Keep Squirrels Out of the Garden for Good With This Easy-to-Grow Flower They Can't Stand – but You'll Love Its Perfect Blooms
Had enough of squirrels digging up your flower beds? Repel them naturally with one beautiful flower
It's easy to let squirrel control slip down the priority list once spring planting is done, but easing up now can quickly undo your hard work. As bulbs emerge and vegetables begin to ripen, squirrels become increasingly active, digging through borders, raiding raised beds, and helping themselves to container displays.
While the damage can be frustrating, it's worth taking a balanced approach. Squirrels are an important part of the ecosystem, and there's little benefit in trying to eliminate them entirely. Instead, the goal should be to gently encourage them elsewhere using humane, non-toxic methods that protect both your plants and local wildlife. If you're looking for ways to get rid of squirrels from your garden, the most effective approach is often to make your outdoor space less appealing rather than trying to remove them completely.
One of the simplest ways to do just that is by learning how to grow marigolds. These cheerful annuals are celebrated for their vibrant blooms, but they also happen to be one of the best flowers for naturally deterring squirrels. Their distinctive fragrance helps disguise the scent of tempting bulbs, seeds, and ripening vegetables, making your garden a far less inviting place to forage.
How to Use Marigolds to Deter Squirrels
Beloved for their long-lasting flowers and easy-going nature, marigolds earn their place in the garden for far more than their good looks. I grow them myself and recently picked up this best-selling French Marigold Seed Mix from Amazon, although you'll find young plants at almost any garden center throughout the growing season.
Marigolds are wonderfully unfussy. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them ideal for flower beds, borders, vegetable patches, and containers alike. Before planting, loosen the soil and mix in plenty of compost to improve moisture retention, then apply a balanced fertilizer to encourage strong growth. Choose a variety suited to the space available, particularly if you're planting in pots.
Position marigolds around the edges of vegetable beds, among spring bulbs, or beside containers you want to protect. Their bold, distinctive scent can overwhelm a squirrel's highly developed sense of smell, making it harder for the squirrel to detect the bulbs, fruits, and vegetables it's searching for. They're particularly useful during spring and early summer, when squirrel activity tends to peak.
Marigolds offer even more benefits beyond squirrel control. They are often used in companion planting because their fragrance can also help discourage whiteflies, aphids, and other common garden pests, while their bright blooms attract pollinators throughout the season. Pairing them with aromatic herbs such as thyme creates an even stronger natural barrier and brings extra biodiversity to your vegetable garden.
As with any wildlife deterrent, marigolds work best as part of a broader strategy. Keep the garden tidy, clear away fallen fruit and food scraps, and avoid leaving birdseed scattered around planting areas, as these can attract squirrels.
What to Do if You Can't Plant Marigolds
If planting marigolds isn't an option, there are still plenty of natural ways to discourage squirrels from visiting your garden. Squirrels tend to dislike strong aromas, such as apple cider vinegar, black pepper, and using peppermint to deter squirrels, making scent-based repellents a simple, chemical-free alternative.
Mix one of these ingredients with water to create a homemade spray, then apply it around vulnerable plants, containers, or the edges of raised beds. You'll need to reapply the solution after heavy rain or every few days to keep the scent strong. While these DIY repellents and natural pest control methods won't completely eliminate squirrels, they can help encourage them to forage elsewhere, especially when combined with good garden hygiene and strategic planting.
Shop Marigolds, Squirrel Deterrents and Tools
While no squirrel deterrent is foolproof, marigolds provide an easy, affordable, and beautiful way to make your garden less appealing to unwanted visitors. And if you want to add extra protection, there are plenty of other methods worth trying, too – here are some of my favorites.
These petite marigold seeds produce vibrant orange, yellow, and red blooms in just 45–50 days, adding instant color to borders, raised beds, and containers. Easy to grow and heat-tolerant, these compact French marigolds can help repel squirrels naturally with their distinctive scent, while also attracting pollinators and discouraging common garden pests. Low-maintenance and long-flowering, they’re a beautiful, practical addition to any garden.
The Broox Squirrel Repellent uses motion detection technology to help keep unwanted garden visitors away in a humane way. When movement is detected, it emits ultrasonic sounds and flashing LED lights designed to discourage squirrels and other animals from entering protected areas. Solar-powered and weather-resistant, it can be placed in gardens, yards, and outdoor spaces to provide an easy, low-maintenance pest deterrent without chemicals.
This extraordinary French marigold brings a unique twist to the garden with a stunning display of bicolor pastel pink, rose, and yellow blooms that subtly shift with the temperature. Growing into compact, bushy 8–10-inch plants, it delivers a long season of vibrant color in sunny borders, containers, and mass plantings. Hardy, low-maintenance, and beautifully unusual, it adds a standout splash of color while helping create a more inviting, squirrel-deterring garden.
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