Squirrel digging in planter

14 years ago

At least I think it's a squirrel - could be a chipmunk. Whatever it is, it's making a mess on our front stoop where I have a stone urn in which I planted pansies last month. I read somewhere recently that if I place pinecones around the plants (I guess to cover up the soil) it will keep the pesty critter away. I'm not sure if pinecones would really be an effective deterrant. I know he's looking for buried acorns/nuts--he'd probably just toss those pinecones over his little shoulder and keep digging. Any suggestions? Thanks :)

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Comments (12)

justaguy2
14 years ago
I don't know. There are all kinds of things reputed to dissuade diggers from coming round and digging, but I have yet to see consistent reports of anything working.

The best thing I know of to dissuade them is chicken wire or similar over the soil surface, but this is only practical before planting or with a tree.

Good luck.
bama_gardener
14 years ago
annova914, I used the pine cones to discourage a racoon from digging in a newly purchased Red Maple. He was wild about the fresh soil and after I put in the pine cones, no more digging. The squirrels are probably burying their "goodies". Around here I have pecan trees growing in most of my pots!!
Beverly
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meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
Get your gun out, and shoot your neighbor that is feeding these oversized rats..
Otherwise, resort to the fact that they have won the battle, especially if your cat runs away from them..

Mike
jodik_gw
14 years ago
Tree rats taste kinda like pork chops... so, don't let 'em go to waste! ;-)

But seriously... the pine cone trick is worth a try... or perhaps a few pieces of screening laid on the soil surface...
pippi21
14 years ago
I went through a whole container of cayene pepper the other day for one of our flowerbeds. No sooner had our hired man put down the mulch and was on his way home did the squirrels start digging into the flowerbeds, plus there were deer tracks all over those beds the next morning. There isn't enough screening, chicken wire to put over the entire bed. There are commerical squirrel repellants out on the market for these animals and I am going to go looking for it today or tomorrow when it stops raining. I'm determined to win the war between Bambi and her friends and the squirrell/chipmunk.
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
There is No such thing as sqirrell repellants, except for sniper shooters, cats that are not afraid of them, poison, traps, and the fear of seeing one of their own killed..

I have tried all the methods you think of buying, and it just doesn't work.. Save your money. Some are very expensive.

Soory...:-(
jodik_gw
14 years ago
Fencing and dogs keep the deer at bay... and a .22 with a scope keeps the tree rat population down... but we live out in the boonies, so that's what works for us.

I really don't know how you'd battle deer and squirrels in suburbia.
tomncath
14 years ago
I really don't know how you'd battle deer and squirrels in suburbia.

For tree rats you get a .22 smooth bore and shoot #12 rat shot, no damage beyond 10 yards....
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
Do you think rat poison might work?..I never tried that..

I did use stones once before. I fill the containers with stones to the top, and this did help..:-)
familyman2004
14 years ago
What I read someplace and have found to work very well in pots/ containers is placing rocks on top of the soil around the plant.
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
14 years ago
Yeah, flat creekstones in the container is about the least troublesome method. I don't have problems with squirrels....but the raccoons are just as bad, if not worse (due to their digging habit and their size, strength, and numbers!). I admit, I trapped eight raccoons over the summer - but I also used the stone trick.

Squirrel meat is very high in cholesterol, from what I've heard, but it is delicious when grilled on a barbecue and liberally seasoned with Seasoning Salt. I missed the hunting season this year, unfortunately.

Josh
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I have a squirrel putting pine cones on my flower beds