Squirrel Barrier Over Raised Beds

16 years ago

I am not sure of the proper place to post this but I posted it in another forum and didn't get any answers so I will try here for hopefully better results.

I built a new raised beds in a more shady area of my yard so I can keep the sunny area strickly for my tomatoes, peppers and squash. I planted all my greens on Valnetines Day and I was thrilled that everything came up and I had beautiful sprouts all over my 8x4 bed!

About a week after absolutely everything had come up, a squirrel or two churned up half the bed!! Arghhh! I now have it covered with chicken wire.

I am wondering if all my greens such as spinach, mustard, kale, pak choy and lettuce are able to just grow right through the hexagons in the chicken wire? I don't want to have those little rascals digging everything up again!

I also noticed that there seems to be a coating of petroleum on the wire so if I leave it in place for the greens to grow through I will need to wash it all down with soap and warm water so my greens aren't polluted.

I would love to hear from others who have attempted to just let their greens grow through this protective barrier. Or if you have other ideas I would welcome them with open arms!!

Thanks!

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Comments (2)

expresshost
16 years ago
You may want to check out this product. Worked well for us with raccoons and woodchuck problem we had.

Here is a link that might be useful: Danger Zone Repellent
Kimmsr
16 years ago
I have problems with the squirrels as well as the wild turkeys digging in my planting beds and I have found the best way to keep them out is to tightly fence the beds in, and that often includes a top fence since the squirrels will climb over any vertical only fence. Since many of the beds are 4 x 4 I make support frames for the fences from 2 x 2s.
Many people have tried repellents and find the cost often prohibitive, or that the critters become used to the repellent and then ignore it. Even though we now have coyotes around here placing anything with coyote urine around the garden has no deterent affect, no more than my dog had if the dog was not physically present in the yard. If predator urines actually did work the predators would find they had no food because the prey would leave that area very quickly.
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