I find it interesting that this topic occurs so frequently and with such vehemence. Whatever works for you, works for you. There is no silver bullet for squirrels that is all inclusive. I doubt that many of you have as many squirrels as we have. At any time you can look out any window of my oak and hickory festooned property and see a dozen squirrels. Aside from the fact that they have been here on this land for many dozens of generations, I try not to interfere with them any more than necessary. (I am guilty of feeding them treats.) Yes, they have caused a bit of destruction from time to time, but so have the owls in my koi pond, or the bear that was sitting in the pond last summer or the bears that rearrange the porch from time to time. No more than the possums, or raccoons rummaging around. We also have foxes, coyote, nesting hawks and occasional eagles, and all of the other critters that were here long before me. None of these creatures has ever intended any evil action (but maybe my cats have, they are more human).
Again, though it seems I have posted this a dozen times, the hot dried peppers work well for me, but they are messy. Peppermint oil is very repulsive to gnawing critters. I just spay randomly around the plants with it, targeting wood, stone and block structures and on the mulch as well. It works really fast but does not last long. And in those areas that are most exposed to the woods around me, I have been using fox and coyote urine granules to great effect with fewer applications. Everything I use I buy from Amazon.
