Will Tabasco harm Sycamore

[Nat2711]

Our Sycamore has suffered quite a bit of damage this year as a result of squirrels chewing off the bark to get to the softer and sweeter flesh.

it was suggested that we spray the branches with Tabasco diluted in water, to deter the squirrels. Will the Tabasco harm the tree?

[sime42]

15 minutes ago, Nat2711 said:

Our Sycamore has suffered quite a bit of damage this year as a result of squirrels chewing off the bark to get to the softer and sweeter flesh.

it was suggested that we spray the branches with Tabasco diluted in water, to deter the squirrels. Will the Tabasco harm the tree?

 

No, I would say it will not damage the tree. On the other hand, it probably won't deter the squirrels for long either unfortunately. Most of it will be washed off as soon as it rains.

 

I feel your frustration: squirrels are an absolute menace, to put it politely. What's more, Sycamore is one of their favourite trees to attack in this way. Aside from a more heavy handed solution, I'm not sure what else to suggest to help here.

[sime42]

Thinking on this a bit more. Is it a small tree, a sampling? If so the chilli idea could probably work. In the form of a semi hardening paste though. Something like flour and water or maybe wallpaper paste. With a load of chilli powder or flakes mixed in. You could then apply it to the effected branches in a thick layer and then it should stay there for a number of days, even if it rains. (As long as it had time to harden first). If you buy the chilli in bulk, a 500g, or 1kg bag say, it'll be quite cheap. Much more so than Tabasco.

 

 

[roys]

Or you could cut the sycamore down and replace it with a nice apple or cherry tree, just a thought 😀

[Nat2711]

1 hour ago, sime42 said:

Thinking on this a bit more. Is it a small tree, a sampling? If so the chilli idea could probably work. In the form of a semi hardening paste though. Something like flour and water or maybe wallpaper paste. With a load of chilli powder or flakes mixed in. You could then apply it to the effected branches in a thick layer and then it should stay there for a number of days, even if it rains. (As long as it had time to harden first). If you buy the chilli in bulk, a 500g, or 1kg bag say, it'll be quite cheap. Much more so than Tabasco.

 

 

40ft well established tree, about 30 yrs old.

[Nat2711]

37 minutes ago, roys said:

Or you could cut the sycamore down and replace it with a nice apple or cherry tree, just a thought 😀

Even if we wanted to (we don’t) has a TPO on it, so not an option.  Good suggestion on the cherry tree - we have one in the front garden.

[manco]

option A: spray the squirrals instead of the tree

option B: grease the trunk/branches and little blighters slide right off

option 3: wait for halloween and get some motion activated spooky-noise things in the tree

[Rich Rule]

Air rifle?

[Ty Korrigan]

How on earth are you going to effectively treat such a large tree?

 Maybe install a stuffed cat or owl?

 

 

[sime42]

They'll see through that, they'll soon work out what's a real threat and what's not. They'll clever little cnuts.

 

On a tree of that size I think the only thing that'll work is extermination. Either by trap, gun or poison. That'll only work for a while though as other individuals will move in quite soon to claim the territory. The only long term solution is a nationwide cull, extermination campaign, which isn't going to happen any time soon unfortunately.

 

 

[daltontrees]

It would be interesting to see what would happen if you injected the stem with tabasco? Or spray the leaves with it, and let it be absorbed into the phloem (bark) like glyphosate is.

On the other hand the wee buggers might get to like the hot taste and come along every friday nght after the pubs shut and give it a good chew.

Edited June 21 by daltontrees