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How can squirrels be kept away from vegetable and flower gardens?

Squirrels are garden pests. They eat fruit and vegetables, dig up bulbs, and destroy flowers. The traditional recommendation of spreading mothballs to deter squirrels is often unsuccessful. A more effective method is to surround the garden with chicken wire. Squirrels will avoid the chicken wire, apparently because they fear getting their toes stuck in it. An alternative method is to sprinkle hot pepper around the plants after every rainfall.

Source: Horticulture, vol. 70 (April 1991), pp. 14-15.

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