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5 Tricks to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Plants

May 13, 2013 By: Michele McDonald214 Comments

Squirrels giving you gardening woes? Try these tricks to keep squirrels out of your plants.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link in this post, a small portion of a sale goes to support this site.

5 Tricks to Keep Squirrels Out of Plants
Every spring and summer an epic battle goes on in my backyard:
The Gardener versus The Squirrel

I often lose, but I’m getting more savvy every year and learn new tricks to beat back these little pests that like to dig up my flowers, eat my plants, root through my flower pots, and make general chaos of our patio area.

Today I’m going to share 5 tricks to keep squirrels out of your plants that I have picked up in the last few years of gardening.

These work best with container gardening, which is what I mostly do on our back patio, but several of these can be applied directly to your bed gardens.

Plant flowers squirrels don't like
1. Plants flowers that squirrels don’t like.

It can’t really get more basic than that.

To really make sure the squirrels leave your garden alone simply plant flowers they don’t like because of either their taste or their smell.

These flowers include alliums, crocus (tomasinianus variety), lilies, marigolds, hyacinth, daffodils and, from personal experience, impatiens, geraniums, columbine, and the squirrels seem to leave my begonias alone though I have heard that they are not against eating them also.

If you have flowers that you love to plant that the squirrels love, too, try one of these other tricks to keep them at bay.

chicken wire and stakes to keep squirrels out of plants
2. Lay chicken wire or plant stakes just under the dirt.

The idea with laying chicken wire or garden stakes, upside down,  in your containers is that it prevents squirrels from being able to dig. Thus no holes in your pots where they have tried to bury food plus they can’t get to your flowers to dig them up.

You can also bury plastic forks tine side up. None of these will do any good if what they are after is the plants themselves though.

Chicken wire over flower pots containing bulbs or covering your flower beds containing bulbs can also prevent squirrels from digging them up.

This is one trick I’m itching to try out. I just get so excited when I get new flowers that I forget to put the chicken wire into the pot first.

dog hair to keep squirrels out of plants
3. Human or dog hair as a deterrent. 

It may sound a little gross, but putting your hair clippings or your dog’s hair into your flower pots will keep the squirrels away. Squirrels have an acute sense of smell and will stay away from the scent of predators.

I trim my own bangs and have sprinkled the cut-off hair on top of the soil of my potted plants. Worked like a charm! But only for so long. Eventually the smell will fade away, and you will have to add more.

Also, if you’re thinking this will look visually displeasing, you’re not adding huge clumps of hair to the pots. Adding scattered clippings to the soil will not be visible to guests admiring your flowers.

You can also sprinkle used coffee grinds to deter squirrels from your pots.

cayenne pepper to keep squirrels out of plants
4. Spice them out with cayenne pepper!

Sprinkle cayenne pepper on your soil and even on your plants to keep the squirrels away. One lick of their paws and your flowers are safe.

At least until it rains. Then you will need to reapply.

This is my current favorite method of deterring squirrels from my flowers. I think of them getting cayenne pepper on their little paws and it burning their poor greedy little mouths. I’m mean like that.

I have also read that you can make a spray mixture of cayenne pepper + dishwashing liquid + water to safely spray on your plants to keep the squirrels away. I have not tried this myself. Simply sprinkling the pepper around is good with me.

Also use caution with this method if you have pets that can access the cayenne pepper. My dogs stay out of my potted plants, but I’m less likely to use this method in my flower beds where they sometimes wander into.

bone meal to keep squirrels out of plants
image source
5. Add bone meal to your soil.

Again with the scent thing.

Squirrels don’t like the smell of bone meal and will stay out of your containers and garden beds if it is sprinkled on the soil. You will have to reapply periodically, especially after a hard rain, but it  a great fertilizer for your plants so its really a double win.

Also try using blood meal.

You work hard on your garden! Make sure you can enjoy it.

 

Do you have any tips or tricks to keep squirrels out of your plants?
I would love to hear them! I’m always looking for new ideas to try.

Don't let critters in your garden get you down, build an enclosed garden greenhouse to keep them out!
See the enclosed garden we finally built to keep our vegetables away from the squirrels!

The war with the flowers continues on…

siggie
>> See where I party! <<

 

More gardening tips…

install-rain-barrel water-plants-less

Comments

  1. Meal Bone is working says

    November 25, 2020 at 1:22 AM

    I purchased Sta-Green bone meal from Home Depot after reading about it on this website. It does have a kinda strong smell.

    I am so happy the squirrel are out of garden. I use to see them everyday but now not even one. I am so happy. The first day I was excited but was holding my breath. Now it’s been a week and not even one of my pot are being dug up.

    Reply
  2. Michelle Kalsto says

    August 10, 2020 at 12:53 PM

    Not only do I have a problem with the squirrel’s digging holes and burying crab apples from a neighbor’s tree but they also chew the plastic pot’s that i plant my flowers in. I guess to sharpen their teeth. But my pots are very big and are not cheap. So if anyone has any idea what helps with them not chewing my pot’s I’d appreciate any suggestions.

    Reply
  3. Annette Giberson says

    April 24, 2020 at 11:25 AM

    I use coffee grounds that have already been perked and sprinkle those liberally around my pots. They don’t like coffee, so it seems to help but it does need to be reapplied. You could also ask your local restaurants or McDonald’s or Starbucks for some of their used coffee grounds and they will be glad to share

    Reply
  4. Money says

    November 16, 2019 at 5:14 PM

    I clipped branches from my rose bush and surrounded my pots with them, plus I wedged some inside the pots around the edges. haven’t had an issue in weeks.

    Reply
  5. Flicka says

    September 21, 2019 at 12:55 PM

    My squirrels treat cayenne pepper like a seasoning. They love it! I will try Vic’s VapoRub and rubber snakes, but I have tried soap, I have tried almost everything they love marigolds geraniums especially petunias. They are little beasts! Ass- – – – -was a good description.

    Reply
    • Rees coats says

      October 12, 2019 at 4:36 PM

      Same here. For years the would jot eat hot pepper suet or safflower or thistle seed. Now they love it sll. They dig in soil everywhere especially when there’s fresh mulch, dig up bulbs. Dig everywhere. Nothing deters. Tried all sprays on market. Hot pepper, cinnamon, moth balls, metal mesh (they dislodge or move aside even if staked. NOTHING works. Tried hav-a-heart traps relocating many. Others took their place.

      Reply
      • myrtle says

        November 22, 2019 at 9:17 PM

        I have found the cheapest basic soap powder has slowed down all digging on my patio plants alongside chicken wire . At first I scattered nowI use an average of 1 box a month during the winter and I only have a occasional pile of soil

        Reply
    • Jay Hicks says

      October 14, 2019 at 3:39 PM

      It is especially annoying when squirrels dig holes in the soil of my potted plants. I’ve tried chicken wire, but it is expensive and difficult to install (hard on the hands.) I have found that covering the open soil in a pot with river stones will tend to discourage digging. It might not stop it all, but it does discourage them if there is another place to dig.

      Discourage and distract tends to work best for me. One of my neighbors has fruit trees (fuyas and plums.) He placed a squirrel feeder on the opposite side of the yard, and keeps it filled all year round. The feeders on the other side of the yard distract them away from his fruit trees, and the foil wrapped trunks discourage them.

      So I fill my pots with stone mulch, and leave a distant (unplanted) spot in the garden for the squirrels to dig in.

      Pepper has never worked for me. I have watched squirrels eat cayenne pepper coated seed, stop and wipe their little faces in dirt, then go back and eat more cayenne pepper coated seed.

      I wouldn’t recommend using soap. As I recall (from scout camp) certain types of soap may actually attract mice and rats.

      Reply
  6. Dewi says

    August 11, 2019 at 9:23 PM

    Hi there,
    I’m having all the same problems and will try all the new tricks from this site (thanks all!!). But my question with stuff like cayenne and garlic and the sprays – my biggest concern is my strawberries. My plant is on its third harvest and I have yet to eat ONE strawberry from it!!! I’ve fonally had enough.
    BUT….will the cayenne garlic and sprays affect the fruit that’s being grown?? Will my strawberries taste like garlic?
    Any input is appreciated:)

    Reply
  7. Karen Butterfield says

    June 15, 2019 at 1:21 PM

    Hair clippings dont work for me, try pinecones.

    Reply
  8. Karen Butterfield says

    June 14, 2019 at 11:46 AM

    I’m not sure if this has been said, (I tried to read lots of comments). Anyway this is what I have done for my potted plants on my deck which the squirrels love. I take pinecones and make a layer of them around the soil. So far this works wonders. I have an overabundance of pinecones so it’s a good use for them. I also have heard that pinecones and a good deterrent for bugs.

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 6, 2019 at 3:26 PM

      I have read quite a few comments on Cayenne pepper, which seems like a good short term deterrent, at least for the squirrel population in Ky. I also decided to try putting clumps of used cat litter at strategic points around the edges of my deck and in the pots, since I do live with 2 house cats. The cat litter worked for about a month, not too bad actually. The smell wasn’t noticeable to me but the squirrels sure seems to notice it! I also recently added an ultrasonic rodent and insect repellent. Doesn’t seem to bother my cats, will see if bothers the squirrels. Of course you have to an outlet handy, or a long enough outdoor extension. I had read about using the cat litter to keep rodents from coming into your house, that tip was intended for mice, but Squirrels are rodents too, and it works.

      Reply
  9. ROb T. says

    June 11, 2019 at 2:31 PM

    Pine Tar defiitely works as a deterrent on surfaces around planters or flower boxes but it can be unsightly and messy so it’s not ideal for all applications. It will also hold up after multiple rains. Some might find the smell off putting (I actually like it). I have tried (unsuccessfully) most of the solutions presented in these comments but I’ve also picked up so new ideas– like hair clippings that I will try as well!

    Reply
  10. Dr Lmlonghairs says

    June 8, 2019 at 4:53 PM

    I use bricks and a tiling of big chunks of chinese pots.. I had a few crack in winter.almost no exposed soil and they are heavy with sharp edges ad lift them to put coffee grounds under themband some hair for nutrients looks pretty on my downtown rooftop patio

    Reply
  11. Carol says

    May 31, 2019 at 1:59 PM

    I love the fork and river rock idea. Thank you for sharing.
    I cannot imagine causing a critter harm, especially when they live outside in their own environment.
    I have a family of chipmunks that live in my backyard. the babies are tiny, I would never be able to cause pain and suffering. They have consciousness too, and are just trying to get their needs met like the rest of the world.

    Reply
  12. Ruth Bradley says

    May 26, 2019 at 12:50 PM

    That cayenne idea ..Doesn’t work.!! Its expensive to begin with!!! The squirrels in my bird feeders pay no attention it is heavily sprinkled over all black sunflower seeds.! I keep seeing this and its just not true. They don’t care seeds are coated with cayenne pepper… It will not stop them in any situation.
    I had a squirrel digging up my begonias.. I’d just returned from the store with a big bag of blood meal!! I used about 1/2 cup in a 5 foot square area and laid down a yellow rubber snake. 5 minutes after I came in the house, the squirrel came back down the tree.. Took one sniff of the blood meal and saw the fake snake.. He’s long gone!!!

    Reply
    • Becky park says

      June 13, 2019 at 7:30 AM

      So we spread bone meal around all our potted flowers because squirrels kept digging them up. Next morning a racoon had knocked over a pot, dug up the flowers, and knocked over a bird feeder. Turns out bone meal attracts other animals such as raccoons. Wish we knew that before putting bone meal on all our plants.

      Reply
      • Ruth Bradley says

        June 13, 2019 at 2:05 PM

        BECKY PARK!!!!!! BLOOD MEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT BONE MEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        I referred to “””BLOOD MEAL””” ….TWICE in my post!!!

        Reply
        • Msully says

          July 14, 2019 at 10:38 PM

          In the original post ‘5 tricks to keep squirrels out… ‘ it clearly says bone meal and that you might try blood meal too..

          Reply
        • Lano Reeco says

          October 12, 2019 at 4:48 PM

          Twice

          I’ve tried it all. They love my hot pepper suet and pepper mixed with bird seed.and ignore all sprays. Hopeless! And twice this article said BONE MEAL, not blood meal!

          Reply
  13. Isabelle says

    May 25, 2019 at 5:50 PM

    While this article suggests to imagine a squirrel burning its mouth with cayenne pepper please imagine the inhumane side effects of cayenne pepper in a squirrels eyes. Please do not use cayenne its a sick and twisted death you don’t want to imagine.

    Reply
    • Kitty purcell says

      May 30, 2019 at 1:05 PM

      Isabelle, I agree with you. What the heck is the big deal about a flower. Squirrels, birds and even stray cats are just looking for a food source. I suppose these are the same people who pay hundreds/thousands of dollars for “pure bred” cats and dogs in lieu of a shelter pet. Try using chopped garlic around the plants. It even keeps away spiders, mites, etc. And while you are shopping for the garlic, stop by the peanut isle in the store and buy some unsalted peanuts for your squirrel!

      Reply
    • Ruth Bradley says

      June 13, 2019 at 2:07 PM

      Isabelle
      NAW..those squirrels lick up that cayenne peeper and come back for more!! It doesn’t kill anything. Its a natural herb….

      Reply
      • Win Rees says

        October 12, 2019 at 4:53 PM

        Yep!

        Reply
    • Lano Rees says

      October 12, 2019 at 4:41 PM

      My squirrels ignored what I sprinkled on the bird seed and enjoy my hot pepper suet. Doesn’t bother mine or deter them, although for years they would not eat hot pepper suet.

      Reply
  14. Desiree says

    May 23, 2019 at 1:59 PM

    OMGOODNESS!! I have planted mammoth sunflowers, lavender, Sage! My sunflowers barely break ground before the little demons chew the first leaves off or just dig them up completely! Tried the red pepper trick and nothing!! Tried leaving other things out for them to eat and they ignore it! I’m ready to invest in a pellet gun!! My youngest son even grew some seeds in school and brought them home to me and asked if he could plant them with mine in the front flower bed, we went out this morning to water them before school and they had chewed the leaves off the tops leaving just the stems!! He was heartbroken!! And I am more mad than ever!! It’s war now!

    Reply
  15. David L Pursey says

    April 9, 2019 at 9:57 AM

    Cayenne peppers works great. However, some have stated it blows away. Solution… Get some inexpensive petroleum jelly and mix the cayenne pepper into the petroleum jelly. Then, spread the mixture on the edge of all your flower pots. The mixture will not blow away and stays in place, even after a rain. Reapply as needed.

    Reply
    • Dodie says

      April 17, 2019 at 7:05 PM

      Has this been harmful to your plants? Someone else suggested clear plastic forks tine sides up in planters….going to try that too!

      Reply
      • LINDA NEVILLE says

        May 24, 2019 at 6:49 PM

        I tried the fork trick last year with a bed of impatiens – the squirrels just laughed and knocked them over (and I was using dozens of them) to get to the flowers. My friend asked if I was trying to grow “FORKSYTHIA”!!!!!!! ARGGGHHHH!!!

        Reply
        • Dodie says

          May 29, 2019 at 7:01 PM

          I was having the same problem; but think I left too big of an opening between forks. I started using a spray called “Repels-All” as well, and it seems to be working!!! It’s not harmful to plants or animals; and you can probably find it at your local Home Depot store. Hope it works for you too! Sorry; unable to attach photo.

          Reply
          • Linda Neville says

            May 30, 2019 at 8:21 AM

            Thanks, Dodie, I will give it a try!

  16. Mary says

    March 19, 2019 at 9:55 AM

    Every time I plant any kind of seeds the squirrels dig them up by the next day. Also I have a gnome garden through my flower bed and they steal my small figures. We also have a bird feeder that they destroy every time we put it back out. I will be trying a few of these tricks.

    Reply
    • jerrie yehling says

      May 22, 2019 at 11:07 AM

      try milorganite! its used to keep voles away from josta, im the souil. its a balanced fertiliser a little high on nitrogen i think

      Reply
      • jerrie yehling says

        May 22, 2019 at 11:21 AM

        HOSTA not josta

        Reply
  17. Lani says

    September 11, 2018 at 8:34 PM

    I just tried the plastic fork trick and it has worked like a charm. I was tired of cleaning up a huge mess from squirrels trying to bury their treasure in my potted plants.

    Reply
    • Deborah Demes says

      September 18, 2018 at 7:36 AM

      What’s the fork secret? My problem is chimpmuncks

      Reply
      • Michele McDonald says

        September 19, 2018 at 11:33 AM

        You can put forks tines-side-up in your flowers pots just under the dirt so when squirrels, and in your case chipmunks, go to dig in them and bury things their paws scratch against the forks. They’ll typically give up digging in that pot once that happens.

        Reply
  18. Anna says

    August 3, 2018 at 9:45 AM

    My problem with cayenne pepper is it blows off! And I feel like I have to use a lot of it just to get it spread around. I figured squirrels don’t like any kind of spicy so I put some hot sauce and some water in a spray bottle, swirled it around so they’re well mixed and used it to spray the leaves of my plants! Like cayenne, I have to spray them every time it rains but the squirrels definitely don’t like it! The spray made it easier and quicker to apply and I’m can be sure I’m coating all the leaves (I’m in the city and these squirrels are persistent!). I will try some of the other tricks though for my herbs, can’t say I enjoy fresh basil soaked in Texas Pete’s.

    Reply
  19. Tracy says

    June 21, 2018 at 9:25 AM

    Try Vicks vapour rub put it on the lip of all your planters and sparingly on the leaves of the plants the squirrels are eating I just tried it and it seems to be working I left one pot not done and the squirrels keep eating and digging that one

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      June 21, 2018 at 6:27 PM

      Good trick to know! Thank you, Tracy!

      Reply
    • Sharo Lemler says

      May 5, 2020 at 2:12 PM

      Vicks VapoRub is harmful to the animals. Please don’t use it. I’m not sure if it’s the Menthol or the vaseline component (or both), but I’ve been told by a naturalist that it is harmful to them

      Reply
  20. Tina Hibbert says

    April 21, 2018 at 2:07 PM

    I to have squirrel problems and while watching a garden expert on a well known shopping channel who was asked how to deter them he said to grate a bar of soap onto the surface of the plants as they hate the smell and taste of it! I will be trying this soon.

    Reply
    • Jane Schryver says

      May 21, 2018 at 8:34 AM

      I use clear plastic forks with the handle end in the soil around the edge with the tines up and facing out. Can use then year after year. I hate having to do battle with them every year.

      Reply
    • Will dekker says

      May 22, 2018 at 6:51 PM

      Lots of bay leaves crushed on the soil , also for other bugs in the house, put some bay leaves around , no more spiders, I will also try the soap.Thanks.

      Reply
      • Michele McDonald says

        May 23, 2018 at 8:31 AM

        That’s the first I’ve heard of using bay leaves. Thanks for the tip!

        Reply
    • Pam klein says

      June 18, 2018 at 8:13 AM

      The soap did not work for me. In fact, the squirrels actually played with it!

      Reply
  21. Don says

    April 16, 2018 at 5:26 PM

    Here is my issue, we moved into a new house a month ago, while standing on the back porch a squirrel walked right up to us as to say welcome. I have been known to encourage them by throwing them a peanut once in a while so I’m not much help. But my thoughts on remedies are, can we throw some cheap peppermint candies into the soil? Candy canes are cheap December 26th. And if you want to you can sharpen them up like your bamboo sticks, I won’t be doing that to my new buddie. I’m going to try strips of tin foil scattered in my pots and whiskey barrels and see if that works. I have a whiskey barrel full of soil nut no plants yet. I’m going to test a few ideas the next couple of days and see what works.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      April 18, 2018 at 12:11 PM

      Please let us know if any of these tricks work for you, Don! I would never have thought about candy canes but I try that.

      Reply
  22. www.tischkicker-info.de says

    March 28, 2018 at 9:28 AM

    Du siehst: Du kannst eigentlich nix falsch schaffen.

    Reply
  23. Pam says

    January 1, 2018 at 1:00 AM

    I just moved into a new house that has 6 oak trees in the yard so the squirrels and acorns are ridiculous. You would think with all the acorns they would leave my flowers alone…. Nope. They did holes in my flower beds eat all the flowers. I am going to try the Cayenne. Hopefully that will help keep them from digging. Thanks for the ideas.

    Reply
    • Jan says

      June 17, 2018 at 3:53 AM

      I have been told that using pepper is harmful to bees.
      So I will definitely NOT using pepper.

      Reply
    • marsha says

      June 15, 2020 at 2:18 PM

      What happens when you water the plants?

      Reply
      • Michele McDonald says

        June 18, 2020 at 11:41 AM

        You can water around the pepper, and/or reapply if needed.

        Reply
  24. marbella Delineados de cejas pelo & pelo says

    December 13, 2017 at 8:30 AM

    After I originally left a comment I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from
    now on whenever a comment is added I recieve 4 emails with the exact same comment.
    Is there a way you are able to remove me from that service?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      December 13, 2017 at 4:29 PM

      Unfortunately there is nothing I can do on my end, but there should be something in the emails that will allow you to unsubscribe.

      Reply
  25. Trish says

    October 16, 2017 at 10:19 AM

    Hey, I know many of you won’t like this solution but STOP feeding the birds!! If you don’t have a bird feeder the squirrels are less likely to come into your yard. We got rid of ours and now they stay mostly in our neighbor’s yard. Because of his bird feeder, the squirrels are also abundant in his yard and they get into his tomatoes and other vegetables as well. He hates the squirrels but he doesn’t want to stop feeding the birds.

    Also another trick…once I get my bulbs into the ground, I put chicken wire ON TOP of the soil and weigh it down with stones or bricks. This prevents them from digging the bulbs up. It’s only unsightly for a while. Once the ground freezes I remove the chicken wire. They don’t tend to touch or dig the new shoots that come up in the spring..again this is because they’re too busy with my neighbor’s bird feeder. They even chewed through the squirrel proof ones. Unfortunately we are not allowed shotguns in Canada.

    Reply
  26. Skeeter says

    September 22, 2017 at 10:46 AM

    shot gun. tried and true. stops them every time.add a pinch of cayenne for good fun.

    Reply
  27. CAROL CALLAHAN says

    August 15, 2017 at 3:40 PM

    USE LARGE STEEL NAILS, INSERT THE TOPS IN THE GROUND LEAVING THE POINTS FACING UP. OUCH WHEN THEY STEP ON THEM.. I SAW THIS IN A OLD ITALIAN PERSON GARDEN
    WHO USES THIS TRICK. THE TROUBLE IS YOU HAVE TO USE LOTS OF NAILS IF YOU HAVE A LARGE GARDEN.

    Reply
    • LHM says

      August 22, 2017 at 8:26 AM

      I used plastic picnic forks, loads of them, handle in the soil and tines pointing up. Kept the rodents from digging till the plants were established. Then the birds ate all the tomatoes and the deer ate all the flowers. Oh well.

      Reply
      • Sharo Lemler says

        May 5, 2020 at 2:17 PM

        Here’s a trick to keep the birds away from your tomatoes that worked for us. Tie a couple of red christmas bulbs or ornaments to the cage while the plants are establishing themselves. The birds will come check it out – find that the “red balls” are not edible, and move on to find other sources of food. They won’t come back to your real tomatoes.

        Reply
        • LHM says

          May 5, 2020 at 7:01 PM

          Thank you for the suggestion. Aversion therapy, of a sort.
          If I had red Christmas balls, I’d try that. I wonder how bits of red ribbon would work. For now, I have the tomatoes behind mesh. But the squirrels dug up the basil this morning, and I’d just planted it!

          Reply
        • Michele McDonald says

          May 5, 2020 at 10:04 PM

          Very clever!

          Reply
    • Marion says

      June 13, 2019 at 12:51 PM

      You could do the same thing with tooth picks.

      Reply
  28. home alarm systems says

    August 8, 2017 at 6:13 AM

    This is the perfect site for anybody who hopes to find out about this topic.
    You know so much its almost tough to argue with you (not that I really
    would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a
    topic that’s been discussed for decades. Excellent stuff, just great!

    Reply
  29. Marsha says

    August 4, 2017 at 5:59 PM

    They keep digging up my succulents. I kept them away from my pots with moth balls. It doesn’t keep them away from the ones planted in the ground.

    Reply
    • Wacey says

      August 19, 2017 at 1:00 PM

      I have lost almost 10 succulents this summer! Of course I keep replacing them but I have had enough. I’m going to try the Cayenne pepper

      Reply
    • Lorene B Randolph says

      May 25, 2018 at 11:17 AM

      The Squirrels that come into my yard and dig into the flower pots and window boxes, pay no attention to the moth balls or cayenne pepper. A shot gun would work, I am wondering if a pellet gun would also work? I’ll try the soap and chicken wire. Thanks for the suggestions. .

      Reply
      • BARB D. says

        May 27, 2018 at 12:46 PM

        READ AN ARTICLE THAT STATED CAYENNE PEPPER MAY BE DANGEROUS IF THE SQUIRRELS GET IT ON THEIR PAWS AND RUB/CLEAN THEIR EYES. COULD POSSIBLY BLIND THEM. I DON’T WANT TO HURT THEM. JUST WANT THEM TO QUIT DIGGING IN MY POTTED PLANTS.

        I HAVE READ ARTICLES SUGGESTING BLOOD MEAL. THINK I WILL TRY THAT.

        Reply
        • Jan says

          June 17, 2018 at 4:03 AM

          I have been told that using pepper is harmful to bees.
          So I will definitely NOT usepepper.

          Reply
        • Christine Meddaugh says

          July 13, 2018 at 1:04 PM

          I used blood meal several years ago, and it did work. However, the smell was horrible, and have not used it since. It’s possible that I may have used to much, but just an FYI about using blood meal.

          Reply
        • betty Deree says

          October 12, 2019 at 4:59 PM

          They ignore hot pepper I mixed with bird seed and enjoy my hot pepper suet.Does not harm mine.

          Reply
  30. Linda Miller says

    August 2, 2017 at 9:16 PM

    I am having such a problem with these pests. they eat my bagonia bulbs, but not when and if I can get them started. I got this hair brained idea to put moth balls around the perimeter of my planters. so far it seems to be working. no new holes for a couple of weeks, I will refresh the moth balls here soon. does not seem to affect the soil or the plants as they are doing well. Just a thought, can’t hurt

    Reply
    • Lorene says

      December 1, 2017 at 2:16 PM

      I went out today and found my window boxes with begonias had broken and almost dug up with big holes dug in the soil,, soil all over the window ledge and on the patio. I had placed moth balls in all of them but the squirrles completely ignored them.

      Reply
  31. Linda Buresh says

    July 29, 2017 at 8:48 AM

    Squirrels have done that grew every pot pulled every bulb that was growing in the garden and eaten an entire trampoline net. The next thing they’ve done is poly stock to lawn mower gasoline caps and while we’ve tried chicken wire they’ve been able to get through that too. The backyard behind us feeds and Waters these Critters but that’s not helping at all. the only thing I know they haven’t touched are the weeds

    Reply
  32. Stefanie Falvey says

    June 30, 2017 at 5:25 PM

    Has anyone tried garlic? The squirrels have been eating and tearing up my raspberry plant. It even has thorns but that doesn’t stop them from eating the fruit. My raspberries are planted along our fence line so I’ve been looking for ways to keep them off the fence which is also where my garden is located. Come next month the focus will be keeping them out my garden.

    Reply
    • Teresa says

      July 1, 2017 at 5:39 PM

      I placed so much garlic in my flower pots that my front porch smelled like an Italian restaurant and it did nothing to keep the squirrels from eating my petunias and lobelia. I am so frustrated and now have tried the cayenne pepper again as well as placing somewhat attractive wire fencing around my pots. My growing season is so short that I may never see flowers again on these plants before they are eaten again.

      Reply
  33. Paul Milbury says

    June 25, 2017 at 2:20 PM

    We have a family of squirrels that come to feed at our bird feeding area. They are very annoying because they eat everything in sight, but they do tend to leave the geraniums alone. I was watching one today eat a couple of geranium leaves and then start violently scratching himself. I wonder if they are allergic?
    We tolerate these little “Hoovers” because they will alert to and fight off rattlesnakes. I know it seems counter intuitive but check out some of the YouTube videos under squirrel vs snake.

    Reply
    • Larry says

      July 27, 2017 at 4:42 PM

      The squirrels are DESTROYING my marigolds! I just went outside and saw two or three broken from the stems. Sometimes they shred them. I even caught a squirrel running across a telephone wire with one of my marigold heads. I’m about to give up…

      Reply
    • Kathy D says

      April 5, 2018 at 6:34 PM

      Without squirrels we would not have as diverse of forests that we do! They are the planters of a lot of trees even the seeds. They frantically bury in the fall and forget most that they planted!

      Reply
      • Glen says

        August 8, 2018 at 9:11 PM

        I so wish mine would go plant a lot of trees in some diverse forest somewhere, but alas, they seem to want to live in my patio.

        Reply
  34. Paul Milbury says

    June 25, 2017 at 1:53 PM

    We have a family of squirrels that come to feed at our bird feeding area. They are very annoying because they eat everything in sight, but they do tend to leave the geraniums alone. Today I was watching one today eat a couple of geranium leaves and then start violently scratching himself. I wonder if they are allergic?
    We tolerate these little “Hoovers” because they will alert to and fight off rattlesnakes. I know it seems counter intuitive but check out some of the YouTube videos under squirrel vs snake.

    Reply
  35. Kandy Elder says

    June 22, 2017 at 4:21 PM

    They pulled up all my Mom’s marigolds several years in a row. They don’t eat them, instead they just left them by the planter. They love my begonias. They are eating my vinca and my persimmon. My Mom has had great success with just buying them their own feeder and providing them food. Now they leave everything else alone.

    Reply
    • Barbara says

      June 10, 2018 at 12:51 PM

      I’m trying this and will buy bird feeders for the squirrels. Any suggestions on the seeds or nuts I should use?

      Reply
      • Bett erco says

        October 12, 2019 at 5:01 PM

        Mine love everything, even seeds that are supposed to repel them like Niger and safflower seed

        Reply
      • Donna says

        June 1, 2020 at 10:44 AM

        Our squirrels love to bury the sunflower seeds in all my potted plants. They kick up all the dirt and flowers in the process. Kills or wrecks the original flowers, but we’re getting a great crop of sunflowers!

        Reply
  36. betty says

    June 16, 2017 at 11:46 AM

    They also destroy bird feeders to get at the seed, hateful little assholes!

    Reply
    • dkg says

      February 8, 2018 at 6:12 PM

      Animals dont hate…only humans

      Reply
      • Carol says

        May 3, 2018 at 7:36 AM

        You’re absolutely right!

        Reply
      • mary says

        June 19, 2018 at 8:45 PM

        Word

        Reply
    • d says

      May 15, 2018 at 12:30 PM

      wow, “hateful” …I’d say you might need to get out more! pretty sure it’s not personal, but rather hunger and instinct

      Reply
  37. Mary says

    June 12, 2017 at 7:54 AM

    I would like to add that when using hair human or pet it is a GREAT fertilizer as well has nitrogen. Plants do awesome inside and out.

    Reply
  38. Ron says

    May 29, 2017 at 10:50 AM

    Chicken wire worked for the pots, but now they are digging up my yard to bury their peanuts.

    Reply
  39. Bryant says

    May 23, 2017 at 10:08 PM

    I’ll have to try cayenne and maybe skewers. Don’t like the idea of cayenne on my strawberries, though.
    I did manage to keep the beasts away for about a year a while back. I was out of work and home most of the time. So, I started shooting them with my paintball gun! They learned really quick to listen for my window opening up… and only somewhat slower that often they couldn’t hear anything until the paintball hit them in the head or shoulder… Got one of the suckers right in the butt-hole once!…mid-leap! He tumbled over a couple times and then ran off with a very pink enema! Only problem is that the paint isn’t permanent, so I never knew from day to day if the same squirrels were stupid enough to come back, or if new ones were trying to move in.

    Reply
    • Barbara. Matthews says

      July 11, 2017 at 3:36 PM

      I have finally found a,great solution to keep squirrels away from my potted plants . Aluminium Foil w.rapped around edges of pots works for me! Cayenne Pepper & Blood Meal kept washing away ! This Foil is very inexpensive!

      Reply
      • Leighann Gordon says

        July 15, 2017 at 11:55 AM

        How do you use the foil is it just regular aluminum foil

        Reply
    • ann mcnair says

      May 21, 2020 at 6:05 AM

      I laughed so hard at your story! Thanks for sharing it!

      Reply
  40. Frances Tiller says

    May 12, 2017 at 8:51 AM

    Our neighbor has a pecan tree in there front yard which overhangs into ours. The many, many squirrels take the pecans and bury them in my potted plants. They also eat the wood siding on our house, I have read all the suggestions everyone has posted, I’m going to try the coffee grounds and the pepper spray on the house. Thanks for the info!

    Reply
  41. Rosie Ann says

    May 6, 2017 at 2:52 PM

    I’ve used rat traps in my garden to get rid of squirrels successfully. I make sure I anchor the trap into the ground so the squirrel doesn’t run away with it. (check out YouTube) I consider squirrels as tree rats. To me, the only difference between a squirrel & a rat is that the squirrel has a fluffy tail while a rat does not. I have no warm sentiment to any rodent out here in the country.

    Reply
    • betty says

      June 16, 2017 at 11:43 AM

      Agreed-just fluffytailed rats with bad attitudes. My cats do a pretty good job deterring them, although they still do some damage. Wish i could figure out how to get rid of all of them and the gackels/starlings!

      Reply
  42. Jude says

    May 5, 2017 at 10:25 AM

    For the record… squirrels absolutely LOVE lilies. That was the very first thing they went after in my garden. First, they cut them off at the soil. Then they came back and dug up the bulbs. Dastardly squirrels. They left my irises, hyacinths and daffodils alone. So this year I planted tulips. They apparently like tulips, too. I hear that gophers don’t eat snapdragons and marigolds, so I may try them next to see if it applies to squirrels also.

    Reply
  43. Rebecca says

    April 27, 2017 at 12:15 PM

    Well, I’ve learned that they enjoy digging up my marigolds that I have planted with my tomatoes. Everyday I have to go back and replant what they have dug up. I’m also hording their walnuts they keep planting around my yard. Take that squirrel! I also have a stray cat that I’ve been tending to, who seems to be no help with keeping them away. My mini Aussie must also enjoy the company of squirrels since he’s not much help either,

    Reply
    • Marjorie says

      May 3, 2017 at 12:55 PM

      Use red and white peppermints placed on top of the dirt, cheap and they work.

      Reply
      • LeAnn says

        May 9, 2017 at 12:02 PM

        Peppermint is a new one to me. I’ll have to try it. Cayenne pepper doesn’t even slow my squirrels down. I guess it seasons petunias quite nicely because they demolished them!

        Reply
  44. Mary says

    April 15, 2017 at 2:01 PM

    Re preventing squirrels from digging around potted plants: I have had great success by sticking bamboo skewers vertically into the soil around the plant, pointed ends up. I use a lot of them, so that the squirrel is discouraged from even trying to leap up on the side of the pot. As far as I know, they are all deterred by the skewers and are not harmed in any way. I have four potted apple trees (they grow no higher than 6′ and the fruit clusters around the trunk), but if there is any way for the squirrels to leap onto the trees from another angle (such as the top of a fence or railing), they have the best time plucking the young apples and munching away daintily for hours. I have to admit I get a kick out of this. But this year I am hoping to find a way to deter such apple parties on a couple of the trees, so I have a fighting chance of harvesting some fruit! I won’t use cayenne pepper or the like, but maybe netting, or a bunch of rubber snakes attractively arranged here and there on the trunk. I would also like to devise a kind of mobile squirrel-deterring sculpture that would extend out from the top of each trunk–kind of like a spoked wheel in a horizontal position–from which I could suspend strips of cloth, bamboo skewers, rubber snakes, or whatever else I can think of that would confound the squirrels but not shade the tree from the sun to any significant degree.

    Reply
    • Donna says

      June 1, 2020 at 10:55 AM

      I tried netting one year and unfortunately found a dead squirrel tangled all up in it. We’ve had better luck in using a live trap and releasing them 10 miles up the road. For a while we were catching and releasing the same squirrels over and over when we released them within 3 miles of our property. Realized this after spraying a gold spot on the rear of one of them. “Gold Butt” made it back home shortly after we did. So we learned to take them to squirrel summer camp further up the road. It really only cuts down on the numbers for that summer.

      Reply
  45. Burt Silver says

    February 9, 2017 at 12:59 PM

    I never realized that putting dog hair in my flower pots could keep squirrels away! That is really cool! I have squirrels getting into my outdoor plants all the time. I want my garden to stay beautiful and intact, so I will have to give this a try!

    Reply
    • pAM says

      March 23, 2017 at 2:24 PM

      I made a point of reading every post before going back to the nursery to buy impatience for the third time this Spring! Seems our squirrels are picky eaters – eating only certain color of impatience – of course my favorite color! Squirrels on our property have eaten the flowers, stolen peaches, apricots, tomatoes and more! They’ve even sharpened their teeth on our sprinkler heads causing us to have to replace them. We’ve managed to trap and relocate 76 of these varmints over 4 years. I’m ruling out the cayenne because the bee population is already an issue. I’m ruling out bone meal because of the comment of it attracting raccoons. That leaves blood meal, peppermint, and coffee grounds. I’ll report back with results.

      Reply
      • Michele McDonald says

        March 23, 2017 at 8:48 PM

        Gracious, Pam! 76 squirrels, I can’t even imagine! The cayenne pepper has been working well for me. I place it in the dirt and not on the flowers themselves and it still seems to deter the squirrels. I hope one of the other items work for you! The coffee grounds are great because they will last through several rains.

        Reply
        • John says

          April 28, 2017 at 9:49 AM

          Trapping is a waste of time. As soon as you get one a new one takes its place. Try and get them conditioned to stay away. This is much easier if you’re dealing with the same ones.

          Reply
          • Jcrawford says

            April 15, 2018 at 9:49 AM

            An older friend used to trap the squirrels and raccoons. Before setting them loose, he’d spray a little fluorescent paint on their back. That way he found out how far away he had to take them so they wouldn’t return.

          • Milt on MO says

            June 23, 2018 at 10:24 AM

            You are correct. when you remove squirrels from an are, other squirrels nearby hear no chattering in your area and follow up by moving in. I’m trying the Vicks Vapor Rub next. also works with fruit trees. put a metal cylinder around base of tree and coat with Vicks. When rodents get it on their feet, they do not like that, the smell, or licking it off to clean.

          • Lano Rees says

            October 12, 2019 at 5:03 PM

            True.I relocated 50 one year.

      • Dale says

        April 30, 2017 at 7:42 PM

        Impatients.

        Reply
        • C says

          May 3, 2017 at 4:02 PM

          Impatiens.

          Reply
  46. Chipmunk productions says

    November 13, 2016 at 3:18 PM

    I agree that squirrels are sometimes annoying but they’re also cute aren’t they?

    Reply
    • Klee says

      April 17, 2017 at 9:28 PM

      No.. Today for instance one of them knocked 2 new potted plants from an outdoor shelf which broke the plants and the pots. Also they’re so excessively aggressive–staring you in the eye trying to alpha you out of their space, as they see it. That’s the vibe. So all of that overshadows any potential cuteness. I’ll put rails around the shelf.

      Reply
      • Lorena says

        May 14, 2017 at 11:40 AM

        They don’t “alpha” my two German Shepherd Dogs.

        Reply
      • Constance says

        October 8, 2019 at 2:02 PM

        Take the broken pots and stick the shards in the soil around the plants you don’t want the squirrels to dig up.

        Reply
    • Kathryn says

      April 25, 2017 at 9:10 PM

      According to mum, not tested by myself yet, mothballs?? Has anyone else heard this?

      Reply
      • Michele McDonald says

        April 25, 2017 at 9:32 PM

        I have heard this as well, but never tried it because we had dogs.

        Reply
      • Tammy says

        June 24, 2017 at 3:07 PM

        I’ve tried moth balls. They didn’t work. They just moved them.
        I’m wondering if wood chips would work

        Reply
      • del Rees says

        October 12, 2019 at 5:08 PM

        Did not work for me

        Reply
  47. RMDC says

    October 16, 2016 at 3:58 PM

    Blood meal works extremely well. I live in the city (DC) in an area loaded with squirrels. They dig in every pot and destroy my garden. Blood meal keeps them at bay but has to be reapplied after heavy watering or rain. It is high in nitrogen however, just like coffee grounds so not all plants will be happy with too much. I tried Cayenne but blood meal is cheaper and works better IMO. Cayenne killed my cucumbers.

    Reply
  48. Jessie says

    September 24, 2016 at 5:53 AM

    Years ago a friend told us to try getting plastic toy snakes and putting them around our flower beds (not sure how it would work for potted plants). From what I can remember it really did keep the squirrels away… just looks a little odd when people look really closely at your beds! Since then we moved a few times to different rental locations where we did not have beds to plant in and now have moved and purchased a house. So I am actually online now to purchase some toy snakes to stop the squirrels from digging up all the fresh mulch we had put down this year! Good luck!

    Reply
  49. Steve says

    August 13, 2016 at 2:35 PM

    My hibiscus plant is being devoured by squirrels. I have tried spraying with hot pepper sauce, and have netted its pot to keep them from digging into the soil. But they continue to eat its flowers.
    So I have a rose bush nearby, with several dead branches and stems onto it. I have clipped those thorny dead branches and layed them at the base of the hibiscus. Eventually I plan to tie them to the hibiscus branches, hoping that the thornyeness will finally deter those little rascals.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      August 17, 2016 at 1:40 PM

      Your squirrels sounds hard core, Steve! Please let us know if your plan works!

      Reply
    • Sunil says

      October 8, 2016 at 10:21 PM

      Steve – am surprised about squirrels and the hibiscus. Here in New Delhi, India, on the small terrace we have, it is the potted hibiscus and periwinkle the squirrels ignore. Also in the parks we have hibiscus bushes which are full of flowers.
      We have, however, what is called the ‘palm squirrel’, which could have some different dietary habits.
      Am looking for more flowers which my friends avoid.
      Best wishes
      Sunil

      Reply
      • Richard Gallant says

        February 7, 2017 at 7:56 AM

        Hello Sunil , just wanted to say I am an American like so many millions of Americans that think the world of people of India and our people of India ethinic backgound they are all just nice lovely people . Even my Doctors are Indian and India foods are loved here as we have a lot of nice Indian restaurants and Patel Brothers very big Super Markets. Just had to let you know . I’m on Face Book Richard Gallant Boston and Richard Gallant Attleboro

        Reply
  50. social media says

    July 12, 2016 at 8:33 AM

    Thank you for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and I am waiting for your next post thanks
    once again.

    Reply
  51. Stephanie says

    July 11, 2016 at 11:19 AM

    Have you thought to stick forks upside down in your garden?

    http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2016/07/flowerpots.html

    Reply
  52. Lisa seymour says

    July 10, 2016 at 9:09 AM

    I put cayenne pepper ion all the potted plants that I have on my porch and the squirrel still got in them. Ugh!! I don’t know what to do!!

    Reply
  53. Jill says

    June 20, 2016 at 9:05 AM

    I had squirrels digging out all of my patio pots daily. I added a layer river rocks to the top of the soil and they have not done it once since. Most of mine are in the shade so the heat front he rocks does not harm the plants.. that is probably not recommended if they are in the sun, but it worked perfectly for my shade pots.

    Reply
    • Heather says

      June 21, 2016 at 9:34 PM

      I want squirrels off of my moss gardens. Heading out to cayenne pepper now.

      Reply
      • Alana Flint says

        June 24, 2016 at 11:05 AM

        The trouble with cayenne is that it sticks to their little feet (bunnies too. When they groom themselves, it gets in their eyes and burns. They have been known to scratch their eyes out.

        Reply
        • JC says

          October 16, 2016 at 3:50 PM

          Excellent! More pain to the squirrels the better!

          Reply
          • Patty says

            May 15, 2018 at 12:55 PM

            YES !!!

          • mary says

            June 19, 2018 at 8:47 PM

            terrible

          • April Cato says

            May 26, 2019 at 1:00 PM

            The squirrels should not be harmed. They are just trying to live. They do not spread disease. We have to consider the balance of nature. they have their place in it. As much as we don’t like rats, even those creatures have their place.

        • Viki says

          November 19, 2016 at 7:20 AM

          Good! the little stinkers!!!

          Reply
        • Katie says

          March 30, 2017 at 2:04 PM

          Poor babies….i would never put out anything like that and that is a good reason! I’m going to plant hyacinth flowers around my vegetable garden because I heard that many animals don’t like the smell and maybe they’ll stay out of the garden that way but I love watching squirrels play in the trees and I love watching gear run around my house thanks for your post

          Reply
          • Britni says

            June 12, 2017 at 8:22 AM

            I agree, Katie, I wouldn’t want to harm them in any way. They are adorable and closest thing I’ll probably ever have to pets! The idea of them scratching their eyes out is awful.
            Heading out with peppermint spray now.

        • GF says

          September 17, 2018 at 6:08 PM

          Can you provide references for this theory? Never heard of it. Don’t believe it. Just another urban myth.

          Reply
    • Theresa Fields says

      February 23, 2017 at 1:24 PM

      Great idea, I have lots of shade. I will try this! Thanks!

      Reply
  54. Joyce Hodge says

    June 11, 2016 at 9:20 PM

    After reading a few blogs and reader comments about deterring squirrels from digging in flower pots, I tried a few suggestions, without success. Buying the sprays really didn’t work well (or for long) and neither did the red pepper sprinkle. It seemed impossible to keep these critters from digging in my flower pots. Last year, I took 3 rather large river rock (each the size of a lemon) and wrapped them together – inside chicken wire and placed them around the flowers. This seemed to work fairly well. Except, sometimes they would move them to one side and dig away. This year, not wanting to be defeated – I am trying a new approach. I am using cut pieces of chicken wire, anchored to the soil around the flowers, with landscape pins. If you only have a few flower pots, then this process may not be for you. I have about 40 flower pots, hanging baskets and assorted wood fence half-moon pots. So buying a roll of chicken wire and a lot of landscape pins – is what I needed.

    I am cutting small pieces of chicken wire (smallest gauge 1-1/2” openings) in about a 4” x 6” piece). I’m laying those flat or bent in half – onto the top of the soil – around the flowers – up next to them at the base. Then, I am anchoring the wire pieces down – using 4” and 6” long landscape pins. This fall or next spring, I can remove and save the chicken wire pieces and pins and reuse them on next year’s flower pots.

    The rain won’t hurt these – the squirrels so far, aren’t figuring it out – how to pull the pins and move the wire pieces. I am using 6” long pins to gain more strength when they are pushed into the dirt. If the pot is fairly shallow – I just angle the 6” pins or use the 4” pins. The chicken wire pieces can easily be bent in half – for narrow places. And I also join the wire pieces together when possible so that one pin can hold 2 wire pieces (where they overlap together). So, instead of using 4 pins to anchor 2 wire pieces – I only need to use 3 pins.

    The landscape pins can be found locally – although I did order 2 boxes of them online to start off with. A pair of wire cutters work great for cutting the chicken wire – although I do recommend wearing a pair of garden gloves that have the Teflon on the palm portion of the gloves. That Teflon will protect your hands from the wire – and is also great for pruning or handing rose cuttings. The gloves are readily available in most big box stores or at your local hardware store.

    I have had these chicken wire pieces in place since early May – and this is now June 11th, 2016. These are working great. I have had 2 violations – where there was a 2” section of dirt only – they tried to dig, but didn’t go far. When I ran out of landscape pins (and you may need hundreds of them), I cut thin wire clothes hangers into sections and made my own. The landscape pins are squared on the top – not a u-shape. Although a u-shape would probably work too. Any of the old rock and chicken wire pieces I had, I still use, I just anchor them with the landscape pins and that keeps them in place. GOOD LUCK!!!!

    Reply
  55. Brenda says

    June 10, 2016 at 10:08 AM

    Please be careful with cayenne pepper (or any other spicy pepper) – I have read that the capcasian (I know I spelled that wrong, but the stuff that makes peppers hot) is toxic to bees!

    I always used to make a mixture of hot pepper and water and spray my plants to keep the rabbits away. It worked great. I was going to make it this year for the annoying squirrels – they just dig, they don’t eat – but when reading about it, read that it is toxic to bees.

    Reply
    • GF says

      September 17, 2018 at 8:59 PM

      Cayenne pepper is not toxic to bees a.f.a.i.k. Give me references or proof please.

      Reply
  56. hcg drops says

    June 4, 2016 at 6:17 AM

    It’s hard to find well-informed people in this particular subject, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
    Thanks

    Reply
    • marion says

      July 7, 2016 at 12:09 PM

      I too have a problem with squirrels, One trick that seems to help me is that I go down to the lake/beach and pick out different shaped flat rocks of different sizes and weigh off the beach ., . I fill the pot with earth and flowers and then push the rocks flat side down into the earth around the plants right up to the stem and fill in the rest of the top with rock and earth as needed. This trick has worked for me about 70%of I will try anything!!!!! i have tried the cayeene pepper but after the rain washed the pepper into the plants they all died on me. Hope this trick will help some of you.

      Reply
  57. Nancy steffenhagen says

    June 3, 2016 at 9:47 PM

    We have landscaped around our house with decorative rock and I have found that just a few of the same rock in the potted plants seem to deter the squirrels. I also use chicken wire. Both seem to be the only solutions that work for me. I have hanging plants above my deck rail and the squirrels jump from the rail to the plants and also dig. Placing objects in their “jumping” way (I have a stone chicken figurine on my deck rail) deters them from getting to them and is also visually appealing. The objects need to be somewhat heavy or weighted so they stay on the rail, so the little tree rats can’t knock them over.

    Reply
  58. Ginny says

    June 1, 2016 at 11:34 PM

    Thank you thank you. My grandson and I planted all our herbs, vegetables and flowers in containers this year as we have such a short growing season here and would still like to enjoy our harvest in the fall. We have a terrible squirrel problem here as our next door neighbor walk everyday with containers of peanuts and HANDFEEDS them all and has names for them all! (Nothing good happens when you try to domesticate wild animals) So the cute squirrels have now become the bane of the neighborhood. So these pests are not looking for food….they just dig to bury their abundant, never-ending stores of peanuts. Now they will be fat and happy and my grandson and I will be without fresh vegetables this fall. Tomorrow morning I will go out and REplant some things with peppermint sprays, cayenne spray, dog hair (i just groomed my long-haired dog), and plant some alliums. Thank you thank you.

    Reply
    • Carol says

      June 15, 2018 at 9:29 AM

      If you are planting little peppermint sprays in your flower bed or garden bed, you need to know that peppermint plants are extremely aggressive and very hard to get rid of. They will eventually take over the whole area.

      Reply
  59. Dianne says

    May 22, 2016 at 1:40 PM

    I made a mistake in my comment use talc free powder scented not with talc. So sorry.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      June 1, 2016 at 2:55 PM

      I will have to try that, Dianne! Thank you for sharing that tip!

      Reply
  60. Dianne says

    May 22, 2016 at 1:16 PM

    I have read and tried planting my bulbs not only using bone meal in the hole but sprinkling the bulbs with a perfumed talcum powder. keeps squirrels from digging and moles.Try it for yourself.

    Reply
  61. Donna Orcutt says

    May 16, 2016 at 11:00 AM

    I wonder if you could line the top edge of you pots with slices of jalapenos, they wouldn’t get washed away like the cayenne pepper, or put the bamboo skewers in the pot up about an inch and hang the slices of jalapeno from the points of the skewers, just trying to brainstorm as I planted 3 calla lilies in a pot last year and I only have one growing now, I dug through the pot to check on the other bulbs and Found a Peanut in its place.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      June 1, 2016 at 2:58 PM

      Ugh!! Our yard is full of hickory nuts so that is what those little boogers put in my pots. Anything is worth a try! Let us know if you do try it and how it goes!

      Reply
  62. Judy Judy Judy says

    May 5, 2016 at 6:57 AM

    I have found that peppermint extract mixed with water sprayed on and around flowers keep the squirrels away. I check my flowers early every morning and in the afternoons when I get home from work … I keep my spray bottle by the screen door and as I stroll enjoying my flowers I just spray a mist around the ones they seem to be most fond of … no squirrel digging! I definitely make sure I spray after a rain. And I buy the least expensive peppermint extract. I understand that peppermint oil is stronger so may last longer.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      May 5, 2016 at 9:25 AM

      Thank you for sharing that, Judy! I had not heard about peppermint extract working as a deterrent before. I’ll be adding it to my list of things to do!

      Reply
    • KEVIN says

      October 2, 2016 at 2:18 AM

      WERE CAN I BUY PEPERMINT

      Reply
    • Katie says

      March 30, 2017 at 1:57 PM

      I like the peppermint spray idea! I want to keep squirrels and also deer out of my vegetable garden but as I love both squirrels & deer, I could never put cayenne pepper out. I have heard that both squirrels and deer hate the smell of hyacinth flowers, so have been considering putting some of those around my vegetable garden!

      Reply
  63. Berry says

    May 3, 2016 at 2:07 PM

    Thanks for the tips! Do you know if cayenne pepper will affect (i.e. burn) the bulbs I have planted where the squirrels are digging? I want to keep the bulbs safe and the squirrels out! (I like the coffee grounds idea and I know that won’t harm the plants… just need to get my hands on some coffee grounds since I don’t drink it myself)

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      May 3, 2016 at 4:04 PM

      Good question, Berry! I have never had any adverse effects on my plants when using the cayenne, whether directly on plants or into the soil. Theoretically the cayenne will prevent the squirrels from reaching the bulbs. I have also planted bulbs and then placed chicken wire over the soil to prevent those little boogers from digging, too. 🙂

      Reply
      • Mary says

        May 20, 2016 at 9:56 PM

        Go to Starbucks or other coffee house. Some places will let you have the used grounds.

        Reply
        • Michele McDonald says

          June 1, 2016 at 3:00 PM

          I had no idea! Thanks for sharing, Mary!!

          Reply
    • Barbara Proctor says

      September 24, 2016 at 1:18 PM

      Berry,
      Go to Starbucks, they have”Grounds for your Ground”. They usually have a bag or two ready for anyone to take home,(free) they are glad too get rid of the old grounds.

      Reply
    • Carol says

      April 20, 2017 at 12:12 PM

      A bag of coffee grounds is free at Starbucks.

      Reply
  64. jean says

    April 27, 2016 at 9:13 AM

    They love to dig in my inpstients.

    Reply
    • sec oars says

      October 12, 2019 at 5:10 PM

      It’s impatiens,

      Reply
  65. Debbie says

    April 20, 2016 at 1:31 AM

    Hello Michelle! I finally remembered to google “how to keep squirrels out of your plants” and your blog came up. OMG! I am LMAO!!! Seriously. I could have written this post…almost word for word! We have a large quantity of squirrels in our neighborhood running from yard to yard having a grand old time. I think they are as cute as can be UNTIL they dig in my beds or make a huge mess with my flowers in pots on the patio. 🙁 Thank you for sharing. I’ll be following your blog from today on.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      May 1, 2016 at 10:05 AM

      Thank you, Debbie! I think you have to either love or loathe those little critters. lol!!!

      Reply
  66. Steven Gonzalez says

    April 12, 2016 at 7:44 PM

    I great trick I have found is to save the coffee grinds after you make your coffee. Then put those grinds in with your plants. Not only will the grinds fertilize but the smell keeps them away. THe Cayenne didnt work for me since after every rain there needed to be a new applicaiton. The coffee lasted way longer, and since we are coffee drinkers there is a endless supply. lol

    Reply
    • glen says

      June 5, 2016 at 9:36 AM

      I tried and they loved it, digging into the flowerpot to eat the coffee. Now I think they will expect morning coffee at our house every day!

      Reply
  67. Jerry B says

    August 8, 2015 at 8:19 PM

    Thank you for these tips!!!

    Last year I tried the red pepper thing (that’s what they had at the Family Dollar for only $1!!! “Red Pepper” powder)- it worked! I had squirrels and raccoons digging all in my 103 containers of japanese morning glories. Didn’t realize the red pepper would harm the new tender japanese morning glory sprouts when it rained on the red pepper. Burned some of them right up, but others survived. The squirrels didn’t dig again that whole year, but I had to reapply the pepper until the plant took over the container space. This year I decided to try 10″ bamboo sticks – about 1/16th to 1/8th inch diameter sticking out with the pointed tip out in various directions. After practicing on a few, I found a good pattern by which to setup all the others. It has kept every digging creature out, no chemicals. I found the 10″ bamboo sticks in a pack of 100 for $1.00 at my local grocery store, Winn Dixie. I had to buy 15 packs since it took about 12 – 16 sticks in each pot depending on its location, to create a sufficient deterrent and to keep the BIRDS from snatching up my seedlings that still had the seed caps on them. When you need to clean out the pot, just put on cloth garden gloves and use a couple of bamboo sticks to stab the debris or chopstick it out of there.. .and when you feel something gently poke your glove, just carefully adjust your hand’s location to avoid the sticks. Don’t stick your naked hand in that gauntlet or you could get seriously poked and hurt from those little vicious splinter wielding sticks!

    Hope this helps!

    Jerry B

    Reply
  68. Jamie says

    July 11, 2015 at 9:38 AM

    I have mixed cayenne in with bird seed to keep away unwanted pests and it works. Birds don’t taste.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      July 11, 2015 at 12:35 PM

      Great tip, Jamie! Thanks for sharing! I did not know that.

      Reply
  69. ED HARRIS says

    May 24, 2015 at 1:34 PM

    The only way to get rid of these little bast arts is a pellet gun.

    Reply
    • CoCo says

      June 1, 2016 at 12:27 PM

      I’m glad YOU said it. As I read these comments, I was wondering how much a BB gun cost!!! LOL

      Reply
      • Patsy Radd says

        June 4, 2016 at 7:10 PM

        I could never hurt a squirrel. I’m willing to try these plant-safe ideas.

        Reply
    • Sandy Morris says

      June 13, 2016 at 11:33 AM

      Ed, they were there before you were, keep in mind. I’d never hurt my red squirrels but they did dig out 17 new plants I had just planted last weekend! I’m going to try every one of these remedies (except the pepper, because I don’t want to hurt the bees) until something works. Someone told me that pieces of dryer sheets buried just under the soil should work, too. I know mice don’t like them so maybe squirrels won’t like them either.

      Reply
  70. Bill says

    May 10, 2015 at 5:02 PM

    Crazy damm rabbits

    Reply
  71. Linda says

    March 29, 2015 at 12:52 PM

    Don’t use Bone Meal if you have dogs! They love the smell and will do more damage to your plantings than squirrels ever thought of. Believe me! We’ve learned our lesson.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      March 29, 2015 at 8:32 PM

      Oh my goodness! I have not heard that before! I’ll keep an eye on my dog when I use it, but I’ve never seen her express an interest before. Thanks for the tip!

      Reply
    • SketchedLilly says

      May 28, 2015 at 3:09 PM

      Even if you don’t have dogs, bone meal attracts raccoons. If you thought that squirrels did damage, wait until you wake up one morning to find everything torn to shred by those masked gremlins.

      Reply
  72. Personal Trainer bloke says

    January 6, 2015 at 5:55 AM

    Great post! They’re such adorable little things but the last place I want them is in my flowerbed!

    Reply
  73. Cindy F says

    December 28, 2014 at 5:50 PM

    We have been in our house for 16 years, and this last summer I had a brown squirrel who has made it his mission to dig holes 6+ inches deep in every pot he can find. I have put chicken wire over the bigger plants, however, he still puts sunflower seeds in every pot. I feel like a redneck gardener with all the chicken wire, commercial repellants don’t seem to work, cayenne pepper powder may work for a day or two, but then he come back with a vengeance. we were gone for a week and my deck was covered with dirt when we got back. So disappointing. I left some pots with just dirt, but they prefer the pots with plants. They also like the marigolds and geraniums, I have covered the exposed dirt with blocks of wood, pieces of pottery, and they just dig under them. I feel like just putting out artificial plants and forget all the time and $$ involved in filling all the pots with spring flowers

    Reply
    • Sylvia martin says

      June 23, 2017 at 5:19 PM

      I never thought I would live to see the day that I would put artificial plants in my garden. Well the day has come. The squirrels have won 😡. I have used all of the tips mentioned here. I have squirrels In my yard with “attitude”. Ugh!

      Reply
    • marc edmund jones says

      April 16, 2019 at 12:14 PM

      I cannot believe with all the things tried on these politically correct rats no one has used Tree Tanglefoot. This product is sold as an insect barrier but the squirrels do not like it when they step in it. It’s non-toxic: “The paste is made with all natural ingredients: gum, resins, vegetable oil and wax. It is non-drying, sticky and has a caramel color. Tree Tanglefoot Insect Barrier is ready to use, long-lasting, weather resistant and certified non-toxic to humans, pets, beneficial insects and to the environment.”
      Especially for those with pots, a little paper towel smeared with this product will work well. The little darlings hate to get this sticky stuff on their danty widdle feet.

      Reply
  74. David Rose says

    October 28, 2014 at 11:19 AM

    Try using hanging baskets turned upside down,drill two holes through the side of the pot stand the upturned basket onto the rim of the pot and fix using cable ties through the holes you have drilled, plants will grow through the mesh but the vermin will not be able to get to bulbs or small plants.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      October 28, 2014 at 12:31 PM

      Great idea, David!!

      Reply
  75. beachangel58 says

    October 23, 2014 at 9:36 PM

    We have pet rats that are digging in the potted plants we brought in for the winter. Will cayenne pepper +/ or bone meal work and be safe to use for rats? I also found that moth balls worked for my outdoor potted plants.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      October 23, 2014 at 9:51 PM

      I wouldn’t use the Cayenne pepper if these are your pets. It could potentially burn their eyes if they were to rub them. But the bone meal could work. It’s not toxic, just something they don’t like.

      Reply
      • beachangel58 says

        October 24, 2014 at 1:52 PM

        Thanks, I’ll let you know how it works

        Reply
  76. Ann says

    May 19, 2014 at 3:44 AM

    TFS all your tips and hints I have a squirrel visitor who has taken a shine to my climbing roses, he hops from the school playing field trees (yep trees in a playing field!! Grrr) and onto our arbour where the roses climb up and runs to the furthest limb and nibbles off the roses I was wondering why we dont seem to have any these days until my hubby caught the culprit the other morning at 5am tucking in!! I had wondered about mustard as I have a super large container full of it……. I wondered about making a paste and painting some of the buds to see if that would deter our unwelcome visitor………. now if it was a red squirrel Id let them have platefulls of the buds but of course its those big butch grey ones!! Thanks again

    Reply
    • Dianne says

      April 20, 2018 at 5:30 PM

      You have fallen prey to the myth about grey squirrels being aggressive. They are not. They are simply hardier in some areas but they do no harm whatsoever to other squirrels. Please research this and do not spread this myth. You’ll be glad you did.

      Reply
  77. Cheryl Lewis says

    July 2, 2013 at 5:09 PM

    not really great tips – cayenne pepper is expensive and squirrels LOVE MY LILLIES – don’t know where this person gets there info ??? try “used” coffe grounds and u don’t have to reapply after it rains and you are “reusing” environmentally good all around!

    Reply
    • Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} says

      July 2, 2013 at 6:06 PM

      Actually cayenne pepper is fairly inexpensive, especially if you purchase the larger container. I’m sorry you did not find the other tips useful. They have worked great for me and for others as well. To each their own. Used coffee grounds is a great tip – I have used it myself. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Lori says

        April 30, 2016 at 3:23 PM

        Cayenne pepper, crushed pepper I use those spices, as if I was making a pot of coffee, let is cool, put in spray bottle,and douse my plants, 0 SQUIRRELS messing my deck digging in my flower pots, got that from pinterest! !!!! Using just spices, sprinkling them gets expensive after it rains etc!!

        Reply
        • Michele McDonald says

          May 1, 2016 at 10:03 AM

          Good to know, Lori! I will try that this summer!

          Reply
        • Lisa Jackson says

          February 4, 2018 at 10:40 PM

          Blessed relief. I will try this by the gallon. So tired off having tender shoots cut off and planters broken. Hope this will work for my Squirrel problem too. Thank you.

          Reply
    • Cindy says

      April 15, 2016 at 5:41 PM

      Cayenne pepper is sooo cheap. Where are you doing your shopping? It’s like a buck for a big container that lasts for weeks and weeks. You don’t need much, so a sprinkle will do.

      Reply
    • Jrmy says

      May 24, 2016 at 6:39 PM

      Cayenne pepper powder works great it’s cheap from you’re locally grocery and dollar store

      Reply
    • Margie Phillips says

      June 17, 2017 at 1:09 PM

      you can get cayenne at a Big Lots or $ store for $1 a bottle…

      Reply
    • Margie says

      June 17, 2017 at 1:12 PM

      2 cups water plus 1 cup castor oil sprayed on plants keeps woodcucks away… maybe it would work on squirrels too..?

      Reply
  78. Brandi says

    May 22, 2013 at 9:10 PM

    These are all really great tips. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  79. Stephenie Daily @ Garden Girl says

    May 20, 2013 at 2:39 PM

    I never knew that squirrels didn’t like bone meal. I routinely use it to encourage flowering. It’s great for that. If you have a plant that is giving you nothing but greenery, add some bone meal and viola! flowers. :)At least now I know how my peas survived the constant influence of B-squirrel in our yard.

    Reply
  80. Randi~Dukes and Duchesses says

    May 17, 2013 at 9:01 PM

    Great tips. One year the squirrels ate every marigold I had … I could have used your tips then!

    Reply
  81. Krista Low says

    May 17, 2013 at 10:53 AM

    Great tips. I’m watching a few squirrels bound around in my yard as I’m reading this. Thank you! Krista @ A Handful of Everything

    Reply
  82. Alice Emma Thompson says

    May 17, 2013 at 9:44 AM

    Oh fab tips I so need these!

    Reply
  83. Rita says

    May 15, 2013 at 8:36 PM

    Thanks for the helpful hints! I am going to have to try them out.

    Reply
  84. carol jane says

    May 14, 2013 at 10:30 AM

    I dont have a problem with squirrels, but a huge problem with rabbits. They ate all my beautiful roses last year. GRRRR! Would this same thing work with rabbits?

    Reply
    • Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} says

      May 14, 2013 at 10:40 AM

      Sprinkling your roses (or making the wash spray) would work against the rabbits. I have been deterring them also from some of the flowers in my garden beds. I am not positive about the bone meal, but rabbits have a pretty good sense of smell, too, so it should work to keep them out also.

      Reply
  85. Beverly {Flamingo Toes} says

    May 14, 2013 at 9:33 AM

    This is so cool! We don’t have a squirrel problem at this house but I’m definitely pinning for the future! I love that your ideas are all natural too.

    Reply
  86. [email protected] says

    May 13, 2013 at 11:44 PM

    I have heard of rubber snakes but never tried it. I would do the pepper.

    Reply
  87. Allison Moore says

    May 13, 2013 at 8:05 PM

    Bello! he’s a squirrel hunter expert! ok, not really. they taunt him – running from tree to tree, waiting until he notices them and barks, then running up the tree, jumping to another one, and coming back down to repeat the process. I can’t prove it, but I suspect they also throw acorns at him. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing that he’s never caught one…good for the squirrel perhaps!

    Reply

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