Will aluminum foil keep hungry squirrels from precious tomatoes?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/03/2019 (2701 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Joan:

My wife and I had a unique experience last year with squirrels that annually invade my tomato crop.

I’ve resolved over the years to give them a third of the crop and we get the rest. It’s been an arrangement I’ve had to live with until last year. Sitting at a dinner party in our backyard, I casually mentioned that the beautiful tomatoes growing nearby will be shared with our squirrel “friends.” One of my wife’s friends casually pointed out that if you put aluminum foil around the base of the cages, it will keep the squirrels out.

Well, easy fixes are usually not that easy, but I figured I had nothing to lose. My optimism was tempered at best, but to my complete and utter surprise, we only lost about four tomatoes the entire year!

I cannot find the science behind it, other than aluminum foil works for cut worms, which was not our problem. But no worry, I will have the aluminum around the cages again this year.

I would love to hear any science or anecdotal stories of this solution.

— Jim McNamee

Dear Jim: This news will be welcomed by many as tomato season approaches.

I could find absolutely no reason why aluminum foil around plants should work, but I did find anecdotal evidence that it does. Most recommend using foil when growing tomatoes in pots: putting it over the pot, then poking holes for the seedling and for water.

The only theory given was that squirrels don’t like reflective surfaces, which is true, although most of the time the shiny object needs to be moving to achieve optimum scare factor.

Squirrel fighters, if you try this method this season, let me know how it works for you.

Dear Joan: I have a wildlife-friendly yard and enjoy watching birds and insects humming and buzzing around my fruit trees and vegetables.

Recently, a mockingbird has taken up residence outside my bedroom window in our lemon tree. Its 2 a.m. serenade is quite raucous.

I like mockingbirds at a distance, but outside my window, not as much. How can I discourage the bird from nesting here without removing the lemon tree?

My other problem is ground squirrels. I do not mind sharing, but it is frustrating to see a hundred apricots with one bite taken and thrown to the ground to rot. How do I discourage these furry harvesters from eating so much fruit?

—Geoff Wright

Dear Geoff: The mocker in question is a lonely bachelor looking for a mate. He eventually will find one or give up trying until next spring. Either way, he’s not likely to nest in the tree, and if he does, he and his mate will be much quieter, at least at 2 a.m.

You can try hanging reflective items in the tree to get him to move on, but chances are he won’t go far.

I’m not sure it’s the ground squirrels getting your fruit. They are not keen on climbing and usually don’t leave food lying around. My guess is rats. Either way, wrap the trunk of the tree in metal flashing, which will make climbing very difficult, and prune branches away from fences and structures that could be providing access to the tree.

Hanging shiny objects in the trees or spraying the fruit with hot pepper also may help. The hot pepper will wash away easily when you’re ready to enjoy those apricots yourself.

— TNS