Protect Your Containers and Plants From Digging Squirrels

2 Materials
$2
5 Minutes
Easy
I’ve been battling with the squirrels digging in my containers and destroying newly planted flowers. I was looking for a deterrent and solution that won't harm my plants and hopefully will keep the squirrels away!
It's so frustrating to plant your pots and have the squirrels dig them up, breaking them and destroying the roots. It's as if their squirrel radar goes off and they can sniff out fresh garden dirt!
We have a very healthy squirrel population with all our trees. We’ve been to war with squirrels in our attic, under our porch and had a  squirrel stowaway on our boat a few years ago. I’m determined keep them out of my containers. . .
I picked up some cayenne pepper and plastic forks from Dollar Tree. The forks work as a physical barrier with the tines pointed up and inserted into the soil. You can also use wood/bamboo skewers (that you use for kebabs on the grill) inserted in your containers. The mini wood stakes also work as a deterrent to keep the squirrels from pouncing in your pots and digging around.
I sprinkled the cayenne pepper liberally on the surface of the soil and on the edges of the pots. The 2.25 ounce bottle of cayenne is a bargain for $1, compared to purchasing it at the grocery store.
The cayenne pepper won’t hurt the plants and hopefully with one lick of the hot pepper off their paws and they’ll scurry away never to return! I’ve had to reapply the cayenne with our rain showers and after watering the pots, but it’s worth the effort until they get the ‘do not dig here’ memo. I'll keep you updated!
You can see more garden blooms around the Potting Shed, here.
Keep Calm and Cayenne On!
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Mary @ Home is Where the Boat Is
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 25 questions
  • Diane Diane on May 26, 2021

    So why would a squirrel dig up a Potted plant but not any other plant what are they looking for I have squirrels and I’ve never had that problem but I’ve never had potted plants either

  • Jj Jj on May 26, 2021

    Can this be used for tomato plants? The squirrels did a number on my garden last year?

  • Gina Gina on May 26, 2021

    Darn squirrel are eating my tomatoes and zucchini and something ate all my seedlings😡. If I sprinkle in the garden and water then I’ll have to put it on daily?

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  • Lorraine Lorraine on May 26, 2021

    I did put a screen over but when the seedlings appear....they need to have space to grow up........I think the fork idea sounds great and hope for good results

  • Elise Elise on May 26, 2021

    I have trouble with gray diggers/ ground squirrels for 42 years, & live 10 miles out of town. If it’s easy to get into all the more fun for them. I’ve planted herbs outside by deer fence covered in chicken wire garden. Herbs seem to work until this year, the babies will try and will destroy anything until they realize the don’t like it. Dug up my garlic. Came on porch & took 1 sandal & found it near their hole all chewed up. The best solution we’ve had was a cat for 3 years- no diggers! Now no cat, traps, lead. They took my sandal to their hole & chewed it. I say do whatever you have to.

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