Mix something into the potting soil that squirrels find distasteful. Natural repellents may include cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, vinegar, peppermint oil or garlic (or try a combination of two or more).
Similarly, create a homemade squirrel repellent consisting of 2 tablespoons black pepper, 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper, one chopped onion and one chopped jalapeno pepper. Boil the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes, then strain it through a fine strainer or cheesecloth. Pour the strained mixture into a spray bottle and use it to spray the soil around potted plants. The mixture is powerful enough to irritate your skin, lips and eyes, so use with care.
Add dried blood (blood meal) to the potting mix. Blood meal is a high-nitrogen fertilizer, so be careful not to apply excessive amounts.
A layer of rocks on top of the potting soil may discourage squirrels from digging. However, rocks can become hot enough to damage plants during the summer months. Alternatively, a thick layer of mulch may be beneficial for keeping squirrels out of containers and will be much healthier for plants.
Consider hanging decorative or shiny elements near your potted plants to scare squirrels away For example, try colorful pinwheels or spinners, old CDs or aluminum pie pans.
Cover potted plants with a cage made from chicken wire, plastic bird netting or hardware cloth – especially during the offseason when squirrels are more prone to “planting” their stash, which they normally come back for later digging up precious bulbs in the process. If you don’t like the idea of surrounding your plants, try cutting small pieces that you can lay under the surface if the soil.
Try covering the surface of the pot with attractive rocks and stones. The squirrels won’t be able to budge them and yet they’ll enhance the appearance of your garden containers.
Try laying chicken wire just under the top level of soil when planting bulbs to prevent squirrels from digging them out. Remove it when shoots appear.
Mix in fresh, strong smelling coffee grounds with the top layer of soil. The odor is repellent to squirrels but does them no harm.
Or make your own hot pepper spray. You can make pepper spray by combining a couple of teaspoons of washing up liquid with a small bottle of hot pepper sauce and water. Put it into a plastic spray bottle to apply. Commercial pepper sprays are also available specifically for keeping squirrels away from plants and gardens. If you don’t want to actually spray your plants, sprinkle hot red pepper flakes or powder in the soil around the plants to keep squirrels away. Of course you’ll need to repeat this regularly, especially after each time it rains. They do not like the spiciness at all and they will avoid any area that has been treated. You can make pepper spray by combining a couple of teaspoons of washing up liquid with a small bottle of hot pepper sauce and water. Put it into a plastic spray bottle to apply. Commercial pepper sprays are also available specifically for keeping squirrels away from plants and gardens. If you don’t want to actually spray your plants, sprinkle hot red pepper flakes or powder in the soil around the plants to keep squirrels away. Of course you’ll need to repeat this regularly, especially after each time it rains.
Bone meal is also repulsive to squirrels. It is a natural fertilizer high in nitrogen and ammonia, and has a strong scent that deters squirrels. The added bonus is that you will be adding nitrogen to your soil at the same time!
There are organic products on the market with non-toxic repellents such as Nature’s Defense.. It is safe to use around children, pets, plants and food crops.
We have the samae problem here with squirrels in the flower pots and flower beds. For the flower pots I use things they can't lift such as broken ceramics, stones...plus this will slow evaporation and weed growth.
In the flower beds, we use chicken wire, the flowers grow up through the wire, this includes bulbs planted from a previous season.
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Hello. This link might be helpful
https://www.thescrapshoppeblog.com/5-tricks-to-keep-squirrels-out-of-your/
Mix something into the potting soil that squirrels find distasteful. Natural repellents may include cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, vinegar, peppermint oil or garlic (or try a combination of two or more).
Similarly, create a homemade squirrel repellent consisting of 2 tablespoons black pepper, 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper, one chopped onion and one chopped jalapeno pepper. Boil the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes, then strain it through a fine strainer or cheesecloth. Pour the strained mixture into a spray bottle and use it to spray the soil around potted plants. The mixture is powerful enough to irritate your skin, lips and eyes, so use with care.
Add dried blood (blood meal) to the potting mix. Blood meal is a high-nitrogen fertilizer, so be careful not to apply excessive amounts.
A layer of rocks on top of the potting soil may discourage squirrels from digging. However, rocks can become hot enough to damage plants during the summer months. Alternatively, a thick layer of mulch may be beneficial for keeping squirrels out of containers and will be much healthier for plants.
Consider hanging decorative or shiny elements near your potted plants to scare squirrels away For example, try colorful pinwheels or spinners, old CDs or aluminum pie pans.
Cover potted plants with a cage made from chicken wire, plastic bird netting or hardware cloth – especially during the offseason when squirrels are more prone to “planting” their stash, which they normally come back for later digging up precious bulbs in the process. If you don’t like the idea of surrounding your plants, try cutting small pieces that you can lay under the surface if the soil.
Hi! This article has been very helpful:
https://www.tomcatbrand.com/en-us/library/other-nuisance-animals/how-keep-squirrels-out-yard-and-garden
Cayenne pepper sprinkled in and around the pots will keep them away!
We use bird netting.
Cover them with chicken wire. To hide the wire, I spread a thin layer of mulch.
We have the samae problem here with squirrels in the flower pots and flower beds. For the flower pots I use things they can't lift such as broken ceramics, stones...plus this will slow evaporation and weed growth.
In the flower beds, we use chicken wire, the flowers grow up through the wire, this includes bulbs planted from a previous season.
Here is some info to help you. https://www.thescrapshoppeblog.com/5-tricks-to-keep-squirrels-out-of-your/
Hello Maybellean,
They are looking for food, so as they are clever animals, if you have a food station set up for them, they probably won't need to dig your garden!
We put hot pepper flakes in our planter, the squirrels were digging up our bulbs. It seemed to work.
hardware cloth over areas also helps if you're having trouble in a certain spot.
This should help: https://thehoneycombhome.com/how-to-keep-cats-out-of-the-garden-without-hurting-them/
Moth balls but when it rains they dissolve so replace them