What Plants Do Squirrels Hate

If you’re tired of squirrels digging up your bulbs and raiding your tomatoes, you’re in the right place. Knowing what plants do squirrels hate is a great first step to a peaceful garden. These clever creatures can cause a lot of damage, but the good news is that nature provides its own solutions. By choosing the right plants, you can create a beautiful space that squirrels naturally want to avoid.

This approach is safe, natural, and often more effective in the long run than other methods. Let’s look at how you can use plants as a gentle but powerful deterrent.

Squirrels rely heavily on their sense of smell to find food and sense danger. The plants they dislike typically have strong scents, bitter tastes, or textures they find unpleasant. By incorporating these plants into your garden design, you create an invisible barrier. The key is to be strategic about where you plant them.

Focus on placing these deterrents near the plants you want to protect, like your prized flower beds or vegetable patch. A border of squirrel-repelling plants can act as a protective wall. You can also interplant them among your vulnerable crops. This method, called companion planting, is a proven way to reduce pest pressure.

Flowers That Squirrels Avoid

Many beautiful flowering plants are excellent for keeping squirrels at bay. They add color and interest to your garden while performing a protective duty. Here are some of the most reliable choices:

Daffodils: All parts of the daffodil are toxic and squirrels know it. They contain alkaloids that squirrels find distasteful. Planting daffodil bulbs around other bulbs, like tulips (which squirrels love), can offer protection.
Alliums: This family includes ornamental alliums, garlic, onions, and chives. Their strong, pungent smell is a major turn-off for squirrels. The scent masks the smell of more appealing plants nearby.
Hyacinths: Like daffodils, hyacinth bulbs are poisonous and have a strong scent that squirrels dislike. They are a great spring bloomer that provides early-season defense.
Fritillaria: These unique, bell-shaped flowers have a distinct musky odor that is very effective at repelling squirrels, moles, and other rodents.
Geraniums: Squirrels tend to avoid the sharp scent of geraniums, especially the varieties with more fragrant foliage. They’re perfect for containers and borders.
Marigolds: The strong smell of marigolds is a common pest deterrent. While not a foolproof solution alone, they are a helpful part of a broader strategy.

Herbs and Spices as Natural Repellents

Herbs are fantastic dual-purpose plants. You can use them in your kitchen, and their potent oils will make squirrels think twice. These are some of the best herbs to plant around your garden’s edge or in pots on your patio.

Mint: The intense aroma of peppermint and spearmint is overwhelming to squirrels. Be careful to plant mint in containers, as it can be very invasive in garden beds.
Rosemary: This woody herb has a powerful scent that squirrels find unpleasant. It’s drought-tolerant and great for sunny spots.
Lavender: While humans love the calming smell of lavender, squirrels do not. Its strong fragrance and fuzzy leaves are unappealing to them.
Thyme: Another strongly scented herb that can help mask the smell of plants squirrels like. Creeping thyme makes a lovely ground cover.
Oregano & Sage: These robust culinary herbs have scents that are not favored by many garden pests, including squirrels.

Other Plants with Repellent Properties

Beyond flowers and herbs, several other plants can bolster your garden’s defenses. These often have textures or tastes that squirrels find off-putting.

Lamb’s Ear: The extremely fuzzy, soft leaves are a texture that squirrels seem to avoid. They prefer not to walk on or nibble it.
Bleeding Heart: This shade-loving plant contains alkaloids that are toxic if ingested in large quantities, so animals generally leave it alone.
Peppermint: As mentioned, but worth repeating for its effectiveness. The oil can also be used to make a simple spray.
Daffodils (reiterated): They are so effective they deserve a second mention, especially for bulb protection.

How to Use These Plants Effectively

Simply planting one mint plant won’t solve your squirrel problem. You need a plan. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using these plants as a natural repellent system.

Identify Key Areas: Look at your garden and note where squirrel damage is worst. Is it your vegetable garden, your bulb beds, or your fruit trees?
Create Protective Borders: Plant a dense border of repellent plants around these key areas. Use a mix of tall plants (like alliums) and low-growing ones (like thyme or marigolds) for a full barrier.
Interplant for Direct Protection: Place repellent plants directly among your vulnerable crops. For example, plant garlic between your tomato plants, or surround a young tree with daffodils.
Use Containers Strategically: Place pots of strong-smelling herbs like mint or rosemary on patios, near bird feeders, or around the base of plants that are being attacked.
Maintain Your Plants: Healthy, thriving plants release more of their potent oils. Crush leaves occasionally to release extra scent, especially after watering or rain.

Additional Natural Squirrel Deterrent Tips

Plants are your first line of defense, but you can combine them with other natural methods for even better results. Here are some extra tips that work well alongside your repellent planting strategy.

Physical Barriers

Sometimes, you need to physically block access. Use wire mesh cages around individual plants or cloches to protect seedlings. For bulbs, plant them and then cover the area with a layer of chicken wire before adding soil; the plants will grow through it but squirrels can’t dig down.

Natural Spray Repellents

You can make a simple spray using plants you already grow. Steep a handful of strong-smelling herb leaves (like mint, rosemary, or lavender) in hot water. Let it cool, strain it, and add a few drops of cayenne pepper sauce. Spray this on plant leaves and soil (reapply after rain). The smell and taste will discourage nibbling.

Habitat Modification

Make your yard less inviting. Keep tree branches trimmed back at least 6-8 feet from your roof and other structures to limit their highways. Use squirrel-proof bird feeders and clean up fallen nuts and fruit promptly.

Plants That Attract Squirrels (What to Avoid)

To be successful, it also helps to know what not to plant near your precious veggies, or to at least be aware of the magnets. If you have these, be prepared to defend them vigorously or accept some sharing.

Tulips & Crocus: These bulbs are like candy to squirrels.
Sunflowers: They love the seeds, both in the flower head and from bird feeders filled with them.
Corn: Sweet corn is a major attractant.
Tomatoes: Often nibbled just as they ripen.
Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are favorites.
Pumpkins & Squash: Squirrels will chew on the rinds and seeds.

FAQ: Natural Squirrel Repellent Choices

What is the most effective plant to keep squirrels away?
Daffodils and alliums (like garlic and ornamental alliums) are consistently among the top performers. Their combination of toxicity (for daffodils) and strong odor makes them highly effective natural deterrents.

Do coffee grounds repel squirrels?
Yes, many gardeners find used coffee grounds helpful. The strong smell can mask the scent of other plants and squirrels dislike the texture. Sprinkle them around the base of plants you want to protect.

What smells do squirrels hate the most?
Squirrels strongly dislike peppermint, garlic, white pepper, and the smell of certain predators (like urine from foxes or coyotes, available in granular repellents). The pungent smells of many herbs fall into this catagory.

Will planting mint really stop squirrels?
Mint is a strong deterrent and can be very effective, especially when its leaves are crushed to release the oil. However, it should be part of a broader plan, as a determined squirrel might bypass a single mint plant if the reward is high enough.

How long do natural plant repellents last?
They last as long as the plant is growing and healthy. The scent is most potent when the plant is actively growing and after leaves are bruised or cut. This is why maintaining your plants and occasionally crushing a few leaves can boost the effect.

Using plants that squirrels hate is a smart, sustainable way to protect your garden. It works with nature instead of against it. By choosing the right flowers, herbs, and strategic plants, you can create a lush, productive garden that you get to enjoy first. Remember, consistency is key—use a combination of repellent plants, smart barriers, and habitat changes for the best results. Your garden will thank you for it.