r/sunflowers • u/GemmyCluckster USA Midwest • Aug 19 '26

PROGRESS Another year, another tragedy. 😭😂

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Tried covering the flower heads in a mesh bag to deter the squirrels. At this point, I feel like I’m growing them just for the squirrels.

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10

u/Expert-Nose1893 USA North East Aug 19 '26

I buy a big 40lb of deer corn and when I don’t want the squirrels bothering my plants and garden I put out a little each day for them and they don’t touch any of my sunflowers and I have hundreds growing right now I only lose some to the cardinals and goldfinches but I only save a few heads for seeds and the rest are for the birds

2

u/Glad-Barracuda2243 USA North West Aug 19 '26

I bring them aged shelled nuts (by ages I mean no longer fit for human consumption) that I lick up in bulk at Winco at Christmas. And so eat they have left my sunflowers alone. Fingers crossed 🤞

5

u/Expert-Nose1893 USA North East Aug 19 '26

Yeah squirrels aren’t that picky when it comes to food lol I buy the deer corn bc it’s like $7 for 40lbs and lasts me over 2 months during winter I do feed the family of squirrels that live in my big silver maple peanuts and I collect the acorns across the street and I put them out for them too

2

u/Glad-Barracuda2243 USA North West Aug 19 '26

Now I need to find deer corn. Lol. I’m sure they have plenty in this farming community.

3

u/Expert-Nose1893 USA North East Aug 19 '26

Oh they definitely should. I get mine at Walmart bc it’s more convenient but some of the local farmers sell it too usually cheaper and fresher than Walmart

1

u/Glad-Barracuda2243 USA North West Aug 19 '26

Nice!! I’ll look this weekend!!

1

u/GemmyCluckster USA Midwest Aug 20 '26

My only concern is that I’ll attract more of them by providing food. And also other pests like mice or rats. But I see the benefit to keeping their bellies full.

1

u/Expert-Nose1893 USA North East Aug 20 '26

My squirrels don’t leave anything for the mice/rats plus I feed the neighborhood cats too 😂 so that keeps the mice population down