Squirrels may look to be cuddly little mammals with fluffy tails, but their destructive feeding habits and digging can cause difficulties in the home landscape. Squirrels devouring fruit tree buds reduce productivity and inhibit new growth, despite their non-threatening manner.
They consume sensitive new plants and dig up bulbs. These rodents can jump from trees and find their way inside your home, nesting in your attic or crawlspace in extreme circumstances. Squirrels will love to eat plums that you are trying to grow in your home garden, which is why it is important that you take the right precautions to keep them at bay.
Knowing how to keep a squirrel out of fruit trees and other high-growing plants will allow you to enjoy their antics without having to worry about their destructive nature.
How to Protect Plums from Squirrels?
· Install Netting
Netting is an excellent strategy for safeguarding fruit trees from birds and squirrels. It does not harm any birds or animals while also providing the highest level of protection.
However, make certain that you cover a tree from all angles. These rodents will use even a little window if you leave it open, and they will eat your fruits in a matter of days.
Squirrel netting is a simple and easy-to-use product that protects your fruit trees while causing no harm to the animals. Among these, the netting indicated above is one of the most effective on the market.
You can easily find light netting, with a robust exterior that’s tough enough to withstand terrible weather all year.
· Use Noise Makers
Squirrels and birds might be scared away by hanging old CDs or aluminum plates from the branches of your apple tree. Most squirrels will be put off by the noise they create when the wind strikes them, as well as how the sunshine bounces off the aluminum.
The same effect can be achieved by hanging a wind chime. The wind chime will make a lot of noise to scare birds and squirrels away even if there is just a slight breeze.
· Set up Traps
Catching squirrels is also one of the most effective ways to combat them. There are numerous high-performing traps on the market that are quite effective.
Baits that attract squirrels are required for catching them. As bait, peanut butter, oranges, almonds, and seeds can be used. Place a couple traps near the plum trees and you’ll have squirrels in no time. You’ll be able to catch all of the squirrels in a few days.
Traps are another option for keeping squirrels away from your fruit plants. In this category, the ‘Havahart 1079 Large 1-Door Humane Animal Trap’ is a fantastic product. It includes a spring-loaded door for secure catches, and the door is made of metal wire with steel reinforcement for long durability and maximum corrosion resistance, as well as allowing for quick and safe entrapment.
The animals are also protected during transportation by the robust doors and steel mesh. It’s a big cage, measuring 32x12x10 inches, and it’s excellent for a safe and secure catch.
· Use Fake Owls and Snakes
Fake owls and snakes are good for scaring away squirrels that might try to come close to your plums.
Simply move them around every few days to keep them looking natural, and they’ll keep scaring them away. You can get a fake owl with a spinning head for a reasonable price nowadays, and it looks really realistic. Just a couple of them near the fruit trees should enough.
Cheaper than owls are fake snakes. Purchase a few natural-looking snakes and hang them on various branches to scare the squirrels away even if they manage to climb your fruit tree.
Find more like this:
Best Places in the World To Grow Plums
Plum Season And When To Plant Plums
How Long Does it Take for Plums to Grow?
Is It Okay To Refrigerate Plums?
Do Plums Ripen After Picking?
· Install Squirrel Baffles
This is the most effective method for keeping squirrels away from fruit plants. Thousands of individuals use them, and they are extremely pleased since baffles do an excellent job. Squirrels find it extremely difficult to get through a baffle.
However, if you’ve a fully grown tree with a thick trunk, finding a baffle becomes quite tough. If the trunk is thin, there is no problem; but, if it is too thick, you may have to create your own bespoke baffle. Squirrels can leap up to 4 feet, so make absolutely sure the baffle is higher than this.
· Use Repellents
To safeguard your fruit trees, you can use a variety of organic rodent repellent sprays. Squirrels will stay away from your fruit trees if you spray them around your trees. Not only do these organic repellents work on squirrels, but they also work on raccoons, rats, rabbits, and other rodents.
Squirrel repellents with ultrasonic technology can also be effective. At the very least, give them a shot.
· Try Poison as the Last Resort
As a last resort, use squirrel poison. There’s no need to kill squirrels if you can keep them away from your fruit trees using alternative means.
Poisoning is especially dangerous for dogs and children, as they may unintentionally come into touch with it. So, we’ll advise you to use it just after you’ve exhausted all other options.
Final Thoughts
Squirrels love to eat fruits like berries. Plums are also their hot favorite and they won’t leave them alone if you don’t take some measures to protect your garden from these pesky creatures. Squirrels will quickly devour your plums, ruining your harvest. Therefore, use the methods we have listed above to keep squirrels away from plums. Use squirrel netting to protect your precious fruit. If that doesn’t work, try using fake snakes and owls to scare squirrels away. Installing squirrel baffles can also help you keep these animals away from your plums.