Q: Squirrels are eating our deck boards and gnawing on the HardiePlank siding. What can we do to stop this?

A: When I was three, my mother applied a bitter liquid to my thumbs to remind me not to suck them. You can similarly repel the squirrels with sprayable Hot Pepper Wax available at garden centers. For more deterrence, go to store that sells bird feeding supplies and get some pepper oil to paint on the boards and siding. If you see squirrels scampering around your yard with trails of smoke coming from their backsides, you’ll know they have encountered the pepper products.