxed me!

But here's the kicker,I think the squirrel came up on the porch to give a seminar to the chipmunks on how to eat corn or something.

Corn Eating 101 taught by Skippy The Squirrel.

The little guys were very well behaved until Mr. Squirrel showed up on the scene and now I'm down 3 ears of corn!. And I know it was the chipmunks because I saw one scurrying out of the cornstalks when I opened the back door.

So I searched online and tried a few concoctions and theories and came up with a homemade squirrel repellent that seems to be working on both the squirrels and the chipmunks.

Of course, there's always the shovel over the head remedy, but I try very hard not to hurt other living creatures. Besides we USED to be friends.

How To Make Homemade Squirrel Repellent

Homemade Squirrel Repellent

Easy to make squirrel repellent spray for your garden

4.67 from 3 votes

Print Pin

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 Spray Bottle

Author: Pam Kessler

Cost: $3

Supplies

4 cups Water
1 oz Hot Sauce (½ of the small 2 oz bottle or 2 Tablespoons if using a larger bottle)
3 drops Dish Soap (you can also use vegetable oil if you prefer)
1 Spray Bottle

Instructions

Pour 4 cups water into the spray bottle
Add ½ of the small 2 oz bottle (1 oz) hot sauce into the water (or 2 Tablespoons if using a larger bottle)
Add 3 drops dish soap
Close spray bottle and gently shake
Spray liberally on any garden vegetables or flowers. Re-apply after heavy rains.
This won’t harm the squirrels and chipmunks, it will just deter them from eating your stuff

Notes

Disclaimer: Please don’t be silly and spray this stuff in your eyes or face. It is a pepper based spray and it is HOT!

Others uses for Squirrel Repellent:

Bird Feeders - spray on the birdseed in your feeders to keep the squirrels out. It doesn't hurt the birds or deter them from eating the seeds.
Fall Outdoor Decor - spray on your cornstalks, pumpkins etc on your porch to keep the squirrels and chipmunks from eating them.

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(my dead stuffed squirrel agrees, use your common sense when using this and keep it away from your face)

Using Squirrel Repellent In The Garden

Besides keeping them off my fall decor, it is also good for using in your garden. Just spray the plants and flowers you want the squirrels to stay away from (it won't harm the plants and flowers). You may need to reapply after heavy rains as it would tend to wash away.

Now if this homemade squirrel repellent would just work on snakes too, I'd be all set!

What are some companion plants for your garden to repel squirrels?

There are some plants that squirrels just do not like to be around. By planting these in the garden you have a better chance of keeping the squirrels and chipmunks away. And they are a nice organic solution to the problem.

Marigolds
Allium
Daffodils
Geraniums
Lily Of The Valley
Hot pepper plants

(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the BEST way to repel squirrels?

Well, my homemade squirrel repellent obviously, but I'll list some alternatives.

Dogs and Cats - Not that they will be able to chase off every single squirrel in the yard, but the more your animals run around in the backyard the less you'll see squirrel activity. You can even go as far as to take some pet hair and place it around your vegetables and plants to keep the squirrels away.

Alternative Foods - You can always try to feed the squirrels in another part of your yard and hope it keeps them from wanting to eat your good stuff in the other part of the yard. Have you seen those cute little squirrel picnic benches?

Netting - Surround your plants with netting, similar to what you would do to keep birds from eating berries.

Chicken Wire - Create a tent of chicken wire around smaller plants or enclose the whole garden area in chicken wire.

Cover The Ground - Putting gravel in the beds (similar to what you would use in a gravel driveway) may deter them as they won't enjoy walking on it.

Tin Foil - Put a layer of tin foil around the base of plants and in flower pots. The reflection from the tin foil scares off squirrels and they won't like stepping on the foil. This remedy can get a bit expensive if you use it for the entire garden though.

Decoys - Buy fake cat silhouettes or fox decoys to stake out in the garden to scare them off.

What scent will repel squirrels?

Spicy things like my squirrel repellent above.You can also grind up some chili pepper flakes and spread them around the base of the plants.

Garlic

Peppermint

Predator urine - you can buy coyote urine in a spray bottle online if you don't want to follow your dog around the back yard in the morning

Cider Vinegar - soak rags in cider vinegar and lay in the garden

Mothballs

New For Spring 2021:

FAQs

What is the best homemade squirrel repellent? ›

There are several effective homemade squirrel repellents. One popular option is to create a strong-smelling mixture using vinegar, ammonia, or essential oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus, or citrus. Soak cotton balls in these scents and place them in areas where squirrels are active or use them to block entry points.

Read The Full Story ›

What is the number one squirrel deterrent? ›

White vinegar has a strong smell and is a powerful squirrel deterrent. The easiest way to treat a squirrel-infested area is to simply pour it on active squirrel hang-outs or spray it around your property with a mix of water.

Discover More ›

What smell do squirrels hate the most? ›

Use Strong Odors

Scents like white pepper, black pepper, and garlic are naturally unpleasant to a squirrel. The same goes for sweet smells such as peppermint. Try spraying your plants and flowers with water and then sprinkling on pepper or peppermint oil to deter squirrels.

Get More Info ›

What home remedy keeps squirrels away? ›

You might also plant peppermint or mint or spray essential oils made from these mints that squirrels find intolerable. You could also scatter mothballs, spray cider vinegar or sprinkle white or cayenne pepper; the pungent smells of all of these are known squirrel repellents.

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Do squirrels hate Irish Spring soap? ›

DOES IRISH SPRING SOAP KEEP SQUIRRELS AWAY? Yes, Irish Spring soap can help to keep squirrels away. The scent of the soap is unpleasant for the animals and will prevent them from entering your home or yard.

Learn More Now ›

How long do coffee grounds keep squirrels away? ›

Coffee grounds will keep squirrels away from your garden because they do not like the smell. Simply sprinkle some fresh grounds on the soil surrounding your plants every two weeks. You can also try spraying your plants with a hot pepper spray for the same effect.

Discover More ›

Do dryer sheets keep squirrels away? ›

Dryer sheets have a fantastic aroma, which is why we love them. However, for this exact reason, squirrels dislike them too. For decades, farmers of orchards have tied dryer sheets along their deer fences to keep deer and squirrels away. Hence they can be effective against squirrels.

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What do squirrels hate to walk on? ›

Squirrels don't like the feel of mulch under their feet. Gravel is particularly unpleasant for them. So a layer of this around plants you want to protect could be effective.

Will aluminum foil keep squirrels away? ›

Adding aluminum foil to the base of your plants can scare squirrels away.

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What food is poisonous to squirrels? ›

The cacao itself contains Theobromine which is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant. It is toxic and can be lethal to squirrels if it's consumed in large amounts.

How do I get rid of squirrels permanently? ›

Eliminate Food Sources

The first place to start is by removing food sources from your yard, including low-hanging bird feeders, nuts, seeds, and discarded foods. "Usually the best way to get rid of squirrels is to remove the food source or stop feeding them," Calder says.

How do farmers keep squirrels away? ›

One of the easiest natural methods is to apply hot pepper to your plants. The capsaicin (the “heat” in the pepper) is the deterrent, both in smell and taste. Sprinkle the flakes around the soil of plants that need to be protected, including potted plants. You can also sprinkle cayenne pepper directly on plant leaves.

How do I make my own squirrel repellent? ›

Cinnamon: A generous amount of ground cinnamon or cinnamon oil mixed with cayenne extract or peppermint oil and warm water must be applied to affected areas to ward squirrels away. And as elements such as rain can wash away the scent, reapply the perimeters at least once a week or as needed to get the best results.