how do you keep squirrels out of potted flowers

Home Remedies to Keep Squirrels Out of Flower Pots

Full Answer

How to stop squirrels from digging in flower pots?

What Stops Squirrels from Digging in Potted Plants?

• Protective Barriers. It may be the case that plants started growing in pots in the first place to get better protection from pests such as squirrels.
• Pungent Squirrel Repellent. ...
• Scary Squirrel Deterrents. ...
• Keep a Tidy Garden. ...
• Consider Consulting a Professional. ...

How do I keep squirrels out of my flower bed?

Keep Squirrels Away

• Keep your trees trimmed
• Clean the grill immediately after use
• Seal garbage cans tightly
• Rake up and remove nuts, acorns, and berries

How do I keep squirrels from digging up my flowers?

• 1. Get a Dog The most simple way to keep squirrels out of your potted plants is to get a dog if you don’t already have one. ...
• 2. Use Coffee Grounds Mixing used coffee ground from your coffee pot with the top layer of soil is a dual-purpose and effective way to keep squirrels from messing with ...
• 3. ...
• 5. ...
• 6. ...
• 7. ...
• 8. ...
• 10. ...
• 11. ...

How to keep squirrels off of my sunflowers?

What animal is eating my sunflowers?

• Plant sunflowers away from areas that squirrels can climb. Squirrels are nimble creatures.
• Surround the sunflower seedlings with chicken wire or other forms of wire mesh.
• Attach protective material to sunflower heads.
• Apply a hot seed spray to your sunflower.

Why are squirrels digging in my flower pots?

Squirrels dig in potted plants because they want to stash away their food items such as nuts, seeds, acorns, and berries in the potting soil. They find the soft potting soil convenient to dig a deep hole and store the food. The squirrels may also dig into the soil to feast on the bulbs and roots.

How do you keep squirrels out of hanging flower baskets?

0:523:37How to Keep Squirrels Out of Flower Pots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse a wire farm basket for low growing plants. Making sure that it comes to the edge of the flowerMoreUse a wire farm basket for low growing plants. Making sure that it comes to the edge of the flower pot if damage occurs in the night as would happen with southern flying squirrels.

Do coffee grounds keep squirrels out of potted plants?

Will Coffee Grounds Keep Squirrels Away? As it turns out, squirrels hate coffee grounds! It's the smell they dislike, and for this reason, using coffee grounds (especially those with a strong odor) can be useful for deterring squirrels from your yard.

Does aluminum foil deter squirrels?

Rodents hate the feeling of foil between their teeth, too, so placing strips of foil in your garden mulch will help deter squirrels and some bugs. If squirrels are eating the bark of your tree, you can also wrap the trunk in foil.

Does Irish Spring soap keep squirrels away?

Irish spring soap is an effective deterrent for keeping squirrels away from your delicious fruits and vegetables. With their keen sense of smell, the squirrels will catch a whiff of the strong Irish Spring scent and steer clear of your precious garden.

Do moth balls keep squirrels out of flower pots?

Take the moth balls, cayenne pepper and tape outside to your garden. If you have a problem with the moth balls being used, you could try just the cayenne pepper in the squirrel repellents to see if this will work.

Does vinegar keep squirrels away?

Squirrels dislike the smell of cider vinegar so it's very useful to keep them away. You can soak old clothes and shoes in cider vinegar and hang them in an area of your home where squirrels like to enter, such as your attic.

Will coffee grounds hurt my plants?

The short answer? No, not really. Coffee is bad for plants for the same reason most people love drinking it - because of the caffeine. It means coffee is allelopathic - reducing the growth of other nearby plants that compete for minerals or water.

What is the best repellent for squirrels?

Natural Squirrel RepellentsSpread predator urine around your garden. ... Try sprinkling cayenne pepper, ground chili peppers, pepper flakes, and/or garlic pepper on and around your plants when they are ready to bloom. ... Birds can't taste capsaicin, so add some cayenne pepper to those bird feeders to deter squirrels.More items...

How do I keep squirrels from eating my petunias?

Blood meal was mentioned as a possible deterrent, as well as some of the animal urine products that are sold for that purpose. Peppermint oil, on cotton balls, may also repel the squirrels. These are all relatively safe for the creatures we coexist with.

Do moth balls keep squirrels out of flower pots?

Take the moth balls, cayenne pepper and tape outside to your garden. If you have a problem with the moth balls being used, you could try just the cayenne pepper in the squirrel repellents to see if this will work.

What is the best way to repel squirrels?

Rodent-chasing dogs and motion-activated noisemakers, such as garden spinners, pinwheels, and aluminum pie tins, all make good squirrel deterrents. In addition, if you're watering your lawn anyway, consider using a motion-detecting sprinkler to increase the scare factor.

How to keep squirrels from messing with potted plants?

Mixing used coffee ground from your coffee pot with the top layer of soil is a dual-purpose and effective way to keep squirrels from messing with your potted plants.

How to keep squirrels from digging up soil?

Rocks may also help keep squirrels from digging up the soil in your pots. Simply put some small rocks around the plant in the pot to protect the exposed soil.

How to make squirrels nervous?

Likewise, try hanging windchimes or string up tin cans or empty soda cans. The clatter such hanging objects make will definitely make the squirrels nervous.

How to make a pot with hair?

Simply gather some hair from the brush or comb you use for your hair or your pet’s brush and scatter it over the soil in your pots.

Can you feed potted plants?

It may sound counter-productive, but if you feed them enough, as far away from your potted plants as possible (depending on the size of your yard) this method can work wonders.

Can you use a fishing net on a plant?

If you don’t have any and don’t want to buy any, you can opt for using an old fishing net or some other similar material around the plant after you cut it down to the proper size.

Do squirrels like blood meal?

Plants love blood meal, as it is often used for increasing the nutritional value of potting mixes. But, squirrels happen to despise the smell of it. So, like with coffee grounds, you’re killing two birds with one stone by applying this squirrel repelling method.

Keeping squirrels out of your potted plants

There are various methods that you can use to keep your plants safe from squirrels. You can try to distract the squirrels or place chicken wire around your pots. Also putting ingredients that they don’t like the smell on the soil, will repel them.

Why do squirrels dig in my flower pot?

You may notice squirrels at your plant pot and wonder why they are there. Well, squirrels dig to store and bury their food. This food can be nuts or acorns that they have found and gathered.

Final thoughts

Having squirrels in your garden can be annoying, especially when they start digging up your plant pots that you took time and effort over. Squirrels may decide to dig at your potted plants to either eat what you have planted or to store their own food for the colder months.

How to get rid of squirrels in pots?

You can also solve your squirrel issue by fertilizing your plants with bone meal. It has an odor that squirrels hate. That means when you put some bone meal in your pot, you can be sure that a squirrel won’t be visiting it to hide away food anytime soon.

How to stop squirrels from leaving my yard?

Use a Sonic Deterrent. One of the easiest ways to fix your squirrel problem is to install a sonic deterrent in your yard. These are devices that emit a high-pitched sound, which encourages animals like squirrels and chipmunks to leave the area. Sonic deterrents emit noises that are too high-pitched for humans to hear.

Why Do Squirrels Dig in Flower Pots?

There’s a natural reason why squirrels may continuously dig in your flower pots. Put simply, squirrels dig to bury food that they’ve found but don’t wish to eat yet.

How to get squirrels to smell bone meal?

For the best results, just sprinkle a bit of bone meal on top of the soil. You don’t need to mix it in. By doing this, you’ll be sure that the squirrel smells the bone meal before it starts digging.

How to make squirrel repellent?

1 tablespoon of ground cayenne pepper. 2-3 drops of dish detergent. Simply gather these materials in an empty spray bottle, give it a shake to mix them together, and you’ll have a squirrel repellant that should do the trick.

How to protect plants from a dog?

If you do, then try to collect a bit of their fur the next time that you groom them. Then, sprinkle that fur on top of the soil of the plants that you wish to protect.

How to make a repellent spray?

That’s why a better strategy is to create your own repellant spray. It’s easier to do than you might think. All that you need is: 1 1 bottle of water 2 1 tablespoon of ground cayenne pepper 3 2-3 drops of dish detergent

How to keep squirrels out of potted plants

There are many ways to keep squirrels out of potted plants naturally – from using odors they despise to water sprays to ultrasound. None of these methods will kill or harm squirrels but a combination of the methods will deter them. These are the best ways to keep squirrels out of potted plants for good.

1. Get a cat – or dog

'The most simple way to keep squirrels out of your potted plants is to get a cat or dog,' says Rachel Crow, garden editor at Homes & Gardens. 'But, you’ll have to let them outside during the daytime in order for them to spot and chase squirrels away.

2. Use coffee grounds

Coffee ground have undeniable benefits when it comes to waking up the human body, especially during the early hours. However, its power is not limited to the kitchen. Instead, this caffeinated pantry staple is equally as impactful in the yard, where experts are using coffee grounds to keep squirrels out of potted plants.

3. Lay down chicken wire

Squirrels love to forage for bulbs in containers. Place some chicken wire or other mesh cover over the pot once you've planted it to stop them digging. As soon as the bulbs start to peak through, you can remove it.

4. Invest in ultrasonic sensors

Ultrasonic devices are used by many amateur gardeners to repel pests without altering their yards in any way. But do these ultrasonic devices deter squirrels? The good news is that, yes, high frequency sound can deter these pests, however, it is vital that you invest it one that is designed to do so.

5. Arrange large pebbles around plants

If you want to keep squirrels out of potted plant without too much hassle, then large pebbles and stones are an easy solution. Ensure that the stones you use are too heavy for a squirrel to simply push aside.

6. Deter squirrels with essential oils

Essential oils are not just a medicine cabinet staple, but they can also be used to keep squirrels out of potted plants, too.

Why Do Squirrels Dig in Flower Pots?

Squirrels dig in flower pots because they are under the impression that something important lies beneath the soil. In some cases, they are incorrect, but frequently, there is indeed something attracting the squirrels and chipmunks.

How Do I Stop Squirrels from Eating My Flowers?

Unfortunately, squirrels do not just think flowers are for looking. They also like them for eating. So if the flowers you have been planting get ravaged by squirrels, the smartest thing you can do is refrain from planting that variety of flowers.

What Stops Squirrels from Digging in Potted Plants?

If you’ve ever had a squirrel digging in your flower pot, you know how frustrating it can be. They can make a huge mess and ruin your flowers in just a few minutes. So, what stops squirrels from digging in flower pots?

Do Coffee Grounds Keep Squirrels Away?

Yes, it is believed that the bitter taste and aroma of spent coffee grounds keep squirrels away. However, the effectiveness of coffee grounds as a squirrel repellent will depend on the amount and frequency you use them.

How to Keep Squirrels Out of Deck Planters

Besides applying the strategies mentioned above such as using deterrents to scare squirrels away, scents to repel squirrels, and having a barrier, netting or wire baskets to keep them out, you can also mix ground cayenne pepper, crushed garlic or something that is spicy in the potting soil to keep squirrels out of planters.

Stop Squirrels from Digging in Garden

Gardens are for digging – but not for squirrel-digging. Stopping squirrels from digging holes and otherwise terrorizing the plants in your garden can feel like an intimidating undertaking.

How to keep squirrels out of flower pots?

One of the most accessible solutions, if you don’t have pets, is to use an ultrasonic squirrel repellent device. These devices emit a high-pitched ultrasonic sound that animals like squirrels and chipmunks can hear, but is outside the hearing range of humans.

How to keep squirrels away from my plants?

Use Physical Barriers to Keep Squirrels Away. As a last resort, you might want to use physical barriers to keep squirrels out of your favorite plants. This might also be a good first step until the other strategies begin to work. Cover plants with wire mesh, wire baskets, or other deterrents to keep the squirrel from accessing the plant.

What to do if squirrels eat your plants?

If squirrels are eating your plants, you will probably want to step up your game and use a spray squirrel deterrent. You can buy a commercial product that does a good job; but, if you are like me, you want to know that you are only using safe products in the vegetable garden.

How to keep squirrels out of bird feeders?

Squirrels love to rob the feeder for seeds and can make off with more feed than the birds get. I’m not suggesting that you stop feeding the birds; but if you have a bird feeder, invest in a baffle to keep the squirrels from getting to it.

Why put a squirrel baffle on bird feeder?

Putting a squirrel baffle above the bird feeder prevents the squirrel from climbing down to the feeder. Also, make sure that there are no easy points of access from below.

How to stop squirrels from digging in potted plants?

If your problem is squirrels digging in your potted plants, solve this problem by putting a layer of chicken wire or hardware cloth on top of the soil before you plant.

Can you spray cayenne pepper on soil?

You can also sprinkle cayenne pepper spray on the soil (see recipe below) for your outdoor plants in pots to deter squirrels and have them going elsewhere to dig . You may need to try several different repellent tactics to find one that works on the squirrels and other pests at your home.

1. Use a shop-bought deterrent (or DIY your own)

Ever got chili pepper in your eye or scratched your nose after touching one? Yep... it's enough to make us cry. So you can imagine the sting that this hot food brings to squirrels and is one way to keep squirrels out of potted plants.

2. Get a cat

Does your furry friend love playing cat and mouse? Then consider this a variant of the chasing game. In all seriousness, owning a feline may ward away squirrels and other garden pests. Their predatory presence alone is a deterrent for the rodents that like to ruin your garden plant ideas.

3. Pick up some essential oils

As well as being one of the best essential oils that are good for headaches, mint extract is perfect for shooing off squirrels if another pot mess is doing your head in.

4. Catch them out with coffee grounds

While the smell of java from the best coffee machine is enough to entice us in the morning, squirrels can't be by it for too long. So after you're done using a coffee maker, don't throw the waste in your kitchen trash can. You can use your espresso coffee grounds in gardening to quickly escort these sneaky so-and-sos off your large potted plants.

5. Ward them off with water

Getting squirted by water can be fun and refreshing when the weather is hot, but for squirrels, H2O is something they hate. Though it's a little mean, keep the kids entertained and pests at bay with a cheap water pistol.

6. Make them come to their senses (literally)

High-pitched noises and flashing lights are enough to make anyone feel uncomfortable. So if you're looking at how to keep squirrels out of potted plants use sound and visuals to fend them off.

7. Arrange large pebbles around your pots

As well as being a pretty way to decorate your plant babies, stones and pebbles provide ample blockage to keep squirrels out of potted plants.

How to scare squirrels away from flowers?

Some people have found that incorporating shiny objects and decorations that light up into their flower displays helps to scare the squirrels away.

Why do squirrels dig in flower pots?

Generally, the soil in a flower pot or planter box is easy to dig in, which makes them a great place for the squirrel to hide its winter stash of acorns and other assorted nuts.

How to deter diggers from digging in flower pots?

Another way to deter these disruptive diggers is to literally stick forks in your flower pots. Push the forks into the soil until only a small part of the tines are visible.

What to use to surround flower boxes?

It is also an option to use chicken wire or garden fencing to surround the area where your flower boxes are located.

Can you put flowers in a cage?

You may not want to put your flowers in a cage or have to deal with moving the wire when you want to maintain the display, but for some people, this is a good option.

Can you make a squirrel repellent spray?

You can make an all-natural s quirrel repellent spray that can be quite effective for some people. The trick is to use ingredients that are extremely repulsive and also cause some discomfort without actually harming the squirrel.