I've had the same problem. Cut a piece of weedcloth (available at your local HD or garden store) to fit onto the top surface of the pot. Cut slits and/or holes for the plants. You can use several pieces and overlap them. If you like, secure them with "earth staples" or hairpins poked through into the soil to secure the cloth, then cover this up with gravel or tumbled stones. The squirrels will get discouraged because it's too hard to dig. This also helps keep moisture in and weeds from growing. BTW, use the stones or gravel, not a bark mulch, because that doesn't deter them as much.
By "weedcloth" I assume you mean the material you put in flower beds to keep weeds out? This sounds like a good solution! Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Hi Terry. I have this issue every year. I put red hot pepper flakes in my pots on the soil. They will stay out for sure. You may have to reapply every few weeks depending on how much rain you get. You can just buy the ones at the dollar store. I have also used fake snakes in the pots. They worked for a few weeks.
If all else fails, bait a mouse trap with peanut butter and set it in the pot. The snap scares the bejesus out of them and they don't return for a good while. You can do it with one pot at a time or if you have more than one mouse trap, do a number at a time. You don't catch the critters, I have been doing this all summer with chipmunks, it just scares them off. I have used them in the garden if I see a critter hole and they abandon that hole if you put one by it. Try it, see if it works for you! Good luck!
I tried that before, but must not have put enough flakes in. I'm in Texas, so the squirrels probably LIKE chili pepper! Thanks for responding. These squirrels have been driving me crazy!
You're correct about the weedcloth. There are several qualities, some heavier than others. They let the water through, but the weeds can't come up through the little holes. For good measure, you could also also take a few mothballs or moth crystals and place them in a container that has the opening on the side, so water doesn't get into it, put it on top of the rocks next to the plant so they get a whiff when they approach. Very discouraging.
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I've had the same problem. Cut a piece of weedcloth (available at your local HD or garden store) to fit onto the top surface of the pot. Cut slits and/or holes for the plants. You can use several pieces and overlap them. If you like, secure them with "earth staples" or hairpins poked through into the soil to secure the cloth, then cover this up with gravel or tumbled stones. The squirrels will get discouraged because it's too hard to dig. This also helps keep moisture in and weeds from growing. BTW, use the stones or gravel, not a bark mulch, because that doesn't deter them as much.
Hi Terry. I have this issue every year. I put red hot pepper flakes in my pots on the soil. They will stay out for sure. You may have to reapply every few weeks depending on how much rain you get. You can just buy the ones at the dollar store. I have also used fake snakes in the pots. They worked for a few weeks.
If all else fails, bait a mouse trap with peanut butter and set it in the pot. The snap scares the bejesus out of them and they don't return for a good while. You can do it with one pot at a time or if you have more than one mouse trap, do a number at a time. You don't catch the critters, I have been doing this all summer with chipmunks, it just scares them off. I have used them in the garden if I see a critter hole and they abandon that hole if you put one by it. Try it, see if it works for you! Good luck!
try putting moth balls in the plants... but keep the pets away from them
I tried that before, but must not have put enough flakes in. I'm in Texas, so the squirrels probably LIKE chili pepper! Thanks for responding. These squirrels have been driving me crazy!
My neighbor put chicken wire in her window box. Seemed to work.
You're correct about the weedcloth. There are several qualities, some heavier than others. They let the water through, but the weeds can't come up through the little holes. For good measure, you could also also take a few mothballs or moth crystals and place them in a container that has the opening on the side, so water doesn't get into it, put it on top of the rocks next to the plant so they get a whiff when they approach. Very discouraging.