When I stayed with my cousins for a few weeks the summer I was 9 years old, what I missed most were “my” squirrels in the backyard. Ever since, I've enjoyed watching squirrels.
I've found this attitude toward squirrels is not universal.
But although squirrels are usually not the target animals when you think about a garden that welcomes wildlife, it is possible to peacefully coexist with them. Sometimes people who have seen squirrels caching acorns in their yard are afraid to plant a garden, fearing that the squirrels will dig up and eat everything in sight. They won't!
Squirrels are naturally curious and will investigate anything new in their territory, so if you're digging new garden beds or installing new plants, make another part of your yard a more appealing squirrel playground. Sometimes the solution is as easy as providing a water source. Or add lots of mulch in another part of the yard and put a pile of sunflower seeds or nuts there, so the squirrels can spend their time burying them in that part of the yard.
Even better, plan to include some squirrel habitat and food in your landscape. Nut trees are a great way to keep squirrels busy. For a smaller space, plant a native hazelnut, which likes part shade and can grow as either a multitrunked shrub or a lovely small tree. If you have a larger space or want to create shade, plant native walnut and oak trees.
The next thing sounds wild, but when I mention it to people they often say they've tried it and it works. You need to talk to your squirrels and negotiate boundaries. For instance, you can tell them you'd like to use the planting beds, and the squirrels can use the rest of the yard. I first read about this approach a couple decades ago in a book by Michael Roads of Australia. It works, as long as you have a shared-earth perspective rather than a gollum (mine! all mine!) attitude. Think of it as a conversation, and be patient.
Then plant and see what happens. You can discourage digging by laying hardware cloth or chicken wire on the soil near sensitive plantings, using rocks to anchor the edges. Protect new seedlings with bottomless gallon jugs or wire cages. I have had squirrels dig up beds where I'd put down new compost and planted seeds. I learned to put down compost a week or two before I start planting, so that the birds and squirrels can forage first. Having consideration for the wildlife who share my garden has thus improved my garden by encouraging me to plan farther ahead.
I have a garden in an area that has squirrels in neighboring pine trees. The first year I planted tomatoes there, I got squirrel bites in every fragrant heirloom. So I planted more cherry tomatoes and non-red tomatoes the next year, and haven't had squirrel problems since. But I also learned to pick my tomatoes as they begin to blush, rather than waiting for them to ripen on the vine.
© 2009 Tanya Kucak