How to Keep Squirrels From Pecan Trees
Squirrels’ love for pecans can leave you with no nuts for yourself. In the spring, squirrels start eating pecan trees’ fresh buds and later eat the immature nuts. Squirrels also will snatch ripe pecans and bury them to save for later meals. Before you know it, your pecan tree is completely stripped of nuts. There are different ways to keep squirrels from your pecan trees, including squirrel guards and repellents.
Tree Guards
Cut a piece of sheet metal to fit around the trunk of your pecans tree, about 2 to 3 feet wide, using sheet-metal cutting shears.
Place the sheet-metal collar about 6 feet up from the base of your pecan tree’s trunk.
- Squirrels’ love for pecans can leave you with no nuts for yourself.
- Cut a piece of sheet metal to fit around the trunk of your pecans tree, about 2 to 3 feet wide, using sheet-metal cutting shears.
Secure the metal collar by wrapping it once on the top and once on the bottom with galvanized wire.
Cut a slit lengthwise along a piece of 3-inch diameter, 2-foot long PVC pipe with a pipe saw.
Place the pipe over an overhead wire. It will rotate, making it impossible for squirrels to walk across the wire and jump into your tree.
Deterrents
Trim the branches on your pecan trees so that they are at least 4 or 5 feet away from surrounding tree limbs, structures or wires, so squirrels can't jump into your trees from those objects.
Spray the ground around your pecan tree’s trunk with a capsaicin pest deterrent. Also spray the ground around surrounding trees, fences or structures.
- Secure the metal collar by wrapping it once on the top and once on the bottom with galvanized wire.
- It will rotate, making it impossible for squirrels to walk across the wire and jump into your tree.
Place moth balls containing naphthalene in mesh bags, and tie them in the branches of your pecan trees to keep squirrels away .
Tip
Try using electronic repellents made for garden pests, but be sure to monitor the batteries frequently. For systems working on 110-volt power supplies, keep in mind that a power outage will leave your trees unprotected.
Warning
Don’t hang bird feeders in or near your pecan trees, because these attract squirrels along with the birds.
Wear gloves and eye protection when handling naphthalene or any pepper-based repellent. Also wear eye protection and leather gloves when working with sheet metal.
Related Articles
Resources
Tips
- Try using electronic repellents made for garden pests, but be sure to monitor the batteries frequently. For systems working on 110-volt power supplies, keep in mind that a power outage will leave your trees unprotected.
Warnings
- Don't hang bird feeders in or near your pecan trees, because these attract squirrels along with the birds.
- Wear gloves and eye protection when handling naphthalene or any pepper-based repellent. Also wear eye protection and leather gloves when working with sheet metal.
Writer Bio
Sarah Terry brings over 10 years of experience writing novels, business-to-business newsletters and a plethora of how-to articles. Terry has written articles and publications for a wide range of markets and subject matters, including Medicine & Health, Eli Financial, Dartnell Publications and Eli Journals.
