What's the best way to keep squirrels out of my potted patio plants?

upright sticks

get a dachshund ;)

The Dachshund will keep them in the trees so that they can play together! : ) My two little dogs played with the squirrels in the trees endlessly and if they tired of it the squirrels never seemed to and would come down the trunk just out of reach and chipper at them until they were back in the game!! I used small pinecones to discourage cats from using my flower pots. I don't know if it would work on squirrels or not. I would make sure that the seeds were out of them so that they were not an invitation!

Trap the little buggers! I have 2 "Have-a-heart" traps. When I see them in the patio, I set out one or two of the traps. Start with a small piece of nut in front of the trap, then one about half-way in and one past the "bait station". On the "bait station", I use just a dab of peanut butter and stick another small piece of pecan on it. If the trap isn't really sensitive, they'll steal everything, including the piece on the station. That's why I add the extra piece - so they'll step on the "bait station" and trip it. There's a large pasture with lots of oak trees and I transport them there.

Good luck!

I put aluminum foil over the soil and arounf the plants when putting them in, poke holes through the foil for watering and secure foil with tan golf tees. When the plnets grow and thicken, the foil doesn't show.