Keeping Squirrels out of Flower Pots and Beds

ouch!

I need to update. This is my second summer here. I have 14 dwarf fruit trees now. 2 peach trees planted last fall had fruit. One dropped all. One had 2 nicely sized peaches - on my favorite that I had years ago. I was watching one peach that was turning red - really wanted to taste it but wanted it more for my grandson to able to pick it and eat it. I tested it and it was still very hard. So, I started watching daily so grandson could enjoy it. I could see it from my kitchen window. Then .... it was gone. It was not on the ground. A few days later, I saw a red tomato chewed up on the ground, from a plant in the ground (most are in tubs). I have 3 bird baths in that area so the varmints are not after the fruit because they are thirsty. I am not surprised. I knew they would be after the fruit sooner or later. Probably will put up netting later on the trees. Why they do not go after tomatoes in tubs is beyond me. At least they do not dig up newly planted materials with freshly ground black pepper. And, the bunnies are fenced out of the back yard and seem to be repelled by daffodils in the front yard. And I have tons more daffodils on order. Good enough for now.

WeeNel (and everyone else insulted by possters on soapboxes), just keep gardening and posting! We cannot help posters' political opinions. I always thought we were a genteel group, but I haven't always felt I was received that way.

You have made wonderful contributions that we would sorely miss if you took these obnoxious posts personally. Ignorance comes in all colors, shapes, sizes, nationalities and levels of rudeness.

This is an international website with threads from all over, as it should be. We have a common thread, and it is not tearing down good, honest, experienced contributors!

Sending you my favorite flowers, Marcia

Hmmm. Just thinking.... If freshly ground black pepper kept squirrels from digging, would it work on fruit? Thinking.... Might try to make it adhere to fruit if squirrels really hate it. Could spray something like olive or canola oil on a peach or tomato in the ground when it is getting ripe, use pepper mill to add black pepper, and keep watch. Long ago, in last mini orchard, used to get peaches with a single bite out of them - might have been birds or squirrels. I do not know how much bird netting helps against squirrels - may have to do this later, when I actually start getting fruit. I did bag in ground tomatoes with that plastic mesh fencing - it seemed to stop them hauling off large tomatoes. Some places sell socks or woven baggies for fruit to stop bugs like codling moth - might that work for squirrels? Doubt it - they ate the tarps over BBQ grills.

This seems silly, but perhaps some other shrub or tree that they like, might distract them. Or else lure them into your garden which you don't want.

Cathy /Marcia, Thanks for your kind words and those beautiful Lilies, how did you guess these are my most favourite Flowers of all, Here they are called Star Gazer and have the most wonderful perfume that can waft all over the garden especially evening time.

I understand we all have different ideas and opinions about many things and topic's but we can express those opinions without using offensive language especially when the this site is a global platform and people from all over the world can become involved.

I always feel completely safe and on this site over the years, and am fairly tolerant to many folks ego trips about differing thoughts and views, but I honestly DON'T like bullies, overpowering, un-polite or disrespectful adamant or forceful opinionated personal remarks because as you have rightly reminded us all, this is an International site and we should at all times keep that in mind when we disagree with some topics being banded back and forward on the site.

I want new gardeners who come onto Dave's to learn and enjoy stuff about there new found hobby, not be put off Gardening by ignorance and uneducated rubbish and if I may add, playground garble, and would hope that can continue long after were all kicking up the daisies.

Many thanks for your kindness and understanding, see you around and no doubt we will keep each other on the right tracks ha, ha, ha.
Kindest Regards and many thanks.
WeeNel.

Amen.

Dragnet: I looked up the aircrow. Might try it later. Good to know that the CDs did not work well. I will be searching for things to prevent them from eating from the fruit trees. The aircrow is expensive but I have spent a lot on so many other items that did not work.

After I planted my moved and new plants in the ground, pots, and tubs I watched the squirrels playing havoc but did not think they did too much damage. Then I winter sowed but think the dirt/soil was too old for them to have fun. I did see them around the pots and tubs and later found acorns in them.

I have enjoyed this thread a lot. Thanks to all who contributed. I cannot garden in a vacuum. I appreciate all of you.

Carlomo, No one should be forced into any type of vacuum especially when it happens through disagreements or strong one-sided opinions that are hard for others to give their views, maybe because there personality is more Gentle or shyer.
Unfortunately or fortunately, I always try to err on the right side BUT when I find things are getting too personal, I feel duty bound to express my own opinions as this forum is really all about gardening, not trying to win an argument.
Plants don't thrive on arguments just good practices and care for the environment we grow our plants in and I feel the same care applies to fellow man too, well mostly LOL.

As regards trying to keep your fruit trees out of reach from animals such as squirrels, I remember my Dad used the frames of OLD tents that no-one used, scout troops, jumble sales and even advert in supper-market notice boards. But anyway, these worked great, he covered the frame with chicken wire, making a wire doorway with frame, and never had problems with birds, Rabbits ect, so maybe worth a try. By the way I was a teenager at that time and remember feeling so embarrassed by all this structure being set up in our yard, then the results made red faces seem like a price worth paying ha, ha, ha.

For others who want to use wire to stop the burrowing Rabbits out, you have to dig way down a couple of feet to bury the wire and backfill the soil, the Rabbits give up digging and move on BUT the wire has to be deeply dug in.
Others ideas that work are stout wire covered by old hose pipe made into hoops and covered again in chicken wire set along the rows of veg ect, stops the entry of burrowing creatures and in cooler weather can be used to support clear plastic sheeting material as a cloche to keep cold out. you can make several holes for ventilation but the wire will prevent entry of other things.
You have to make the wire longer than the hose pipe to allow for burying into soil or as my husband did, long lengths of wood and drill holes into wood when you want the arched wire to be placed to give strength to the frame work.

Hope this gives you some ideas to help solve at least some problems and will be cheaper than other offerings.

Take good care and kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, this thread was started because of pest problems that we as gardeners have. If you cannot help, please do not use this thread in a way that is hurtful to the poster.

If you have a suggestion, we appreciate your supplying it. If you just joined Dave's to be rude or beat up on gardeners, that is not appreciated, and you are on the wrong website. Please do not discourage the great feedback we get from wonderful gardeners around the world.

It's 6 years almost, from 2007 October, until 2013 August and is a long, long, long time to agree to disagree about how to keep squirrels out of a garden / flowerpots or anywhere else they come into contact with.
What we can all agree on is the squirrels are still there and the thread is now getting to be rather boring due to the lack of real input and courtesy, and after 6 years the squirrels are still there so it is for me, time to have a good laugh at all this and say, YEH!!!! humans NONE, squirrels WON.

I don't see the need to carry on with this thread as there is actually nothing new being offered, so will say, happy gardening to all the folks who love the antic's of our wild life and long may they stay with us, and sorry to those stressed out gardeners who are still hell bent on trying to win.
Lifes toooooo short for all that hatred and anger.

My understanding of gardening and have been doing so for around 50 years, it is a nice relaxing enjoyable hobby and when all goes well, we get some beauty around us for very little input once we have done the HARD work, we also have some products to eat that are better, cheaper and tastier than store products.
I need to get back to that as this thread began with a genuine and intelligent question and ended up like a company of people who cant understand there are different views that can cover the same question, no one says there is right or wrong but some have displayed a very sorrowful side while answering a straight forward question.
Heaven help us IF we were asked a difficult question that needed some thought before answering instead of silly waffle being banded about, and we really had to take into account other peoples feelings or views before allowed to print our responses, so for all these reasons, I think it's time for me to log out from this particular thread and wish all good luck and best regards.
WeeNel.

Glassflower1: I forgot to tell you about Santarosagardens.com sale in June. I have ordered twice (2 years in a row) and was impressed with their sale prices, plants, and packaging. Check them out. The last time I ordered on June 6 and got lots of heuchera (and other plants) at 2.99 each, and they also sent extras. A few were small but most were large. Most of the sale plants are now gone - but sign up for an email and you should get a notice when they have that sale next time.

9/3/13: Noticed newly planted japanese maples falling over - saw massive holes around root area of most. I forgot to sprinkle newly cracked black pepper. I had added moisture crystals, preen, and 2-3 alpine columbines around each one - but forgot the squirrel protection. Guess I need a better checklist.

This message was edited Sep 3, 2013 3:26 PM

Need to get more black peppercorns.

You can trap them, but new ones will fill the void created. One thing that works is gravel mulch. They perforate and scatter other mulches, but gravel deters them.

Gravel sounds good. I am getting a large shipment of bulbs this Friday. Lots of mini daffodils for keeping bunnies away. I have lots of peppercorns I will be grinding over the newly planted peonies, hostas, and japanese maples the squirrels are still digging into. I will get some bags of gravel to overlay the new plants. Thanks.

Get an inflatable scarecrow from AirCrow.
This was the first year that I was able to get any chestnuts from my trees because I was loosing all of them to the squirrels and blue Jays. I used it earlier in my fig trees and it worked good there too.

If anyone in our neighborhood used that inflatable junk, they'd be lining up to see what we were giving away free. It is used as an advertising gimmick around here and not too attractive. We try to be protective with semi-visible or invisible tools.

If you live in a place that is desolate, there are no living creatures. However, if you live in a home where living vegetation grows and have living creatures from time to time, you are probably doing something right.

I hope the sun shines on you all from time to time and warms you inside and out.

I read an article some time ago to put large rocks or stones in the pots because the squirrel can move them . I did that this year and it surely works, also when ever I plant bulbs I put large rocks over the spot and remove the in early spring when the shoots begin to come up.Last year I dug up a large area and replanted my 5 year old tulips and added new bulbs then a placed large rocks over the whole area and the squirrel could not get to dig up any of them.

I've also heard of placing wood skewers pointy end up into soil to create a spiny fortress around their plants!

You can try to sprinkle cajun pepper on the ground. When they are searching for food, it has been said that they do not like the pepper smell. Home Depot also sells Critter Ridder which comes in a spray or granules to sprinkle. You can also try to put out a bowl of nuts on the opposite side of the yard as far away from your garden as possible. It worked well for me.

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This message was edited Nov 6, 2013 10:40 AM

Squirrels love sunflower seeds and unsalted peanuts and prefer them to plants. I've found that feeding them what they love has kept them from destroying my flower beds. There have been a few exceptions but far less than before I started feeding them.

I feed six feral cats and kittens. They love to chase the squirrels but it hasn't stopped the squirrels from coming one bit. The kittens are far more destructive than the squirrels!

Sorry that I haven't posted in awhile. We retired and moved to Chattenooga TN. After 34 years in the same house it was truly a daunting project. Does anyone know a good use for 135 moving boxes! I need to find a forum about the growing and planting seasons here as I do not have a clue. I did want to add the we went to all container gardening for flowers last summer while still in IL. We skipped covering the top of the pot with chicken wire and instead we filled the the top 2ish inches with cheap river rock. The flowers remained intact and beautiful all summer! I lucked into the most incredible estate sale and bought several glazed garden pots for pennies on the dollar. Some of them were very large and I did not want to fill them completely with soil so after putting some gravel in the bottom we also displaced a lot of the pot with stuff, styrofoam packing that could not be recycled and other things that would have gone in a landfill. Maybe it was the combination of the river rock and recycle materials that did the trip, I'm not sure but we have plenty of packing material that we'll be using here.

The house that we moved to has 2.4 acres of land, some backyard and the rest is a wooded valley. I just love it and know that I need to relearn gardening after 40 years of the Chicago climate. I loved the post about protecting the tulip bulbs with large rocks, there are plenty on the property, as they are my favorite flower (I worked for the Tulip fabric paint company for 18 years, it was a dream job) and never had luck with tulips in IL due to disappearing bulbs. Thanks for the tip.

Well I'm off to find out what growing zone we are in and what can be planted here. I'll check back and see how to keep wild TN critters out of my stuff. Pam

Hi Pam. 2.4 acres is really great. You can do almost anything you can dream up. I am also doing a lot with containers - tulips, lilies, tomatoes, peppers, and other food crops. The critters do not mess too much with them. After I moved (with starts of a lot of my plants), I started a mini orchard for the third time. I am looking forward to dormant spraying for the first time in many years when the weather is better (now under snow). You will truly enjoy this new place. Best of luck. Carol

I am sure that there is a 'southern gardening ' forum here. I post on a northeastern one.

I read somewhere (?BirdsandBlooms?) a suggestion to put peppermint candy canes in your flower pots to deter squirrels. I tried it last fall & had good results. I also put Bonide's MouseMagic in & around my shed. Been using it for a couple seasons now - no fresh droppings or apparent damage so far. I know there's also a line of natural products called I Must Garden (highly recommended by a local radio gardening show host) - they supposedly have a line of repellants that are specific to a lot of different critters. I'm gonna try the one listed for groundhogs. I have a lot of squirrels (esp. since the landlord of a rental home behind me had six 60+ yr old healthy 50ft maple trees cut down in the same day last fall!). I put out whole peanuts for the squirrels & blue jays. The squirrels follow me around the yard & a couple of them actually eat from my hand. But the groundhog last summer had 5 babies. Five!! That's way too many for my God's Little 1/2 Acre. And my 12yr old beagle, Sophie, doesn't chase anything BUT the groundhogs. How stupid is that? Mama groundhog is almost Sophie's size! I have to check out some info first, tho: if Mama's already had her babies I'll have to wait to use any repellant till they're on their own. I'll just have to repair the damage.

I had a major problem with squirrels nesting on my roof, under my solar panels. This was a HUGE problem since they would chew the wires like crazy. ( Not to mention what they did to my garden) but - Twice one chewed in deep enough thru the wires that it fried itself, and nearly set fire to our house. We were forced to remove trees near the house (which we were NOT happy about) but they still found a way up. I watched one climb my aluminum gutter downpipe, all the way up 2 stories... UNREAL. Ninja squirrels!
I tried EVERY non-lethal method on the planet, spray repellants, pepper, you name it, nothing worked.

I finally solved the problem by putting food in an area as far from the house as possible, and near other trees, etc. Well, it has been 2 years, and so far, no new squirrel nests or damage on my roof/ solar panels. (Fingers Crossed!) My neighbor actually offered to help and put some feeders in her yard, even farther away and near more trees. It seems to have worked, they are nesting closer to their constant food supply, AND as a bonus, they are also leaving my plants alone! well, for the most part, lol :)

So, in conclusion, I agree 100% with those who have said to feed them what they want, just put it as far from your gardens as possible. It sounds silly, the only way to "win" is to feed them, lol, but hey it works/ helps for sure. I still keep a LIVE trap on the roof against the panels, "locked and loaded", but have yet to have a critter set it off. It is baited with whole walnuts and almonds, and they are not touched all winter long this year. So it seems to be working.
Best to all,
Danny

Thank you for advices, because when saw squirrels, eating my newly-bought flowers from Megaflowers, I was shocked. So I tried to put some nuts nearby and they ate everything at once instead of my awesome camomiles :)

Update again- from small town mid America - too hot and often too dry and windy. Famous for tornadoes. Storm coming in. Last storm was ferocious - trees down. Supposed to get cooler. I cannot take the heat any more. My 14 dwarf fruit trees are doing better - replaced some - 2 peaches had a spattering of fruit - very tasty - my squirrels liked them too. 4 of 5 mini apples had a few fruit and were not tasted by the rodents or birds - yeah! Squirrels like my large tomatoes too - several large ones were moved to be eaten at leisure - the birds do not do this (they just peck holes). I no longer have a problem with bunnies (I still see them though so they are around) - bunny fence at bottom of back yard fence (not under ground but 1 ft along it) and dwarf daffodils around plants in front. Squirrels in front ok if and only if I use fresh cracked black pepper in new holes. I am currently adding a micro sprayer watering system to back yard (especially for the fruit trees). Pain the neck - had to replace connectors that failed every blasted time with expensive connectors and hose clamps that do work. System really good now after several days of laying it out and fixing problems in horrible heat. I will soon add more for 4 beds of flowers. Need to figure out how to water tubs of food and conifers, etc. The squirrels love my yard - they frolic around the giant oak trees in front and in the back yard around the bird baths, tubs, and chairs. I think they have settled in and are languidly awaiting my food crops to get ripe. I should get them shade hats and fancy drinks with umbrellas. You can tell I am not very mad at them for now - as long as I get enough food crops they can coexist - but if not ...............

Does black pepper or red pepper work better? Would netting on your fruit trees slow them down? Glad that rabbit problem is disappearing . For winter, I might suggest wire protecting the fruit tree up to higher than snow banks.

Hi again - yes netting is in plans for future - think this will stop birds and slow down squirrels. Netting is expensive and will be a pain to use but I will. Might just net the lower parts for me and let birds chew on fruit above my head (only after they bloom - glorious site). Black pepper works but red did not - not sure why. Daffodils did seem to stop the bunnies eating plants in front. Wire mesh also works to stop squirrels digging up plants but is very labor intensive - I used plastic mesh a lot at old house. Not sure about any winter problems yet.

I recently moved lilies from tubs with potting mix to hard ground. Added daffodils to protect from bunnies and voles. Added freshly ground black pepper to keep squirrels away. Squirrels kept digging them up in spite of the black pepper. These replanted lilies had potting mix with them. Planted new lilies and daffodil bulbs in ground (no potting mix) - some digging here but not as severe. Also planted many fancy daffodil bulbs alone - they did not dig them up for some reason. They dig up pansies in tubs with potting mix too - I keep adding pepper but they keep digging them up. I now think they just love the potting mix - so easy to dig.

Had some plastic wire mesh left over. Like chicken wire but made of plastic with square holes. Cut out 1 ft sections with scissors, pinned down with landscape pins over the lilies. Might remove mesh in spring - if stems get caught in the 1 inch holes. Putting netting on top of bulbs in ground was easy. No digging now. Hah!

Human hair also works for keeping deer away from plants and trees. My late brother was a barber and saved bags of hair for his customers to use in their gardens.

You can try with live traps. Place them around your garden and when you catch a squirrel, transport it to a park away from your home. Sure it's a lot of activities to get rid of squirrels and relocating one or two won't stop others from coming but there might be some time that is squirrel-free.

The only way to really get rid of them is with a .22 caliber rifle ..... shoot them!