Coneflowers, zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, and anything else that produces a seductive seed head after the bloom has passed should all have their spent flowers deadheaded. By doing this, you prolong the flowering season and encourage rebloom while also removing temptation from your garden (chipmunks love to eat and store seeds).
I thus hope that this list will be helpful to you whether you are planning a garden in a chipmunk-infested yard or you wish to replace destroyed plants with ones that are chipmunk resistant. Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me what they consume or reject in your garden.
thoughts on “Plants That Chipmunks Won’t Eat
Thanks for the information. I naively thought all marigolds were secure. By the way, squirt guns don’t function either, so I would have purchased the double and then. Seventy years old! They simply returned to my deck. The chipmonk broke it after knocking it off the table after I had left it there for five minutes. It was also a unique blaster.
I’ve discovered that keeping them out of my potted plants on my deck involves soaking a paper towel in tea tree oil and wiping the bottoms and edges of flower pots and planters. I also use a small amount of the oil to coat the bristles of my brooms before sweeping the deck. When it gets on their feet or hair, they don’t like the taste or scent of it. Because of their fuzzy leaves, mint plants are avoided, therefore I grow those alongside the other flowers.
a fascinating read. We have a huge population of chipmunks here in the woodland where we reside, however they have never damaged my tulips. They haven’t bothered with my lovely red tulips, which resemble long-stemmed roses. What they choose to eat may also depend on what they have access to.
Last year, chipmunks destroyed all of my dahlias. They should be taken from your annual list, please.
Since all of my several petunias were devoured by chipmunks this summer, I suggest adding petunias to the list of tasty options for the annoyingly adorable creatures.
Our Tagetes, or African marigolds, are being severed by chipmunks. sedum is being chewed off but not consumed as well.
Every single one of the several dozen petunias I planted in pots on my deck a few days ago was just completely destroyed, right down to the earth. The chipmunks found them in about a day or so. I hoped that by tightly packing sharp wooden spikes around every last petunia that was still standing after I realized the petunias had been attacked, the malicious little animals would be discouraged. Zero chance. All of my lovely color patches are gone. Petunias from my next batch will have to be grown in hanging pots.
I had lantana in pots on the deck last year, and I haven’t yet determined if chipmunks or squirrels devoured them all. This season, I’m also going to hang some of those flowers.
They’ve also eaten a lot of the columbine in my pots, leaving only a few inches of stem left.
They are rhubarb fans! This spring, the yearlings have been using it as a diversion to cool off.
Originally, I was going to accuse the bunny of eating all of my sunflowers, but I now believe chipmunks are to blame. There are a lot of them now that my semi-feral rescue cat is gone. As a last resort, I would have moved the bunny because I’ve had to do so before. But there is no way to capture every chipmunk.
My problem is not that the blossoms are being eaten, but rather that the roots are being destroyed, and you can see where something has burrowed in right close to and surrounding the plant. We’ve always had rabbits and squirrels, but this is the first year that chipmunks have moved in, so I assumed that was the problem. I saw that none of you mentioned that roots were being chewed away. It frequently occurred shortly after I planted a new plant. The roots of some yarrows and nearly all dianthus have been destroyed. So…thoughts? Instead of chipmunks, how about moles or voles? I applied a granular substance that was meant to keep moles, voles, and other rodents away, but it didn’t seem to have any effect.
Oh, my rhubarb is safe in southern Oregon thus far. What about certain vegetables that they dislike? After reading the rhubarb post, I suppose I’ve been fortunate thus far.
Squirrels consuming sedums?
Animals. The fragile young shoots of the sedum plant have been known to attract the attention of deer and squirrels. Deer have demonstrated a liking for the sedum type known as “fall delight,” despite it being deadly to humans.
Plant Flowers Chipmunks Don’t Like
Like all animals, chipmunks typically have a preferred meal. They frequently favor particular products, including vegetables, seeds, roots, and bulbs. Due to the taste or fragrance, they will also shun some plants and flowers.
The trick is to grow those things around your yard or outdoor garden that chipmunks won’t appreciate. Chipmunks will be less likely to bother plants with repellent-like smells or those with a bitter taste.
A good illustration of a floral plant that discourages chipmunks is daffodils. Other examples include yarrow and common camas, as well as marigolds, lavender, and allium. These plants all emit natural deterrent odors that act as a “stay away signal” to pesty tiny rodents like chipmunks and squirrels.
These plants nonetheless have advantages for your yard and flowerbeds, which is a plus. They not only give your garden color and variety, but the majority of them are hardy and can survive dryness and direct sunlight.
These flowers can be planted in rows next to other flowers or near doors and windows so that once chipmunks have tasted or smelled them, they will probably look for another spot to investigate.
Don’t Invite Them InHow To Stop Chipmunks From Digging Up Flowers
Like most animals, chipmunks have preferences about how they want their living spaces to look. So you can make your property unbeneficial to them in order to ensure that they don’t decide to make your location their home.
Chipmunks enjoy burrowing, and they create both deep and shallow burrows in which to hide and store food. Like squirrels, they consume a range of items and will seek them out wherever they are present, including insects, seeds, berries, and mushrooms. On rare occasions, these animals will even scavenge, search through your trash, and consume leftovers or pet food.
A place where they might find cover should be cleared of rock and wood piles. Keep your trash organized and secure any cans or containers so that animals won’t be drawn to them.
If you have bird feeders, ensure sure they are out of the way and far enough away from your plants. For assistance in this regard, read this article on how to keep pests like squirrels away from your bird feeders.
You may prevent chipmunks from wanting to hang out by taking these quick steps. They might leave your lovely flowers alone and look for food somewhere else, so hopefully.
Turn to Homemade and Natural RepellentsHow To Stop Chipmunks From Digging Up Flowers
Repellents function similarly to growing flowers that rodents like chipmunks and other species typically avoid. Remember that these repellents only serve to deter animals from digging in your garden and other areas of your land. They are not meant to hurt the animals in any way.
It has been established that rodents, particularly chipmunks, are natural enemies of hot, spicy peppers. To utilize around your flowers and plants in this situation, you can readily find cayenne pepper, garlic, hot pepper flakes, or comparable chilies in your kitchen cabinet.
These deterrents can be used in one of two ways. To begin with, scatter them around your pots, beds, and containers. Simply put a small amount of the hot peppers in a gloved hand and scatter them in potential burrowing areas for chipmunks.
If you’d like, you can create a straightforward solution using liquid dish soap, garlic, and cayenne or chili powder, and spray it all over the area. Use a formula like this to quickly create your own homemade hot pepper spray if you prefer the liquid form. Simply spritz the flowers and plants with the solution.
You can use peppermint and tea tree essential oils in addition to hot pepper spray.
Instill Natural Fear
Since chipmunks are in the normal animal pecking order, they are constantly on the lookout for predators.
By imitating some of their natural enemies’ predatory actions, you can use their natural impulses against them. The chipmunks are more likely to flee as soon as they perceive danger rather than damage your plants and flowers.
Particularly, owls, cats, and foxes frighten chipmunks. You can use high-tech tools, such a motion-activated owl, to act as a contemporary scarecrow to these pests.
Install Fence and NettingHow To Stop Chipmunks From Digging Up Flowers
Last but not least, to help prevent chipmunks out of your garden or property, you can erect a fence around it. You must consider smaller solutions because chipmunks can easily scale normal fences. With smaller netting, such as welded wire mesh or even chicken wire, you should strengthen the main fence.
Fence should be buried at least 6 inches underground because chipmunks are well-known for digging. Additionally, make sure the fence is high enough to make climbing it challenging. They will then be forced to give up and leave, so you can seal the deal by adding netting to the top and side.
Don’t forget to remove any branches that chipmunks could use to scale your fence and enter your garden. Get rid of any undesirable branches and pebbles that they might utilize as a safe haven.
What kinds of plants devour chipmunks?
We are well aware that the chipmunk enjoys eating nuts and acorns, just like its cousin the squirrel.
Fresh berries, herbs, and even vegetables like celery and mushrooms are also welcome fare for these animals. These animals occasionally even eat the flowers and leaves that are growing on potted plants!
Many people will discover their garden plants uprooted and the leaves chewed through due to this diverse palette.
A chipmunk is constantly seeking something to chew on due to the lifelong growth of its two front teeth. Those who grow their own food will discover that chipmunks can almost unrestrainedly steal growing crops at night. Without the right repellents, chipmunks are likely to ruin your garden as soon as you replant it.
What’s That Sound?
You can immediately relate if you’ve ever gotten near enough to a chipmunk to startle it.
No, not a suave croon like Alvin and his Chipmunk brethren; when threatened, chipmunks as a species emit a distinctive chirping sound.
This harsh screech serves two purposes: it frightens away the oncoming predator and alerts nearby chipmunks to danger. When chipmunks see people, they typically cry in terror rather than attacking or flee. These two are frequently carried out in tandem with one another.
We can all agree that this is a preferable solution than treating a flesh wound from a startled chipmunk (with all the bacteria they may carry in their mouths), but we can also all agree that this noise is really upsetting to hear when you’re trying to unwind in your yard. And regrettably, if one or more chipmunks decide to make your property their home, you’ll hear this noise virtually every time you go outside.
What can I do to stop chipmunks from destroying my plants?
Schoenberg advises spraying deterrents such hot cayenne, garlic, apple cider, peppermint, or coffee grinds around your plants and gardens to keep rats away of your yard for extended periods of time. Coffee grinds serve a dual purpose by being especially beneficial around plants that require acidic soil, she continues. “While it serves as a deterrent to chipmunks, it also serves as a fertilizer for plants that benefit from acidity, such as hydrangea, azaleas, and Rhodes.” Just remember to reapply whatever deterrent you use after rainstorms because it will eventually wash away.
What would consume sedum vegetation?
A perennial flowering plant with succulent properties is called sedum (Stonecrop). Sedum primarily stores water in its leaves and stems. Sedum, which is frequently planted in the spring, will thrive and blossom through the winter. Some types of sedum are more resistant to deer than others. Remember that being deer resistant does not mean being deer proof.
Sedum is classified as Occasionally Severely Damaged on the scale used by Rutgers University, which ranges from Rarely Damaged to Frequently Severely Damaged.
Deer will try practically any plant at least once before eating it. Deer dislike the bitter flavor and sticky texture of, for instance, Sedum Autumn Joy, but they nevertheless eat it. Deer will nibble on sedum plants if there is nothing else to eat because they grow up to winter and food is scarce at this time.
Some animals appreciate sedum, while deer prefer to eat hostas, daylilies, and plants that have been fertilized well. The young branches of sedum have been observed to be consumed by squirrels. Birds that are parched in the summer will avoid the sedum’s blossoms in favor of its juicy foliage.
How is sedum safeguarded?
The sedum shouldn’t need to be watered after the growing season is over. Sedums prefer dry ground. Winter rot can be caused by too much moisture. A layer of snow will aid in defending the sedum, but persistent rain and stagnant water are bad for the plant. You should water just enough if the winter is particularly dry to prevent the soil from drying out altogether. Sedum in pots will require more water than in-ground plants do.