No matter where they live, most homeowners have to confront the problem of squirrels chewing on outdoor furniture from time to time. The damage caused by these furry pests can range from minor scrapes and scratches to serious destruction of wood, fabric, and other materials. Fortunately, there are several simple steps homeowners can take to keep their outdoor furniture safe from squirrels.
1. Cover furniture with protective sheets or blankets. Covering up your outdoor furniture with a light sheet or blanket when it’s not in use is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep squirrels away. Be sure to secure the covering with something heavy such as bricks or rocks so that it won’t blow away in a gust of wind.
2. Add some unpleasant smells. Squirrels have an acute sense of smell and they don’t like certain odours such as peppermint oil, citrus oils (e.g., lemon or lime), and eucalyptus oil. Try applying some of these scents around your outdoor furniture (a few drops will do) in order to deter squirrels from chewing on it.
3. Use motion-activated sprinklers. Motion-activated sprinklers are specially designed devices that emit a sudden burst of water when triggered by movement. These sprinklers are an excellent way to keep squirrels away from your outdoor furniture as they will be scared off by the sudden water spray.
4. Install physical barriers. If all else fails, you may need to install physical barriers such as wire mesh fencing around your outdoor furniture in order to keep the squirrels away for good. This method can be quite labour-intensive but it is often the only way to guarantee that your furniture will remain safe and unscathed.
Conclusion:
Keeping squirrels away from outdoor furniture can be a challenging task but it doesn’t have to be impossible. By following a few simple steps such as covering up the furniture when it’s not in use and adding unpleasant smells around it, homeowners can significantly reduce the chances of their outdoor furniture being damaged by pesky squirrels.
