Keeping Squirrels from Digging in Plants

During the summer, I plant vegetables in containers and keep them on my deck. In the past, I’ve had a great deal of difficulty keeping the squirrels from digging up my new sprouts. A friend gave me an idea which has worked well. What you do is get a package of bamboo skewers, which usually runs about a dollar, and stick the skewers into the soil, with the points sticking up out of the soil and over the edge of the pot.

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I have lost hundreds of dollars and many man hours due to squirrels digging in potted plants. I would come home from work only to find many pots knocked off a wall or bench.

Don’t bother with the tip about scattering moth balls. I did this and next morning, they were all GONE. The squirrels must have loved them.

Squirrels love to hide their food. In the process of doing this, they tend to bury the food in soft dirt which is usually a newly planted garden.

If you have pets or animals that roam your area try adding chicken wire under your plants.

Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.

I tried to plant seeds and then actual plants in my porch flower boxes. The squirrels keep digging them up and destroying them. I live across the street from a park. I tried putting mesh on top of the soil, I tried moth crystals, no help. Anybody got an idea? Planting season is soon here in Milwaukee and I want some flowers.

Hardiness Zone: 5a

By Kathy from Milwaukee, WI

I understand your frustration, but since 2006, squirrels around the world have been going hungry because of weather disturbances/out of phase resulting in little or no nut crops. They are starving. In 2006 it happened in Poland, Russia, and I think it was last year or year before all along Eastern seaboard here as well as more westerly from there.They even attacked a dog, and here, were digging in garbage cans, etc.

Perhaps if you put out something for them to eat more to their taste, like peanut butter and oatmeal balls or nuts slightly away from where you want plants they might learn to look there. I realize that would be inviting
squirrel chaos, but I feel sorry for them.

I use Twirlers from Kmart, the kind kids use to play with. They go around when wind is blowing, like windmills. I also save the tops that come on large cans that look like foil. Hang it in the garden. Or just use foil you have in the kitchen. Also, hot pepper sauce will do the job.

I’ve used plastic forks to keep chipmunks out of my planters. Just push the fork in the soil, handle first, so the tines of the fork are just under the soil. You won’t be able to see them, but the squirrels will get a poke as soon as they start to dig.

What do I do if the squirrels seem to like the pepper I’ve been putting down? I’m trying to get my coleus plants to thrive this year, and now that I realize squirrels have been digging holes in them and eating the roots. I know it’s not me that killed them in the past. So, how do I keep them alive this time around? The goofy squirrels around me seem to like black pepper!

I didn’t have red pepper so I used black over and over and over. It’s weird, but they seem to actually like some of the coleus plants over the others (different colored ones). Any help would be welcome. I don’t want to hurt them so the least invasive methods please.

Here are a few things you can try.

Before you plant your bulbs in the hole that you have dug, line it with either chicken wire, small stones or foil, then plant and cover with dirt. Squirrels will not dig up your bulbs.

How do I keep squirrels from digging up my lawn?

Are you sure it’s squirrels digging up your lawn? I have a problem with skunks digging in my yard at night. They are after grubs and earthworms, and the occasional Yellow jacket bee nest underground. I haven’t heard of or found ANY way to stop squirrels from digging up a lawn. Flower beds can be protected from squirrels digging up bulbs, by laying 1 inch-holed chicken wire or 1/4 inch hardware cloth just under the surface of the soil or on top of soil but below mulch, after bulbs have been planted.

There are granules and sprays that you can buy at a home improvement store. But this is a never ending battle. It can be costly to keep up, and they grow immune to it after a while. This would be the same as other wild animals. They make repellent , but doesn’t last. I have tried from natural to buying repellent. To no avail, i have given up, the Squirrels win!

Do you have trees in your yard? Squirrels love trees of all kinds but especially oak trees. Acorns are their favorite food and they do bury them and later go back and dig them up.

Have you seen the squirrels digging in your yard?
I’m only asking because there are other critters that like to dig in yards/gardens.
Squirrels usually do their digging during daylight hours and they only dig small holes so if hole are much bigger than <half a shot glass it is probably another critter.
I have done research on this several times in the past and, as far as I can find, there is no proven way to stop squirrels from digging in your yard. Well, there may be one way; if you have medium/large trees you can cut them down and the squirrels will probably leave.
Some people have a dog that loves to chase squirrels so that may also be a solution.

It does no good to trap and haul them away as another will surely take their place.
Red pepper is not a good solution as it is only mildly effective and on a lawn would not be cost effective for the little good it does.

You can read information on sites from universities and others but they essentially all say the same thing: if you (or your neighbors) have trees, you will just have to live with the squirrels.

You can contact your county Extension Agency and ask for their advise.
ask.extension.org/

Couple of sites to read:
www.mercurynews.com/
www.houzz.com/

The day before yesterday I planted over 50 sunflower seeds against our fence post in the back yard. Later that day and the next morning I noticed a squirrel over by the fence. I checked and do you know he dug up and ate all of my sunflower seeds all down the row of the fence. They were all cracked open and just laying there.

My mom said, because we have them on hand to stake some disposable red plates just around the line of the seeds when I plant them until they sprout.

Will this work? Any suggestions will help, because of course I want to plant more, but not for the squirrel to eat. Do they watch you do this or do they actually smell the seeds underground? Help.

Hardiness Zone: 10a

By Laura Lynn Jump from Ocala, FL

After you plant the seed put some hot pepper sauce on top of the soil,also hang some foil near them, keep the soil damp, keep a watch for them. I keep 2 cans near the door outside, when I see critters near my garden I beat the cans together, they run away. I also keep some twillers (looks like windmills)in my garden. They go around when the wind is blowing, good luck.

Go to a hardware store and buy some chicken wire. Spread the wire over the area that has the seeds. Anchor the wire with some rocks. When the plants start to grow remove the wire.

Squirrels come onto my patio and dig dirt out of my plant/flower pots. How can I keep them from doing that?

I know they like to dig (ground squirrels), but why my flower pots? This is the second year in a row.

The squirrels are destroying my plants by digging in all the pots. Anyone have any methods to preclude this?

By Elizabeth A.

This week I’ve noticed holes that have been chewed or pecked in the sides of my outdoor plastic plant pots. Any ideas?

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

What is the best way to deter squirrels from digging up flower pots and gardens?

How do I keep squirrels out of potted plants on the patio?

By susan