If you are growing strawberries, this is probably one of the biggest complaints. Bite marks in your freshly grown strawberries.
Learn what eating them and what you can do to prevent this from happening.
Jump to:
- What keeps eating strawberries in the garden?
- How to keep birds from eating your strawberries?
- How to prevent cats from eating your strawberries?
- How to deter ants from eating your strawberries?
- How to stop deer from eating your strawberries?
- How to stop rabbits from eating your strawberries?
- How to stop squirrels from eating your strawberries?
What keeps eating strawberries in the garden?
Here are the biggest culprits:
- birds
- cats (yes you read that right)
- ants
- deer
- rabbits
- squirrels
How to keep birds from eating your strawberries?
My favorite way is to use rocks painted to look like strawberries. Birds will try picking at these and realize it's hard and not edible.
When your strawberries start producing fruit, most birds will remember those red rocks that look just like them and think they are the same thing.
If the birds in your garden catch on though, you might want to get some good quality chicken wire mesh and create an enclosure. This will not only keep birds away, but cats, deer, and rabbits.
How to prevent cats from eating your strawberries?
Cats aren't going to fall for the strawberry rocks, so if you have pet cats or neighbors around you have cats, then invest in some chicken wire mesh and create a fence or enclosure around your strawberry garden.
How to deter ants from eating your strawberries?
Diatomaceous earth-Ants won't be deterred from netting, so you might want to sprinkle some diatomaceous earth on the soil around your strawberries.
Plants that repel ants-You could also try planting some sage or spearmint to help deter those ants.
How to stop deer from eating your strawberries?
Deer won't just eat your strawberries, but they might also nibble on the plant themselves, which can be annoying.
Sprinkle chili powder on your plants or grow a border of marigolds around your strawberries to keep deer away.
Or again, a chicken wire mesh enclosure will help keep those deer from eating anything in your garden.
How to stop rabbits from eating your strawberries?
Like the other animals, rabbits can't get through chicken wire mesh so this would be another great way to keep them out.
How to stop squirrels from eating your strawberries?
Since squirrels are able to climb unlike rabbits or deer, if you suspect squirrels are eating your strawberries you will need to enclose your strawberry plants with a chicken wire cage.
Also, try sprinkling some coffee grinds in your soil. Squirrels don't like the bitter smell.
Diane Ragot says
What about squirrels 🐿 they eat my strawberries
Joanna Stephens says
Great question Diane! With squirrels you could use a wire mesh or chicken wire and form a cage around your strawberry plant. Another tip would be to add some coffee grinds to your soil as the bitter smell will also help repel those critters.