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Container Gardening

Squirrels digging containers

5 years ago

I think I've tried just about everything to repel/ deter squirrels but they are still ripping apart all my containers, no matter what's in them. I'm still trying to rig some kind of chicken wire protection that wouldn't be totally ugly, but are there any suggestions for plants that [themselves] repel the little critters? [Not cactus, please]

Featured Answer

popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)

5 years ago

I hear they do not like frittilaria. I wanted to try some last year but just never got around to it.

I have big-time squirrel issues myself. I'm not sure how large your containers but here are some ideas. I use all sorts of covers/cloches over some of my containers. I find wire baskets work well, old bird cages, cheap wire waste baskets from the Dollar Tree, wire fruit baskets, even an old golf-ball basket. I've also used bird netting draped over an obelisk or other form in the container.

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Comments (9)

florananny
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm sorry to come back to this so late -- non-gardening life intervened and I forgot about the post. I have containers of all sizes. The squirrels don't care. They dig out everything. I've recently tried a novel approach that seems to be working (keeping my fingers crossed) -- I smeared Vaseline on a few containers' rims, both thin and wide-lipped. So far the squirrels have avoided those planters... (or if they have approached, I missed the fun :)
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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.
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My grandfather used to go squirrel hunting. They taste very good when they are fried. I don't know what you can do to get rid of them. While you can trap them, other squirrels will move in to the vacated territory. The only thing you can do is make your yard, and yards of your neighbors in all direction unattractive to squirrels. I think the best thing to do is enjoy their antics and patch the yard. Do you have chipmunks? They are also a lot of fun! They are too small to eat.
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I realize this is 6 years later in this thread, but maybe someone else will answer. I have a squirrel problem (digging in my pots) and am just afraid to pot hot pepper flakes. Won't that burn the plants?? I have citrus trees in pots, among other things. Just worried when I start watering them and the flakes go into the soil if it'll damage the roots.
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Ahh, squirrels. I live in an old 'hood thick with giant Pin Oaks and equally thick with squirrels. Individually cut 'lips' or strips of hardware cloth/mesh (if planting seedlings) that sit just inside the container work, or put plastic mesh or critter netting (if planting seeds). But I didn't want to go to that much trouble, so I dug up a bulk container of cayenne pepper powder at the dollar store and just sprinkled some on, and just inside, the lip of each pot, and that did the trick, they left the containers alone after a week or two. Squirrels also learned to avoid my suet feeders because I buy the kind laced with hot pepper (they destroyed the unlaced cakes I bought at first). Downside is that you have to re-sprinkle some powder after each rain, but for a couple of bucks and not much work, it saved my containers. Works well for newly planted individual perennials in a bed too, but the pepper trick will not really work for a large garden of veggie seedlings, that requires bird netting all 'round.
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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
Hmm...I haven't heard of using vaseline. I feel you though. The squirrels are relentless here.
florananny thanked popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
florananny
Original Author
5 years ago
I hadn't heard of it either :) I was using the Vaseline for something else and regretting the huge holes dug out around my plants... and I was picturing the squirrels perched on the planter rims (since they don't just jump directly onto the soil) and I thought "Why not?" ... Since the Vaseline is invisible I can enjoy my containers with unrestricted view -- and so far it seems to be working... Who knows? :)
mblan13
5 years ago
Top dress with lava rock or similar rough stone. They don't like digging in the sharp stones.
florananny thanked mblan13
florananny
Original Author
5 years ago
Good idea. I think gravel deters them a bit too (if it's a thick enough layer).
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
In my yard, they don't just dig plants. They yank them. They have taken to yanking out hens 'n chicks from planters amongst other things. Today I saw one nibbling on the tender young buds of my lilac. They are evil.
User
5 years ago
The only thing that stopped them at my last place was when new neighbors moved in with two outdoor cats.
edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
5 years ago
Not a PC answer, but a little sprinkle of Sevin powder might help. I'm considering a pellet gun also. They are stripping my apples and believe it or not, they love tender hibiscus plants. My neighbor has a loquat tree, and the squirrels are lovin' that.

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