Do Squirrels Eat Grass Seed?
Overseeding your lawn in the fall can help grass grow thicker and repair brown spots. But what if new grass doesn’t grow? The problem could be caused by wildlife in your area. This raises the question: do squirrels eat grass seed?
Yes, squirrels will eat grass seed if it’s not protected and left on top of the soil. The good news is, there are a handful of things you can try to protect new seed.
You can install galvanized poultry wire, plastic netting, or even lure the squirrels to another area of your yard with a feeder. You could also try a combination of the different methods listed here.
Why do Squirrels Eat Grass Seed?
Before jumping into how to protect your lawn from squirrels, let’s talk about why these animals eat grass seed in the first place. For starters, there are five main types of North American squirrels.
The American red squirrel, fox squirrel, black squirrel, eastern gray squirrel, and western gray squirrel. Eastern gray squirrels are the most common type you might find lurking around your lawn.
These animals have a diverse diet including flowers, tree bark, berries, walnuts, acorns, and (you guessed it) seeds. Most eastern gray squirrels are also tolerant of humans, which is why they can be found in residential neighborhoods.
Some people like feeding these animals for entertainment. You can even buy or make your own squirrel feeders to hang up outside. This makes grass seed an easy meal for squirrels, because it’s spread out openly on your lawn.
How to Stop Squirrels from Eating Grass Seed
So, how do you stop these pesky rodents from gobbling up all of your expensive grass seed? It all comes down to protection. Placing a barrier between the squirrels and new grass seed will keep your lawn protected.
1. Galvanized Poultry Wire
Galvanized poultry netting (also known as metal chicken wire) can be a great way to prevent squirrels from eating your grass seed. When installed correctly, it will act as a barrier between the squirrels and your lawn.
What makes this material so good is the durability. Galvanized steel (or iron) is coated in a protective layer of zinc. Even though this material can rust over time, the coating will hold for the duration you have it outside.
It only takes a few weeks for grass seeds to begin the germination process – so you won’t have to worry about it rusting. And because galvanized poultry netting is such a tough material, squirrels will not chew through it.
2. Plastic Netting
Another way to protect new grass seed from squirrels is to use plastic netting. It works just like galvanized poultry wire, but made from plastic. The good news is this material is both durable and budget friendly.
One thing to look out for when buying this material is the size. Any type of mesh netting will come in a square pattern – but you need to make sure it’s small enough so squirrels can’t get to the grass seed.
If the holes are too big, the squirrels will be able to slip right through and the plastic netting won’t work. So, make sure to find outdoor garden netting that has a tight pattern to prevent this from happening.
3. Squirrel Feeder
Squirrel feeders are a unique way to observe wildlife around your home. But they can also keep animals from eating new grass seed, by directing them to another area of your lawn.
Keep in mind that a squirrel feeder by itself may not do the trick. Instead, this object works best when paired with galvanized chicken wire, or plastic netting. That’s because there’s still a chance for squirrels to find the new seed.
It would be ideal if animals approached your yard from the same side. You could install this feeder near the entrance and that would be the end of it. But squirrels will enter your lawn from all different directions, which is why a feeder alone will not do the trick.
Remember to Bury the Grass Seed
In addition to following the above practices, it’s also crucial to cover your grass seed. This step alone will not prevent squirrels from eating your seed, but it’s often neglected.
Most instructions recommend burying grass seed 1/4″ to start the germination process (but you should always check the bag). If you fail to do this, it’s likely new grass won’t grow. Just like most plants, the seed needs to sit slightly below the soil.
If not, the seed could blow away in high winds, or gets washed out during a heavy rain storm. But planting too deep can also cause problems. Water will not be able to penetrate the surface and new grass won’t grow.
Keep Squirrels Away
I mentioned how burying grass seed alone will not prevent squirrels. But it also won’t give them an open invitation to your lawn. Even though squirrels can dig, you don’t want them to see the seed in the first place.
When new grass seed sits below the soil, it can make it harder for animals to smell. And while there’s still a chance for it to be dug up, combining one of the methods above makes it almost impossible to reach.
Combine Different Methods
This article started with a simple question: do squirrels eat grass seed? Not only do squirrels, birds, and other animals eat grass seed, but they can prevent newly planted grass from growing on your lawn.
It’s common for homeowners to blame the grass seed, or how they planted it. The truth is that the problem can often be blamed on animals coming on your lawn.
The best way to handle this issue is to try a combination of the different methods listed above. You can begin by laying down galvanized poultry wire to act as a barrier between the squirrels and your lawn.
Then install a feeder in a location far from the new grass seed. Lastly, don’t forget to bury the seeds 1/4″ under the soil for germination. By following this method you are taking the best approach to preventing squirrels from eating new grass seed.
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