how to keep the squirrels out of my plants

I have not tried this myself. Fear not, there are some ways to keep squirrels out of your potted plants. Active during the day, they can also be a year-round problem because they dont really hibernate in the winters. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance. While all of these deterrents will help keep squirrels away, you also need to avoid attracting the little critters. Ensuring that they are well pruned to remove seed heads before they drop and keeping them well watered to discourage them from digging can minimize chipmunks' interest and keep your potted plants safe. Well, squirrels dig to store and bury their food. 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. 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. Traps that kill them? A.H. David, pest control expert and writer for Pest Control Weekly suggests using wire mesh or hardware cloth placed over the soil surface of your pot to deter chipmunks from digging in it. The squirrels may also dig into the soil to feast on the bulbs and roots. You might be wondering how to keep squirrels out of potted plants. Use a shop-bought deterrent (or DIY your own) (Image credit: Amazon) Ever got chili pepper in your eye or scratched your nose after touching one? Mix a small bottle of Tabasco, a gallon of water, and a few drops of dishwashing liquid, which helps the hot sauce cling to the foliage, and use a garden sprayer or a standard spray bottle. This was Extremely helpful!! Don't be tempted to dump your coffee waste directly on the potted plants or on small potted plants, as it can suffocate the plant and can cause fungus to grow. There are three options for this, explains Hala Zaqqout, pest control expert with over seven years of experience, and current editor at Lawn-Advisor; a commercial repellent containing capsaicin or castor oil, mothballs (thanks to their equally strong odor), or a homespun approach using oil infused with cayenne pepper and chili powder to produce strong spicy smells that chipmunks hate. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Geographically, it's perfect; I've got the forest on my doorstep, and London is just 15 minutes by tube or car. This could be a squirrel feeder with lots of food for them to eat. I think of them getting cayenne pepper on their little paws and it burning their poorgreedy littlemouths. Please refresh the page and try again. BA1 1UA. Keep in mind that you may have to try a combination of several of these strategies to completely resolve the problem. Chipmunks, despite their penchant for digging, are not dangerous pests and pose little to no threat to your home's structure, so humane treatments are strongly advised. Keeping Squirrels Out Of Gardens: Tips On Protecting Tomatoes From Squirrels, Cayenne Pepper In The Garden - Tips For Growing Cayenne Peppers, Ways To Use Peppermint - Learn About Peppermint Plant Uses, Best Barberry Substitutes Plant These Natives Instead, How To Avoid Overplanting: Common Vegetable Yields Per Plant, Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes? Why Do Squirrels Dig In Potted Plants? (7 Ways To Keep Them Away) 'Unlike some other yard wildlife, squirrels are not that skittish and it can be tough to scare them off once they are used to people,' says Lisa, aka The Practical Planter. Actionable Ways to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden 1. With a plethora of experience in digital marketing, editorial, and social media, I have an eye for what should be in your shopping basket. Shake the water and spray the mixture around your home and trees to keep pests and insects away. actually have a wide varied diet that includes fruit, vegetables, You can also try using a natural squirrel repellent, like predator urine or ground chili pepper. What can I do? asks Birds & Blooms reader Caroline Hatley of Barnstead, New Hampshire. Squirrels hate spicy foods and scents, so capsaicin (the chemical compound responsible for the heat factor in chilies), can be used to discourage the little rascals. Ultrasonic devices are used by many amateur gardeners to repel pests without altering their yards in any way. Melinda Myers is a nature and gardening writer whose specialty is attracting wildlife, especially birds, to the garden. So you can imagine the sting that this hot food brings to squirrels and is one way to keep squirrels out of potted plants. In the case of a small chamber or no space for a large section, buy rolls of garden mesh. 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. Hang aluminum foil strips, old CDs, or even small mirrors near your pots, he recommends. Adding scattered clippings to the soil will not be visible to guests admiring your flowers. A go-to for dealing with any pest, such as keeping squirrels out of potted plants, a physical barrier is a great way to keep chipmunks out of your pots. But, you'll have to let them outside during the daytime in order for them to spot and chase squirrels away. Although some gardeners have suggested that instead of stones, a thick layer of mulch has the same effect and is hugely beneficial for your plant too. 2. As soon as the bulbs start to peak through, you can remove it. Over the years, I have tried various methods to get rid of squirrels, and I am offering you my best tips here. As an interesting side note, you can also use this type of hot pepper technique to keep squirrels out of a bird feeder. To keep squirrels away from tomatoes eliminate squirrel attractions, cage your plants, use natural repellants, and create some noise that can scare these rodents off. How To Keep Squirrels Out Of Potted Plants And Digging Bulbs Bend the top into an arch that covers the plants to prevent squirrels from climbing over. Cats and Dogs will keep squirrels away. Garlic can also banish these bushy-tailed animals, so you can either crush a fresh clove nearby or go for a granulated product, instead, for easy application without a crusher. Squirrels are agile rodents that most people recognize as they dart around in the yard, or scurry from tree branch to tree branch. Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper. The bulb's leaves will grow right through the holes in either kind of wire. One lick of their paws and your flowers are safe. Just like how peppermint plants repel squirrels, essential oils also work to keep them at bay. Real Homes is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The menthol scent will be sufficient enough to signal squirrels to scoot off. How to Keep Squirrels out of Potted Plants 11 Great Hacks My name is Lisa, and Im on a mission to expand my plant knowledge. How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Potted Plants: 4 Easy Ways In the spring, many homeowners will start to put their plants outside. Mint extract, lemongrass, clove and cinnamon are known to deter squirrels, so keep these oils and spices close to hand. However fish emulsion and blood meal are both very high in nitrogen. These are the best ways to keep squirrels out of potted plants for good. If one approach doesnt work, try another. Youll need to take a few extra steps to keep squirrels out Sprinkle cayenne pepper on your soil and even on your plants to keep the squirrels away. Water still needs to be able to reach the soil. Mixing natural repellents like pepper, peppermint, or garlic into the soil can also be effective and will not hurt the squirrels or your plants. Scare tactics may also help, such as motion-sensitive sprinklers and pinwheels. To make your hot pepper spray, get 10 cayenne peppers, a gallon of water, garlic cloves, and a spray can. The cayenne pepper doesnt affect the birds as they cant taste it. Heres how it works. An easy way to repel squirrels from your potted plants is by mixing the soil with something that squirrels dont like the taste or smell of. 5. Keeping Squirrels from Digging in Plants | ThriftyFun 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. Potting soil on the ground (hanging plant) How To Keep Squirrels Out Of My My Hanging Baskets? Check out the top-rated squirrel baffles andsquirrel-proof bird feeders. for water to flow down to the soil. These bright colors and shiny objects should scare the squirrels away. Affiliate Disclaimer: Tipsbulletin.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, How to Keep Squirrels Out of Potted Plants, Keep Squirrels Out of Flower Pots with a Sonic Deterrent, Keep Squirrels Away from Plants in the Vegetable Garden, Do You Have a Dog? Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips shes gained over the years. Though they won't harm squirrels, it may be enough to stop them from sifting through the earth. Though they dont hibernate, and need a continuous source of food all through the winter. Pestering chipmunks tearing up your pots? There are several signs that you might have chipmunks in your yard, but the first sign is often disturbed soil and nibbled-on plants and bulbs. Another option is by covering your potted plants with chicken wire or netting. Homes & Gardens is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Autumn Fruit Planting If you've ever gone out to tend to your nicely planted containers only to discover a shambles, with pots knocked over. How to Keep Squirrels Out of Potted Plants, Flower Pots and Planters Luckily for you, there are four easy ways to keep squirrels out of your potted plants! This might also be a good first step until the other strategies begin to work. It comes as no surprise to learn that many natural over-the-counter squirrel repellents use essential oils in their formulas, so it is possible to make them at home. consider. Try planting them away from crocus, tulips and other critter favorites to prevent accidental digging. Try this Trick for How to Keep Squirrels Out of Potted Plants, Use Physical Barriers to Keep Squirrels Away, If All Else Fails, Use a Live Squirrel Trap, Privacy Policy GDPR Medical Disclaimer DMCA, Rake up and remove nuts, acorns, and berries. Man's best friend can also chase squirrels away. Although it is a practical multi-purpose powder for household cleaning, baking powder has not been effective in deterring chipmunks. As a predator, their appearance may make a squirrel think twice before approaching your container plants. Some baffles also act as weather protection to keep the seed dry. Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. This piano squirrel feeder by B&M is a novel decoration that will make for an entertaining watch as they snack while sitting on the stool. You can choose to opt-out if you wish. Such small creatures can be easily spooked by visual deterrents. She contributes regularly to the magazine Birds & Blooms, and lectures widely on creating gardens that please both human and avian visitors. Oh the sounds of scampering playing sounds in the middle of the night! Published 28 June 23, From food blogging to buys, The Pioneer Woman has met all our kitchen, dining and bedroom needs over the years. Ultrasonic devices work by emitting noise at a frequency only detectable by certain animals, and most cannot be heard by the human ear. You can also use motion sensor lights, sprinklers, and mothballs to keep squirrels at bay. BA1 1UA. Also, make sure that there are no easy points of access from below. Pepper? of your potted plants, or even your in-ground outdoor garden. No cruelty intended! Hi! Eventually the smell will fade away, and you will have to add more. When using scents, make sure to regularly reapply them to your pots, both on the exterior of the pot and on the ground around them, to ensure the protection continues, especially after periods of rain, or after watering your plants. You can also try some type of fencing with netting around the top so that squirrels can't climb into your plants. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. A.H David is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Pest Control Weekly. 8 Ways To Keep Squirrels Out of Your Yard - The Family Handyman Cayenne pepper is a tried and tested method of trying to repel squirrels. I would love to hear them! Do you have any tips or tricks to keep squirrels out of your plants? You can try to distract the squirrels or place chicken wire around your pots. plants. The plants need to be completely enclosed. Add bone meal to your soil. The thorns should be sharp enough to stop the squirrel from trying to dig up your potted plants. What Attracts Squirrels? Also putting ingredients that they dont like the smell on the soil, will repel them. How to Keep Squirrels Out of Flower Pots - Tips Bulletin See the enclosed garden we finally built to keep our vegetables away from the squirrels! OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH for this article ? If you found it helpful, please take the time to share it on social media so that others may benefit as well. As with the backyard, it is important to get rid of squirrels in the attic as they can wreak havoc if they get inside your home. These barriers may discourage the squirrels from digging and send them off looking for other dining locations. You can also bury plastic forks tine side up. If you've got some bamboo kebab skewers spare from your backyard bbq, or if you kept the plastic forks from your recent takeout, stick these in your soil to top your crop criminals coming close. This is one trick Im itching to try out. Not only will this hinder squirrels from digging, but it'll look super cute! You want to stop squirrels from digging down but you dont want to affect the plant itself. Im sure I dont need to tell you why this works, but the squirrels dont enjoy the heat as much as some of us do. Given we often keep our pots on patios and decks, it is also important to clean up any food we drop in outdoor dining areas too, he adds, as these crumbs will have the same effect. Its not just the noise thats the problem, of course. At least until it rains. Place some chicken wire or other mesh cover over the pot once you've planted it to stop them digging. However, if you get a very stubborn squirrel, dont hesitate to use a live squirrel trap and remove it to some remote location. Shake and spray on plants and surrounding soil after every watering or rain storm. are the only thing a squirrel is looking for in your yard. 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. These unexpected squirrel sightings serve as reminders that squirrels are present and up to their usual mischief, and that is as much of a push as most of us need to find new ways to keep squirrels out of potted plants so as not to disturb recently planted bulbs, young roots or, simply from making a mess in yards. One downside to these deterrents is they rely largely on a negative response from the chipmunk. Also use caution with this method if you have pets that can access the cayenne pepper. 'But, you'll have to let them outside during the daytime in order for them to spot and chase squirrels away. If you dont want to put netting over the top of your plants, you can put it in your plant pots instead. To make this spray, mix 1/2 cup of cayenne powder with 2 cups of water in a large bowl. To stop chipmunks climbing up the edge of your pots full stop, then you can also use a cylinder made of hardware cloth around the pot for added protection, he adds. It is fun watching the cute animals as playing around and climbing trees with their twitching tails. Chicken wire over flower pots containing bulbs or covering your flower beds containing bulbs can also prevent squirrels from digging them up. They may be in your plant pot to actually eat whatever you are growing. [1] Some gardeners grow their plants inside a birdcage or other decorative structure that also acts to keep squirrels out. The Humane Society of the United States actually recommends against using "hot stuff" to deter squirrels in the yard, though PETA recommends spraying surfaces with a mixture of salad oil, horseradish, garlic, and cayenne to keep rats and mice away. Keeping the area around them clear is vital.. Using lethal traps is a little drastic and there are good live-trapping devices that work quite well. We have a tall patio fence with narrow slates I sprinkle cayenne pepper in between the slates and all around the fence and they boldly walk right on the cayenne pepper without a problem. Hanging a few foil pie plates is a classic one, letting them clatter around unpredictably in the breeze. Keeping Squirrels Out Of Containers - Tips On Protecting Potted Plants How Can I Keep Squirrels Out of My Vegetable Garden? An easy way to repel squirrels from your potted plants is by mixing the soil with something that squirrels don't like the taste or smell of. This is a useful trick in the colder seasons when there isnt anything growing in your plant pots. It cant really get more basic than that. Putting a squirrel baffle above the bird feeder prevents the squirrel from climbing down to the feeder. How To Keep Squirrels Out Of Flower Pots -12 Easy Tricks ', 'But yeah, they bury things in the garden, they can dig up bowls and things, but it's not really our place to be dictating to wildlife where they can and can't go, and they're not doing any particular harm.'.

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