Hi Tom. So far the grey squirrels here in MA have not bothered trees of the size you posted but I now have some small ones that I am worried about because last summer the furry tailed rats were a real problem. They destroyed a whole flat of my vegetable seedlings (without eating them) even though I sprinkled animal repellent on the seed trays. I could just picture them holding their noses as they chomped on my seedlings!

So granular repellent may or may not work depending on the brand (?). Try the liquid stuff. I found that it works around the vegetable garden to keep rabbits and chipmunks away but you have to keep re-applying it.

What about wrapping 1/8 inch hardware cloth around the trunks?

Wow, that's crazy. I didn't know squirrels ate citrus bark. I'd try wrapping something around the trunk.

I'm having a problem with squirrels digging in containers and seedling trays. They're going wild over swiss chard - chewing stalks down like beavers and running away with whole stem & leaf in mouth.

I haven't had much success with granular repellent. The neighbors cats helps out the most.

Good luck...

This might work, I don't have squirrels. Cats were using my trees a scratching post. You may need to make it smaller and zip tie the ends together.

Toilet paper or paper towel rolls! They work even against rabbits.

That's a great idea Hobby! The squirrels we have do not bother my citrus, but I've NEVER gotten a guava! It is my biggest tree and always ends up with a few fruits that get eaten...very annoying!

That's brutal after all we do for our trees. It can be a cruel hobby :).

Maybe a more persistent squirrel could figure it out but I think they usually move on. I had a tree farmer recommend it to me.

Damn varmints are eating all my apricots now, and they're still green! As far as I'm concerned, they are rats with fuzzy tails!

Yep, covering is all you can really do. The repellents don't work if they're hungry.

I plan to trim the apricot smaller and net it next time.

I've had that problem for years! I have two apples and a huge peach tree (and several fig trees - they don't like those quite as much)....I've NEVER gotten a peach and maybe two apples in like 5 years because of those critters. Somebody told me to feed them at another tree. For example, when the peaches are getting bigger, put up some yummy squirrel food by another tree as far from the one you are trying to protect as possible. She said it worked for her.

Laura, lol, I think that just brings more to the party! Free booze!...um I mean free squirrel food!

I've only found that barriers work, strong netting that goes all the way over the tree and is tied like a bag at the trunk. And even so, you have to be vigilant against holes or open spots.

Vladimir, I have had luck in the past with netting, and had lots of time as long as I got in up a few weeks before they were ripe, but since the drought here, they've taken to eating them green! I've never had to net this early before the last couple years!

Thankfully they haven't touched the citrus. I do get some roof rats eating lemons and oranges occasionally, but they only eat about 5-7 fruit total each year. I can live with that. The dang squirrels though eat everything in sight, and those they don't eat totally, they bite and ruin! Squirrel stew sounds not too bad right about now!

Barb, what are roof rats? Are they rats or squirrels?

And thanks for the suggest re netting on peach trees. I will try it.

That's the local name here for Rattus rattus, also called black rats or ship rats. They're a little smaller than the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, which is the same kind as the lab rats.

Roof rats love fruits and veggies, more so than brown rats I think.

And you're welcome for the suggestion on nets. Be sure to gather it up and tie it around the trunk, so the whole tree is wrapped in a net bag.

I find yard cats work well at clearing out these pests

Peanut butter and rat trap. I have never found a dead squirrel in my snapped traps but after 15 days I also see no squirrels.

rat trap

.22 and I agree with steve. TSC has a squirrel and coon trap in one sometimes for like 30$ that is solid.

Some of us do not like to kill - not even pesky squirrels.

I know Vladimir. I won't kill them either.

My God...I am so happy the squirrels in my area just go after nuts and stay out of my yard..Thank God for squirrel repellent!! They won't even step foot in my yard. It's funny, you can literally see them going around my yard and about to jump in mine but change their minds and keep going.

Mike, please tell me what repellent you use because the ones I tried were without effect even when I sprinkled the granules onto the soil in the pots. They still destroyed my plants!

Hey Vladimir..Everyone I know, my friends here at work and my family use a certain company..The best product I have ever used..Not one thing has dug in my yard since I first used the granules and not one squirrel since I used the spray..Safe too..

You can call them and they will be very helpful. I n fact I have to order more stuff come to think of it!

http://www.imustgarden.com/

http://www.imustgarden.com/repellents/animal-repellents/squirrel-repellent

Let me know how you do)

So Mike, would I just spray it over my trees? I have a peach tree that they invade and rob every year...and my apples...and Figs...

Thanks Mike. I just ordered some.

Vladimir..No problem.

Laura, you spray it on every thing. Your trees, surrounding area, and even the perimeter of your yard.

You can even spray it on anything you know squirrels climb since once they get a taste of it, they won't return. I've sprayed my fencing, the rocks around my yard, other trees, steps and so on.

Thanks Mike! I'm going to order some!