Eaten Daisies, Roscoe Village, Chicago
Last year I had gorgeous Gerbera Daisies planted on our deck so this year I planted more of the same. This year, for some reason, the squirrels have been eating every bud that grows. At first they would let the flower go into full bloom and then make off with it, but leave a bunch of petals as a kind of “F.U.” But now they’re eating the buds before they can even grow into anything. I haven’t had a daisy on the deck for many weeks. Thoughts? Also, I’m almost positive it’s the squirrels doing this, but I haven’t actually seen them.
JennJ // Jul 30, 2008 at 9:16 am
That’s funny, totally reminded me of this old scene:
A few years ago, my Mom planted a lovely little sunflowers in a pot on the porch. One afternoon, we watched as a squirrel hopped along the railing, looking cute, until it hopped down into the pot and snapped the sunflower bud right off and ran away with it. My Mom solved it by putting a thin net over the sunflowers (sort of ruined the aesthetic, but saved the flowers).
Clint Ecker // Jul 30, 2008 at 11:34 am
Ugh. I had this problem too when I lived in Uptown. I tried planting some min-sunflowers and basil.
Every time something green showed itself through the dirt, a squirrel would unroot it and eat everything.
Once I got everything growing inside my apartment to a good stage and then put it outside. Next morning, everything was devastated. I just gave up.
Now I live in Wicker Park and haven’t seen a squirrel in ages. Maybe now is the time to start my little garden back up!
Heather // Jul 30, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I have the same problem! I planted a hydrangea plant and some inpatients in my window boxes on my balcony and the squirrels keep digging up the dirt and pulling the plants out of the dirt! I put chicken wire all around them but the squirrels still manage to get in and dig holes and dig up my plants. I don’t know what to do.
RachelleB // Jul 30, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I thought the squirrels only liked daisies, but from your stories I see that they love to eat anything. It’s strange because we have marigolds, dahlias, basil, rosemary, hydrangea, and a few other plants on our deck and they only go for the daisies. On our back fire escape by the kitchen we have 5 different herbs and the squirrels don’t touch that either.
Killian // Jul 30, 2008 at 1:54 pm
miniature electric fences… at an old apt. I had a squirrel actually chew through my screen window and steal a whole stick of butter.
That squirrel knew exactly what to steal from me to hurt me the most… sniff
RachelleB // Jul 30, 2008 at 2:02 pm
heh. mini electric fences may be the way to go. the squirrels in rv are a menace!
once last year i went out the door and in the flower box was almost an entire slice of pizza. when i got home, it was gone. 3 days later i saw a squirrel running with another huge piece of pizza in it’s tiny jaw. i dont know where it was coming from.
VeggieOption // Jul 30, 2008 at 2:18 pm
A squirrel legging it across the road with a slice of pizza? Now THAT I’d like to see a photo of. Rachelle, where’s that camera when you need it most?!
RachelleB // Jul 31, 2008 at 8:59 am
Mostly the squirrels run from rooftop to tree to deck railing to tree to roof, etc. So yeh… I saw the squirrel carrying it while doing all that.
toast322 // Jul 31, 2008 at 9:32 am
I came home one day to find a squirrel pulling a tomato off one of my plants, then he ran off with it in his mouth. We’re not talking about a grape or cherry tomato, but one of the gargantuan beefsteak variety. It was quite a sight.
Tman // Feb 7, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Put some poison down everyday… that’ll get the fuckers,
Laurie // Jun 28, 2009 at 11:07 am
Tree squirrels in San Bernardino mountains are eating our deck and a wood playset we have purchased for Grandchildren. They are a menace. They fear nothing! Wish I would of known the deck and playset were squirrel food, I would of payed less for them. They say when you hate the squirrels its time to move off the mountain…..time to go!!
Kandy // Feb 7, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Sprinkle cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes, replace after rain, that will keep them away.