Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
This week I've noticed holes that have been chewed or pecked in the sides of my outdoor plastic plant pots. Any ideas?
It could be rabbits or raccoons. You could put cayenne pepper around the pots. It will have to be reapplied when wet.
It could be squirrels. Cayenne pepper can be fairly effective in deterring squirrels.
If you live in a residential area this kind of damage is usually done by squirrels.
They seem to like certain types of bulbs so that may be one of the problems
There are so many suggestions available that hopefully one will work for you.
Here are suggestions from past ThriftyFun posters.
www.thriftyfun.com/
Some suggestions from past searching:
...Set colorful cheap twirlers near by or in the pots. (Dollar Tree)
...Sprinkle bone meal over top of soil - good for plants also.
...Use clippings from human hair or dog fur - spread around top of soil and
around plant pot.
...Everyone suggests Cayenne pepper but be generous (some squirrels seem to like it).
...Place chicken wire under soil before planting (cut hole for plant) or wrap it around your pot.
I have used some of these suggestions and if they worked it seemed to deter the squirrels and they did not return to check it out for a good while.
www.thescrapshoppeblog.com/
www.thescrapshoppeblog.com/
What can I purchase to stop squirrels from digging up all of my plants? I need the name of a product and where it can be purchased.
Thank you.
By Beryl from Brooklyn
Why don't you go to the hardware store and buy a roll of chicken wire and spread it over the area in question? You can anchor it down with some rocks.
I haven't found anything to apply to the flower pots on my patio to keep the squirrels out. They dig the dirt out and eat the roots. Unfortunately, it is illegal in the city I live in to even shoot them with a pellet gun. I would recommend screen material rather than chicken wire, because the little devils can probably get their grubby paws in the openings of the chicken wire. However, unless you have a large number of pots and/or storage room, buying a roll of either one isn't really feasible.
I also have trouble with rabbits eating the plants---they must think it is a salad bar, lol. I have tried the pepper spray, sprinkling cayenne pepper on them, and using the bags of animal hair. Living in a apartment complex there isn't much I can do in the yard. All I can say is I have decided these little critters that some people think are so cute are a real pain in the you know where. Oh yes! We also have a flock of about 14 wild turkeys that roam around here. I know some of the people around here are feeding all of the wild things around here, and if they would quit, the critters wouldn't find the complex so inviting.
I recently spent a lot of money and energy planting flowers in my back yard. We have tons of squirrels and they proceeded to ravage my flowers. They tore up and ate 2 cinnamon ferns and 6 astilbes. I had problems in the past with squirrels and used a hot pepper spray and moth balls all to no avail.
I use a pellet gun. Have eliminated about seventeen squirrels in the past three weeks. Think there is only one squirrel left in the neighborhood.
What is the best way to deter squirrels from digging up flower pots and gardens?
The actually make some pellets that you can sprinkle around to keep them out. Mothballs also work until they melt away
Hot pepper works, but you have to reapply after watering or rain.
I will will
How do I keep squirrels out of potted plants on the patio?
By susan
Try cutting saucer-like collars out of chicken wire to lay on top of the dirt in the pots. There is also a plastic called Bird Netting that you could use and might look better as it is black. It would be easier to cut. Both of these can be purchased at a hardware store.
A few years ago, squirrels dug up all my avocado trees to eat the pits they were growing from. I guess they were easy food.
I have a balcony one floor up from the ground. There are trees on either side, and the squirrels climb up them, then onto a ledge, then onto my balcony where they dig in my flower pots and eat through the wire on my string lights.
I bought tall planters which stopped them for a while, and now they've figured how to get into those and dig and kick the dirt all over the balcony.
I'm wondering if there is some sort of a shield that can be attached to the trees that might have barbed wire or some other pointy/ouchy surface that would deter the little brats. Any ideas?
By Lynn G.
If this is an apartment building the trees are in a common area and can't be tampered with. Have you thought of putting some sort of ouchies in the dirt in your flower pots and around the railing of the balcony? I can't really be reasonable about this because I can't stand squirrels. As far as I am concerned they are tree rats. They are smart enough not to come back if they get nicked in the hiney when they jump onto the balcony railing.
Im going to try putting aluminum foil along the rails where they run (and POOP). Im hoping they wont like the way it feells on their little rat feet! Im going to crumple it up a bit. Red Pepper works, but you must be diligent.
You may want to keep squirrels out of your garden or bird feeders. This is a page about natural repellent for squirrels.
As cute as they may be squirrels can also make themselves into pests and lose their welcome in your garden. This is a page about squirrels eating flowers.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
How can I keep squirrels from digging in my outdoor potted plants?
Is there a home remedy I can use to keep squirrels from eating the plants in my garden?
