How do I keep the squirrels out of flower beds and window boxes?

I go this idea from `Hints from Heloise' column: sprinkle cracked red pepper flakes on the potting soil. It won't hurt your plants. I tried this because squirrels were digging out and eating the avocado pits I had carefully nurtured and planted.

You can spray fox urine or other kinds of urine that can be purchased at garden centers. You can also try putting pinwheels or hang old compact disks or recycled aluminum pie tins from stakes to add noise and movement to the garden.

bb gun

Yes I agree with the first person. I used habenaro pepper flakes when I saw the little "darlings" digging up my bulbs. Needless to say I don't have squirrels anymore. I kinda felt bad for the little thing as I watched him try to wipe the hotness out of his mouth. I even threw a piece of bread to him.

I feed the squirrels sunflower seeds on a back fence feeder. They coexist with the 2 dozen cardinals that visit my backyard... squirrels plant trees and I moved onto the edge of a wooded meadow. Seed's cheaper than them wanting my vegs in front. The one I saw just now left after he'd picked through the seed shells and eaten the ones the birds couldnt see. It's worked fine the last 3 summers...

Hello Carol, I have YOUR ANSWER!!! and it really works!!! Plant some Mary Golds between your other plants. Like if you have a planter of Pansies, then take out three, and put the Mary Golds in, those places, so every planter will have several Mary Golds in the planter. This smell, they hate, and you will have NO MORE visitors!!! Believe me it works. As far as the squirrels, use Moth Balls between the plants, for this will cause NO harm to the plants. Best wishes, and enjoy!!! from J.