Fans of cleaning expert Mrs Hinch have shared an easy tip to help keep squirrels away from your garden – and all you need is a £1 spice from your kitchen cupboard
Fans of cleaning expert Mrs Hinch have shared a budget-friendly trick to prevent squirrels from wreaking havoc on their garden plants.
This clever hack, costing only £1, is designed to keep these necessary but often troublesome creatures from ransacking your garden, especially in large numbers. Squirrels are notorious for gnawing through garden furniture and invading lofts, causing headaches for many homeowners.
The advice was shared on a Facebook group dedicated to Mrs Hinch’s gardening tips, boasting over 100,000 members. One user recently asked for advice on how to deter squirrels from their garden. Mrs Hinch, whose real name is Sophie Hinchcliffe, gained popularity for her cleaning hacks, tips, and tricks, with fans regularly sharing their own handy advice.
The user sought the wisdom of fellow cleaning enthusiasts on how to keep squirrels at bay, posting: “How can I get rid of squirrels from my garden? My neighbour is feeding them.”
The post was inundated with hundreds of responses, including inventive suggestions, with many recommending using spices to repel the squirrels. One person suggested: “Cayenne pepper… hot chilli powder, that works for me… they are destructive! As much as I think they are cute, I don’t like my plants getting destroyed.”
Another chimed in with a handy tip: “Not sure if this helps, but I read the other day to put some chilli flakes in your feeders, it deters the squirrels, but birds are okay.” While some garden enthusiasts recommended cayenne pepper, others had a different spice in mind, as the suggestion of using cinnamon was also popular in the discussion.
One green-fingered reader shared their experience: “They’re lovely and I also love having them but last year they destroyed all my husband’s plants. So we had to cover his pots and spread some cinnamon in it. It kept them away from the pots but still came into our garden for nuts.”
You can snap up both crushed chillies and cinnamon for £1 at Asda. Other creative strategies discussed in the group included placing imposing ornaments in the garden that resemble birds and cats to frighten the squirrels away from feeders.
Other top tips for keeping squirrels at bay
Squirrel-proof bird feeders: Ensure your bird feeders are designed to keep squirrels out, like the ones that shut down access when they sense the weight of a squirrel.
Distract them with food elsewhere: Set up a separate feeder with treats just for squirrels, positioned away from your bird feeders, to divert their attention.
Squirrel repellent sprays: There’s an array of repellent sprays available that you can apply on plants, bird feeders, and other areas you want to safeguard from squirrels.
