Keeping Squirrels out of Flower Pots and Beds

Nether red pepper flakes nor ground cayenne did a thing; I'm now trying hot chili sauce, ground mustard, garlic AND bitter apple to see if it keeps these rotten rodentoids from destroying my plants & covering my front porch with dirt.

and btw stormcloud & others; fish are not vegetables. If you eat fish, you are not a vegetarian (this is one of my pet peeves). Piscivorous is an optional (& correct) term. Overfishing is one of the greatest environmental catastrophes worldwide. May not be a gardening topic, but then again, I dare anyone to grow fish in their garden (without a pond); if you can do so, THEN you can eat fish & say you're a vegetarian.

I haven't tried this yet, but after squirrels pulled up (but did not eat) every single one of my dahlia tubers last year I'll be trying something new. Save all of the old canes after you trim your roses or raspberries (or any thorn bush). Plant the tuber/bulb and partiallly cover it. In the last inch of soil near the surface bury pieces of the thorny canes. That way the squirrel gets pricked when it tries to dig them up. Hopefully, this works. I used chicken wire over the tubers last year when I planted them the second time but that just made it a real pain to try and dig up and divide them in the fall.

Theres something my grandmother tought me and over the years Ive used is planting Marigolds around my garden . They help repel animals , Ive even planted African marigolds that can get to be upto 3 feet tall and have beautiful blooms. Id always plant around the edge of my vegetable garden to deture animals and always seemed to work .

I might try that in the 'chipmunk hill'

I have just registered for this web site so I could add to this thread, plus I liked the whole web site. I think that it has been established that too much of anything is bad, whether it concerns animals or people and that true American, middle class subdivisions have nothing to do with a balanced ecosystem.

Lately I have been concentrating on a new concern? How do I enjoy the benefits of a nice peaceful yard without getting all stressed out about it? My husband and I are nearing retirement so that means we're getting old (and tired) but still work full time! We have a good size yard and my husband (from here on out I'll call him Marty because that's his name) likes to plant a vegetable garden each year, and I like to eat the vegetables each year. He starts the plants from seed in the winter and when planting time comes around the garden is usually half plants from seed Plant and the rest are bought at the market because some if the seeds didn't do their thing. Such is life. Last year we (Marty and his friend Tom) took out the 20 year old fish pond because it needed a complete rebuild and put in a flagstone patio that we are really enjoying. Last year we also finally admitted to ourselves that we hate weeding, trimming and well yard work, therefore we always found other things to do and finding other things to do was always going to win out.

So we (me) made a plan. We (Marty and Tom) started to dig up all of the weeds and laid down landscape fabric and mulch. Mind you we have many mature bushes so the yard wasn't just landscape fabric and mulch. We had stopped planting annuals quite a few years ago due to the High cost every spring and tried planting perennials but gave up on that because the rabbits ate everything we planted. The subdivision that we moved to 35 years ago was too new to have anything but rabbits and I must admit it was fun to see each new animal stake it's claim as the neighborhood matured. But the rabbits! They ate the hostas and other perennials that the neighbors right across the street split and gave to us because they had so many plants that They needed to divide theirs. I guess the plants tasted much better in our yard because the rabbits ate them all.

I am getting to the point, just give me time. So this year we (Marty and Tom) finished all of the landscape fabric and mulch, the yard was weed free and I declared, I tell you declared that we were not going to plant new flowers in the ground, but we were going to buy planters and put our flowers in them so the animals would leave them alone! You can just see what's coming can't you. So I spent countless hours at garage sales, estate sales and wherever collecting wonderful, colorful, eclectic planters could be found and I was sure that Better Homes and Gardens would want to do a full feature on our yard.

So, yes you guessed it! This year we also have been battling the rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks and even the blackbirds to keep our new, not at a small cost even though I did a great job buying the planters, out of our pots. We tried mothballs (no small children around) and they were working just fine until the blackbirds started eating them! Now we are back to square one and I have had it. I will share my new plan with you and you are welcome to try it yourself.

I (Marty and Tom) will try the mesh thing and if that does not work then I (Marty and Tom) am going to fill the pots with rocks and dirt and plant them with the ivy that is growing in our yard, the animals do not seem to bother the ivy. I (this time me) will artfully mind you, artfully, add silk flowers (bought at great prices after much shopping) to the center of each ivy filled pot, sit back on my new flagstone patio, enjoy my cocktail(s) and watch the animals frolic around me. Life is too short for all of the rest.

Cheers, Pam

P.S. Marty likes all of the shotgun suggestions, but I keep catching him looking at me with a strange look on his face.

Interesting story. You could go over to shrubs which flower in different seasons. Ever try red pepper sprinkled in your flower beds? It may bother you, but certainly will bother your 4 footed visiters. It may not bother you too much. We use the suet cakes with pepper & squirrels don't touch them. If people complain about the scent of pepper, explain that it is a commercial pepper garden.

I moved from a house that had many squirrels (used plastic mesh to stop them digging up plants) and some rabbits (patched all holes with concrete under the wood fence) and many voles (started using wire cages for lilies).

My new house has a sunny back yard for my moved flowers and new plants. It has a 2 huge oak trees making a shady front yard for new plants. I killed the grass front and back and planted dutch white clover (I did this before at another house - it did work). I will not mow anymore. I read that rabbits prefer clover to other plants. I had hope. Nope - they prefer delphiniums to clover. Most of my new ones are gone.

The metal old fence in back has many holes in bottom for the rabbits to come in and huge gaps around the gates. They ate a lot of certain plants before I noticed all the damage. I used liquid fence but I have to water every day in this heat for the newly planted items. It did not stop them. Saw rabbits next day in back yard. Searched for better product on line. Found a granular one that said it lasted 2 months (later noticed it would not last as long if heavy rain). Sprinkled it around the fence perimeter. Saw rabbits inside fence next day. Bought 2 ft tall, 1 inch hole chicken wire for my teen handyman to start attaching to fence. Will not know if we stop the holes for another week. Also fighting weeds and chiggers with various chemicals. My ancestors were pioneers - I would not make it. But I do have 15 tomato plants in ground that are doing great and many sweet peppers. Hah! Squirrels at old house ran off with tomatoes in ground but not in containers. Will wait and see if have same problem here.

Bought permatil for use in planting holes to stop voles - waiting until cooler before I put in lilies (in pots and more later), tulips (on order), and other things voles love. Will add dwarf daffodils around them too.

In shady front yard, planted most of it in rhodos, azaleas, hydrangeas, kalmias, viburnums, hostas, heucheras, etc. Saw rabbit eating a heuchera. Got out the granular stuff and sprinkled around every plant in front. Every plant has a 3 ft bamboo stake so the short ones will be noticed and not stepped on. Will buy tons of dwarf daffodils in fall for the hostas and heucheras. Have some on order now - will order more.

Now have bigger destroyer problem - Mailman stepped on and broke off a 6" baby kalmia that was clearly staked - now nothing is left of the plant. Later I watched him trounce through my yard - not looking - and stepping on heucheras. Planning on adding many more bamboo stakes so Bigfoot cannot get through former grass area. Nuts. Never expected this.

In any case, while this heat wave is going on, I am playing with 2 new kittens (got 1 week ago) and merely turning on front or back water sprinklers (and spray killing weeds and chiggers when it is cooler). I have an old cat that has not yet accepted them but has stopped hissing at them - I alternate cat or 2 kittens shut up in a room. Cats have a huge picture window with new fancy 'cat tree' to watch bird feeders and birdbath. Saw a few squirrels around the feeders - did not sprinkle granular stuff there yet - will wait and see if needed.

What does not kill you makes you stronger? Squirrels, rabbits, voles, chiggers, poison ivy (got this 3 times this year, once on earlobe only), bigfoot mailman.

Luckily our mail is deliveded by truck. workmen are trained to do their job & never mind plants, I find. I am so glad that we don't have voles; no moles to dig their summer runs I suspect.

Talked to mailman who denied stepping on anything. I asked that they avoid the yard and use the concrete. He said he would put up a note to do this. Added lots of short bamboo stakes around plants. Did not see mailman on Monday but later saw several stakes knocked over again. Today, bought 50 ft of 2 ft tall white enameled wire fence and placed it around the area of the shorter plants. Teen helper and I watched mailman walk into street to get to my house from next door neighbors. Other neighbors are smiling about the new fence. I do not like it but it serves a purpose. It now looks like a good place for planting lilies and tulips this fall (along with tons of dwarf daffodils).

Some plants were starting to get dug up on the sides - signs of squirrels - so fixed holes and added wood mulch. Will add the smelly granules (garlic/rotten eggs) if it looks like bunnies are eating again.

Had set up bird feeders, including suet - which started to melt and make a mess. Ordered melt proof suet (will see) in hot pepper to stop squirrels. Worth a try.

For back yard bunnies, bought 2 ft tall by 50 ft 1 inch hole chicken wire for bottom of chain link fence where they are coming through. The smelly granules at fence perimeter did not stop the bunnies from coming in. Will improvise placement of chicken wire around the gates that no longer not fit well.

Great guns, you are tough. We use the hot pepper suet with some success. Squirrels have tried to bite through the wire holding suet cakes on the feeder.

I sprayed around my yard with pepper spray ( red pepper flakes in 50/50 ACvinegar water left to sit for a few days in the sun) and haven't seen a squirrel, bird or cat since. Warning though, it burns if you get it on your skin, so do only the perimeter!

Noticed feral grey tabby cat yesterday in front yard and saw him today in front and back yards. He was searching. I started to spray him with the hose to get rid of him then thought how dumb I was. Good kitty. I will get cat food tomorrow and fill the short birdbath for his water. This is after I sprayed liquid fence then a few days later sprinkled granular stuff that should have kept him out too. So - this garlic/egg stuff cannot be applied often enough to work since I must irrigate my new plants. So - fix fence at bottom and feed kitty cat and hope.

Gardening is supposed to be relaxing? Why did I ever think this? It is like an never ending quest - like search for the fountain of youth? I have been at this for over 50 years now. Think I would have caught on by now. Definitely - want feral cats.

As for squirrels - the 2 trees in front are oak. The holes dug by plants are from squirrels. I will have a problem with them in front for sure, but maybe not in back for a while? A few do climb up and down the trees. At my old house, they were good at dismantling the squirrel proof bird feeders.

Has anyone ever tried the motion detected gadgets that emit different frequency sounds? I keep seeing adds but am very leary to try one.

To carolmo - you have more stamina than I do.

To irisMA - Have tried different flowering bushes and the rabbits just eat them down to the ground. They even ate all of the wild rose bushes and they were so covered with thorns that I had to use leather gardening gloves just to maintain them! So really, I am ready for the plan that I outlined above.

Hey! Is there anybody out there?

Thanks. I just ordered 2 ultrasonic rodent repel units from Amazon - Garden Creations JB5028 Ultrasonic Cordless Pest Repeller - for about $17 each - same as shown on Ebay. Will try on rabbits in front and see if same setting works on squirrels. Will attach to a mini trellis with wire and cover the top to help stop water seepage. May also drill hole to let water escape. If it works for 6 months on batteries at a time - it is certainly much cheaper than that egg/garlic stuff that will not work after watering. I assume the chicken wire at fence bottom will work in the back to stop bunnies. I remain 'Always Hopeful'. Carol

If not - rabbit and squirrel stew.

Hi glass flowers. Too hot to be out here.

Oh irisMA you are so right when you say it is is too hot outside. I've got cabin fever as if it were February! I unfortunately have such a sensitivity to heat that it is more fun for me to be out in the winter. It's 9pm right now and my wonderful Marty is sitting here with sweatpants, shirt and a lap robe while I'm sitting here in shorts and a tank top and the air is going full blast!

Carolmo - you just kill me, I admire your tenacity and I hope you enjoy all of the challenges that you take on. I'll be anxious to hear if the sound devices work for you, I,m all about that. I think we should all meet at my place in the middle and enjoy the cocktails (or whatever) on the patio.

Have a good evening! Pam

Got 2 ultrasonic devices for rabbits and squirrels. Set one up in front yard, hung on doorstep rail. Squirrels did not seem to mind it. People with dogs walking in street did not seem to mind it. I decided it must take time. I could hear it going on and off.

Next day, got phone call from lady across the street. The noise was killing her and her dog. It was high pitched and went on and off. They finally figured out it might be something I was doing. I turned it off and told her what it was, why I was doing it, and I would try to figure out a way to stop it from getting to her house. There was no intensity adjustment. I read up on ultrasonic absorption on such devices - they said not out behind drapes, etc. because soft fabrics would absorb. Then I looked up attenuation, and found soft materials and plastics would absorb. I thought a sock might work but it would get wet. Then I thought of press and seal - I tried 8 layers over the horn area - lady said she could not hear it - then I tried 10 layers, aimed it away from her house, and she said she thought it was OK now. I could barely hear it. Decided to see if it worked on the squirrels in the front yard trees for several days.

Hark - what is that sound - I think it is thunder. Maybe it will rain? Yesterday was 107 degrees.

Marty has eyeing Corabelle (sp) plants and they are like $20.00 a plant. Does anyone have feedback on these? We live in zone 5. Just wondering if I should step back and let him get them or try to steer him away.

Thanks,

Pam

Flowers are a very common sight in weddings, and have been for centuries. As more information is discovered on what exactly the colors and types of flowers meant to our ancestors, many young couples are beginning to choose their bridal colors based off of the meaning attached to them rather than based purely on aesthetics.

What does that have to do with keeping squirrels out of your pots???

They think the term "Beginner Flowers" means you can post anywhere you want. They don't understand particular threads.

Marcia

ahhhh, maybe that's it

Wow - So sorry! I've been having nice conversations with carolmo & irisMA they seem to try a lot of different plants along with a lot of hard work keeping animals out of their gardens. When the subject of Corabelles came up at home I just thought I would go to some nice people and ask about them. Guess there aren't any nice people out there right now. Maybe when the heat finally breaks.....

Pam

Re coralbelles or heucheras: I put in a lot of heucheras and hostas in shady front yard. The most I paid for either was $10. I got a bunch of 'Miracle' heucheras at Walmart on sale for around $3 - they are still chartreuse (which is what I wanted). I usually buy them for $7-10 at the tents outside places like Kmart in the summer. You can also get them on line for less than $10.

The heucheras do change color during the summer. I lost a few before my move to the new place - the black ones died but stayed alive at the previous house. Mailman stomped on a few heucheras and bunnies ate some - even though my friend said they would leave them alone. I lost some due to the squirrels. Squirrels dug up a lot on the sides of both hostas and heucheras until I started using the cracked black pepper as guardian.

The heat may be passing soon. At least it is under 100 now. Ordered many different dwarf daffodils (including lots of W.P. Milner and Hawera) to guard plants from voles and rabbits - still have 40 pounds of expanded shale to try too. Got more bricks to finish off back yard beds - they were on sale - cannot believe my luck here - took 3 trips to get them home. Most of the blue delphiniums in the back are gone due to heat, drought, and bunnies - not finished with chicken wire fence for bunnies.

The 15 tomato plants that might have attracted squirrels are not doing well but might be an attractant next year if drought and heat are not problems. Squirrels used to run off with the ripe ones. I will be adding more fruit trees in back next year when they are no longer out of stock - squirrels like fruit trees too - drat them.

Added good dirt and cracked black pepper in front where squirrels were digging up plants. Got 2 small pepper mills from one place - 1 small pepper mill from another - small ones were too hard to work - so got $17 expensive one that does easily work and am using it. Saw only one small hole by a plant a few days later - looked like they stopped digging because of the cracked pepper. I am starting to breath again. I really think this might be the trick. They like new dirt. At old house they dug up everything new until I started using plastic wire fence in ground around new plants - this (cracked black pepper) is so much easier if they stop after new dirt becomes older dirt.

Turned off the ultrasonic that does not work anyway. Left it outside for now because mailman seems to be leery of it. Wire fence is stopping mailman - took some down but left it around the outside. Looks better.

I had many baby bunnies in back yard - breeding ground - saw feral cat with something large in mouth walking outside the fixed part of fence - think it was a baby rabbit in its mouth. Too bad they do not catch squirrels.

Ordered some replacement and on-list shrubs from Girard - 40% off sale - will be pulling up 6 rhododendrons that did not make it in the heat and drought - drat it. Decided to try 3 burkwoodii viburnums to replace one set of 3 dead rhodos - earlier tried one each burkwoodii and juddii viburnums and both are still alive and much taller than most of my new baby shrubs. Some of the damage to the rhodos were squirrel holes I did not notice in time. At least I do not have deer.

We have had no squirrel prolems with our single coral bells. Great on the pepper.

We don't use Palace Purple any more as the leaves burn in the sun.

Glassflower1, you'll get lots of info from the Heuchera forum. The nicer the plant, the less likely it is found at WM or HD. I don't think I've ever paid more than $13.99.

Thanks for the information! carolmo you still absolutely amaze me. I need to take a nap whenever I read one of your updates. Sorry about all of the drought kill but I laughed out loud about the ultrasonic machine and the mailman. I won't waste my money on that.

Thanks for the heads up on the prices of the Corral Bells. I'll let Marty monitor that forum.

Gotta go as I'm getting ready to grab the pepper mill and run outside!

Pam

flowAjen and Glassflower, when we get these ridiculous remarks from people who just signed up that day, I find that they are phishing for something. They are either advertising for a product or for trouble, and seldom reappear. I find them on the appliance forum a lot.

We need to be observant and not taken in by them.

Glassflower, if I offended you, it wasn't intentional. Many times on the beginner flowers forum you will not get the depth of info available in the specific forum. You will also find gardeners who never look at the beginner flowers forum. I only check this forum occasionally.

Marcia

I think I have a not very bright squirrel. He ate the coffee grounds I put out and 2 days ago he fell out of the tree.

I hope it was the same squirrel.

Sorry about the over reaction and thank you for explaining the ins and outs to me, I am new to the forum world, all is good.

Thanks again,

Pam

I'm tried of hearing people say, "they were here first". Ok, yes, they were here first, BUT, when humans moved in, we pushed out the predators that would keep the squirrels, etc, in check. We now need to become the predators that we have pushed out. When our squirrel population becomes too high, we take care of them. When we do, we throw the carcass far out into the woods and they are eaten by others, eagles, bugs, etc. Unless we eat them - which we have done, and yes they are tasty. We are lucky enough to live in the woods, we love wildlife, but overpopulation is not good for any species and if we as humans have created a problem we need to take care of it. And yes, that goes for humans too - we only have one child - there is room for everyone if we all keep our populations down. PS I have netting around my garden, I use milorganite on my flowers, I switch up with using the store bought deer-off and I also make my own - saw the recipe on this post so won't repeat it - because we are out in the woods it's ok for my husband to occasionally "go" outside so I tell him to do it around the outer perimeter of my fence, I have used human hair, coyote urine, and also Irish Spring soap, after reading much of this here I will now add coffee grounds and rubber snakes as something I do. The thing is to use a lot of different things and switch it up so they don't get use to it. That being said, I still have the occasional squirrel or deer get in - it happens - it ticks me off - I get over it and move on - will never stop planting.

The problem is squirrels. No one needs a lecture.

I saw this thread while browsing today and I read through some of your posts and thought I would chip in. I know your pain... and I have shared in your frustration... but now I want to share in my fruition. Let me let you all in on a little secret...

I found this thing online called an "AirCrow" that I've been using for awhile. I've been a gardener all my life and for the very first time I am now winning the battle over the squirrels and birds (including woodpeckers), and other varmints that have plauged me for years! This is the second year of victory!

I have literally tried every single product you can imagine to stop the birds and squirrels from eating my fruit. I've tried those stupid owls you see all the time (the birds actually sit on its head!)... I've tried those expensive bird sound deterrents (I think this actually attracts them)... I've tried netting.... I've tried hanging CDs... Blow up snakes.... you name it! There is no telling how much money I've spent trying to protect my garden only to lose everything to the birds and squirrels. This is the ONLY thing I've tried that has worked.

I have never picked so much fruit in my life!

You guys should definitely check this out. It's amazing!

This message was edited Jul 23, 2013 2:16 PM

Hi Dragnet,

I love the pic of the Air Crow that is LOL funny..worth it for that alone -- and you say it works, as well?

For two years running? I suppose you can move it around, and the motions are random enough to confuse the beasties.

This is a fascinating thread - I quite sympathize both with the folks who say they could never kill any creature themselves and with Ozarkian and Carolmo and others who keep talking about issues of balance - overpopulation in any species will sooner or later become destructive - just look at Carolmo's experience - if it wasn't the critters it was the _mailman_! ROTFL! (Forget bears, it's the mailman!)

BTW Carolmo, you tell the story of your aggrevation in a very funny way, maybe you should do stand -up or a humor column- seriously!

I hope everyone is able to come to some peace over their plants vs animals battles. Gardening is supposed to be relaxing... I heard that somewhere!

cheers
HeatherY, urban gardener

BTW, gentlemen, a friend who was growing a large kitchen garden in a very rural part of VA tried the personal urine application method and it failed utterly - because he was _vegetarian_. (Maybe hair has to be from meat eating people to have a chance of being effective.) I told him he persuade the deer to back off his food if they wanted him to maintain his lifestyle and continue _not _eating _them_!

DH has used fox urine from a farm store to get chipmunks out of the garden. he hangs the vial on a metal loop in the hold in the plant bed.

I think it's time to agree that from October 2007 until now, August 2013, there is still no agreement on how to deal with squirrels that encroach on peoples plot's of land that belonged to the squirrels, deer and Lord knows all what, long before we decided to go live there and have the nerve to talk about cull's, over breeding, population explosions and all that kind of rubbish someone acting like a modern day Annie Oakley wants to go shoot anything that moves or just about.
I cant swallow the story about the Mother deer who attacked a human being when she was with her Fawn, believe me, IF I were walking my own child through the tree's, fields or wherever with my baby in tow, I would attack anyone I thought was going to harm my kid without hesitation so Hello, what's the deer supposed to do, just hand the young deer over on a roasting tin. don't be so stupid and get real about giving out examples to make your point.
I'm afraid to admit that reading this thread from start to finish does not show a lot of so called human beings up in a great light, in fact, when I read talk of "we must control nature" or it's up to us to rid the place of animals who after all, just want to do what we, as humans do, like meet a mate, have a family, be able to feed said family and live a happy peaceful life for however many years we have. were Gardeners for God's sake, Not the forest rangers.

Some of the language being used makes people like myself feel quite ashamed of the long connections myself and family have made and enjoyed over lot's of years while visiting USA, I've never heard words like "us true Americans" or we need to kill these creatures or prevent them breeding!! Sorry, and forgive me if I'm wrong, BUT, were the true Americans not the Red Indian nation of people who lived off the land, killed no animals unless it was to wear or to eat, or make shelters from skins, and they still managed to find edible nut's, greens, herbs, fruit and more and when I hear language like "us true Americans" reminds me why a lot of nations in the world have taken a dislike to small town Americans. It is truly a wrong attitude as most Americans do NOT use that terminology in public, or maybe I've witnessed the Hollywood Rose Tinted Glasses type of friendly people. White settlers were NOT the true Americans but like lot's of today's people, resettled for a better life.

I get upset when "phrases like, they cant feed their offspring so they come eat our stuff so kill them, or words to that affect, I can only assume that whoever thinks like that has never left USA or done much visiting around other countries where there are mothers with no milk in there breasts to feed their month old babies not because they dont want to, but because they would also get killed for foraging for food that belongs to someone else, or husband has been killed and they CANT feed there young, maybe because their lands have been taken from them to meet the demand for food that we in the Western World want to eat and feel we have a God given Right to go along with that, maybe their land has been ravaged by wars, just like the Squirrels, their natural habitat has been taken away and humans have moved in.
What would you guy's that cant understand another creatures need for food do, would you line all these mothers who cant feed their babies up against a wall and shoot them also.

Ofcource everyone Must choose what way to go regarding killing a few squirrels because it flattened your Delphiniums while trying to run around looking for food, that's because it cant recognise the difference between lovely flowering plant from an acorn hanging from the OAK trees or the like, I know they are destructive, they do cause problems within a flower bed, eat or destroy lot's of our products, as do slugs, snails, greenfly and lot's of other bugs.
As much as I would rather go the NON chemical or bullet way, I have every respect for others who choose to go the KILL way.
All I ask is that the type of language directed to others who disagree with killing animals, modified their use of language as we are talking about Gardening here, Not world war 3, This site goes world wide, Not just USA.
We are also discussing Squirrels not Sabre Tooth Tigers that lay in wait all night till you open the door.
Dave's site is here as HELP for beginners flower's, and other Beginner forums, Not a place to hurl insults at anyone view's or feelings towards trying to save other creatures, let's encourage others NOT put them off joining in the threads here or even leave the site all-together.

With respect and Best Regards.
WeeNel.