Squirrels are hard to keep out of trees

Q: I have two pecan trees in my rear yard. I have tried everything I can think of to keep squirrels from climbing the trees and eating pecans while they are still green. Is there anything I can do to keep them out of the trees?

A: You can find plenty of advice online about how to control squirrels. You’re welcome to try them all. But if you read the comments from people who’ve tried them, you’ll find that repellents don’t work (evidently squirrels don’t have refined noses, and they can even eat sunflower seeds soaked in hot pepper oil). Trapping is ineffective because no matter how many squirrels you remove, others will move in to take their place.

If your trees are far enough from other trees to be out of the squirrels’ jump zone, these will work:

1. Use a metal barrier: Wrap a three-foot wide metal barrier starting six feet up around the trunk of your tree to prevent squirrels from climbing up from the ground.

2. Remove low branches: Remove any branches that are less than six feet from the ground.

If you can’t get the trees out of their jump zone, then squirrels will share pecans with you.