Marigolds and other plants with pungent scents might be a beneficial addition to your borders and veg beds to deter hungry squirrels and flies. Credit: PixabayThe opportunistic little omnivores with stuffed cheeks and bristly tails are as cute as they are meddlesome for gardeners. So how do we keep squirrels away from our bulbs so that we can enjoy their resplendent blooms? Coming back to squirrels, there are other plants you might plant to deter them. Alliums such as garlic and onions, also release a pungent odour, while daffodils contain a toxic chemical called lycorine that rodents like squirrels avoid.