What Is the Best Squirrel Repellent? Proven Ways to Safeguard Your Garden
Squirrels are cute and affectionate, until they fill burrows, your mailbox, and every concealed place with peanuts, lots of them. Not just that, but they also eat the fruits, vegetables, flowers and bulbs, and young sprouts, more or less everything. However, most people do not resort to violent methods, so a lot of them ask, “What is the best squirrel repellent for gardens?”
The simple answer is that there is no single “best” repellent for squirrels. Some of them work effectively, while others don’t. It also depends on the activity level. The more the squirrels store their food, the higher the difficulty in repelling them.
So, what is the best repellent to deter squirrels from your garden? In this blog, we will discuss top-rated products and effective methods that keep squirrels away without harming them, allowing you to protect your garden.
What is the Best Squirrel Repellent for Your Garden?
Several products can be used as squirrel repellents for your garden. However, the best and most effective by far are predator urine products. They work by mimicking the scent of a predator’s urine, since predators use their pee to mark territory.
However, not all of them work. While squirrels are easily intimidated by apex predators like lions and wolves, they are also skilled at hiding. Only a few methods work effectively, which are listed below.
● Fox Urine: The most effective predator urine product for deterring squirrels. It works because squirrels recognize foxes as natural predators, making the scent a strong deterrent.
● Peppermint Spray: Squirrels dislike the strong, minty aroma, making peppermint spray an effective deterrent.
● Garlic: Both the spray and the natural plant have a sharp and pungent scent and effectively deter squirrels.
● Cayenne Pepper or Chili Powder: Scattering cayenne pepper around plants can discourage squirrels from digging.
In short, the most effective urine-based product is fox urine, and you maximize the effectiveness if you use it with the other mentioned products.
How to Use Fox Urine With Other Products to Deter Squirrels

Knowing which repellent works is half the battle. The products are effective only when used correctly. While each product is great and can be used alone, the best results are produced when you combine them.
Below is a step-by-step method for using fox urine products in combination with other deterrents to effectively deter squirrels.
1. Identify High-Activity Areas
Look for spots where squirrels are most active, such as near bird feeders, garden beds, or young plants. Focus your efforts on these zones.
2. Apply Fox Urine
Place granules or liquid fox urine around these high-traffic areas to create a predator scent barrier. This should be your foundation repellent.
3. Add Peppermint Spray
Spray peppermint around the same areas or directly on garden borders to strengthen the deterrent effect.
4. Use Garlic as a Secondary Barrier
Either plant garlic near vulnerable crops or use a homemade garlic spray to add another scent layer that squirrels dislike.
5. Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper or Chili Powder
Apply a light layer around plant bases or in soil where squirrels dig to make the area unappealing. Be mindful of the amount, as too much cayenne or chili powder can irritate plants or wash into the soil.
6. Protect Delicate Plants With Barriers
Apply a light layer around plant bases or in soil where squirrels dig to make the area unappealing.
7. Repeat and Rotate Methods
Reapply fox urine regularly and rotate natural deterrents like peppermint, garlic, or cayenne to keep squirrels from adapting.
DIY Squirrel Repellents to Try With Fox Urine Products
The steps we mentioned are effective, but please note that some products may not be available to you. While you can purchase quality fox urine granules and liquid urine on our website, what should you do if other products, such as cayenne or garlic spray, are not readily available?
In such cases, you can follow some DIY tips, a few of which are mentioned below.
● Homemade Garlic Spray: Crush garlic cloves, soak in water overnight, and spray the liquid around plants.
● DIY Peppermint Cotton Balls: Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil or mouthwash and place them near vulnerable plants.
● Cayenne Pepper Mix: Mix cayenne pepper with water and a drop of dish soap, then shower it around plant bases to discourage digging.
● Coffee Grounds Barrier: Used coffee grounds may help discourage squirrels due to their strong odor, and many gardeners find them worth trying. As a bonus, they also enrich the soil.
● DIY Citrus Repellent: Place orange, lemon, or lime peels around the garden to keep squirrels away with their sharp scent.
Final Tips: What is the Best Squirrel Repellent?
Whether you use the fox urine or other products to deter squirrels, you should always follow the effective method. Their activity levels differ. In some gardens, a single method may be enough to reduce squirrel activity, while in others, combining multiple repellents provides the best protection.
What really matters is where you buy the products from and how you use them. While we are not experts in recommending where you can purchase natural products, we can assure you that all our customers are satisfied and have provided positive feedback.
Therefore, buy quality products and protect your garden from squirrels.
FAQs About Best Squirrel Repellent
What is the best squirrel repellent?
There are many products available that effectively deter squirrels from your garden, and no single product is the best. However, the products that work have different effects:
● Fox Urine: The most effective product since it induces fear in squirrels.
● Peppermint Spray: Has a sharp scent that irritates a squirrel’s sense of smell.
● Garlic: Squirrels find the scent of garlic to be very pungent and irritating.
● Cayenne Pepper or Chili Powder: It is very sharp on both eyes and nose, making it an effective squirrel deterrent.
How do farmers keep squirrels away?
Farmers primarily use physical barriers, such as bird netting, floating row covers, and hardware cloth, to protect crops. They also employ repellents, including hot pepper spray, garlic, peppermint oil, and fox urine products, to deter squirrels. Other methods include managing the farm environment by cleaning up fallen seeds and food sources and trimming trees to eliminate jumping points.
Can I put cayenne pepper on my plants to keep squirrels away?
Yes, cayenne pepper can help deter squirrels, and it's more humane than other options. An even better method is using fox urine products, since they induce fear in squirrels.
What is the best way to apply fox urine?
In Attics, basements, garages, and sheds, place two to four ounces of fox urine granules in an open container. Then, place one container every 80 square feet where animals are getting in. However, the area should be inaccessible to children.
Allow up to two to three weeks for the granules to take full effect.