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Are Squirrels going to kill my lovely Holly tree.

Beebop164Beebop164 Posts: 40
in Problem solving


We had 5 in the tree today, they just nibble the ends off the branches so the new leaves and berries are on the ground. They are also stripping bark and twigs off the oaks. Will the trees cope? What can I do to help the trees?  I suspect the squirrel population has had a good year and there is population pressure. I garden for wildlife and are near a wood so culling squirrels isn't the answer, more will just come fill the vacuum? But the balance isn't right here!😥

Sorry for the angle of the photos. 

Posts

  • Doghouse RileyDoghouse Riley Posts: 347
    edited October 2021
    We get a couple of squirrels in our garden.
    They share a feeder on one of the  posts, of the pergola over our  French windows,  with the birds. The bar across the front keeps the pesky wood pigeons out.

    There's one of them in there here.




    As there's always food available  they leave the plants alone.

    If I fed them peanuts, they'd dig "golf green pitchmarks" in my lawn, to bury them, so they get kibbled peanuts instead.

    Five seems a lot. That would worry me too. Maybe you could put some food out for them away from where they are causing damage? This might get them out of the habit.
  • Beebop164Beebop164 Posts: 40
    Ah, thank you!
    that's a good idea. I have some squirrel proof bird feeders to deter them (the birds don't even get a look in otherwise)..perhaps by taking away the "easy food" I've driven them onto the trees? 

    Bit worried about attracting even more to the garden though! Though they are very territorial and I think three are this year's kits.

    Just noticed one of the major branches of my red Hawthorne saplings has been snapped ....they are getting the blame!😥


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    How long has the holly been in situ? It doesn't look in very good condition at all. Ilex should look lush and healthy all year round. 

    I'd think the problems are long standing rather than squirrel damage of any kind. Anything they're doing is likely to be an effect rather than causal.  :)  
    The nearby trees will be major competition for water, and the shade they create will have an effect too. Anything else nearby will be competing for moisture, and if you've had the dry conditions over the last few years that many areas have experienced, it won't have helped. Ilex is quite drought resistant once established, but they do best with a decent amount of moisture. 
    It's not possible to see enough from the photos unfortunately  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Beebop164Beebop164 Posts: 40
    I am not sure how long it has been there but you are correct, it has looked more and more sorry for itself in the 7 years we've owned it.
    It is a very dry part of the garden I am working on adding organic material to that bed but it slopes and is close to large trees. There is some new growth at the bottom so fingers crossed.

    Sum of parts perhaps...I hope I can help it, it's so sad to loose mature specimens.

    I think I might try a feed the squirrels a bit...it might distract them from the bulbs I am about to plant
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Agree with @Fairygirl.  I have a Holly which is growing about a foot away from an enormous Ash and it is never going to come into it's own.  Whether it was a seedling or planted by a non gardener I don't know but it is not happy, especially when compared to other Hollies in the near vicinity.
    Squirrels can cause damage in the garden but I doubt they can be held responsible for the problems with your Holly .
    I'd also think twice about encouraging them further by specifically feeding them - they aren't renowned for thinking " nice kind person, I'll stick to the food offered and ignore the rest of their garden "  ;)
  • Beebop164Beebop164 Posts: 40
    I know, they are demons. That being said,  it was quite funny watching them bury peanuts and then watch a magpie following them around  and digging them straight back up.
    Squirrels, slugs and magpies....I am blessed! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Beebop164 said:
    I know, they are demons. That being said,  it was quite funny watching them bury peanuts and then watch a magpie following them around  and digging them straight back up.

    I used to watch them doing that in a previous garden too. I only had a tiny amount of sympathy though, because they cause so many problems, not least of which is the damage to our reds. 
    We don't get too much bother here in the garden with them though- plenty of food nearby for them, as we're next to farmland and woodland, as well as a small NT garden. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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