How To Keep Squirrels Out Of Potted Plants

Do you know How to keep squirrels out of potted plants?

If you’re like most gardeners, you’ve probably had your fair share of battles with squirrels.

While they may appear to be cute and harmless, these rodents can cause a great deal of damage to your plants:

• Squirrels dig up bulbs and roots, strip bark from trees, and devour fruits and nuts before they ripen.
• They can also carry diseases that can be harmful to plants.
• As a result, it is important to take steps to keep squirrels out of your garden. One way to do this is to erect a fence around the perimeter of your garden.
• Another way is to use squirrel-resistant bird feeders that make it difficult for them to access food.

These little critters are relentless about getting into plants, and they can quickly destroy them. The good news is there are safe and humane ways to fix this problem.

Explain it to a child

A safe solution to keep squirrels away from your plants is to make the pots less appealing to them. For example, you could try sprinkling pepper or cayenne powder around the base of the plants.

You could also try a squirrel deterrent, such as those made of castor oil. Finally, you could try moving the pots closer to your house or to a place where the squirrels don’t have easy access.

Quick Tips for Naturally Keeping Squirrels out of Potted Plants

1. Use hanging baskets or elevated planters that squirrels cannot reach. Elevate pots at least 3 feet off the ground.
2. Use deterrent smells like vinegar, garlic, or ammonia around the pot rims. You can also try squirrel repellent sprays.
3. One of the best ways to deter squirrels is to make your plants less appealing to them. Add a physical barrier like pine cones or large pebbles to make digging more difficult.
4. Scatter fresh citrus peels around pots – squirrels dislike strong citrus odors.
5. Plant marigolds, nasturtiums or geraniums in pots – squirrels tend to avoid these.
6. Provide an alternative food source away from plants, like corn cobs or peanuts.
7. Use scare devices like fake snakes, owls or flashing lights. Move them around periodically. The sight of these predators will make squirrels think twice before venturing into your garden.
8. Apply ‘anti-squirrel’ bittering agents to soil or plant leaves.

The key is making the pots unattractive and inconvenient for squirrels. To keep them away from your potted plants, try using a mix of things that smell bad to them, stuff that blocks them, and things that freak them out! You can also make your own repellant at home.

How do you make homemade squirrel repellent?

You can easily make homemade squirrel repellent with common household ingredients.

1. One popular method is to mix equal parts cayenne pepper and water in a spray bottle and mist the plants liberally. The sharp scent of the pepper will deter squirrels without harming them.
2. Another option is to sprinkle used coffee grounds around the perimeter of your garden. The strong smell of coffee is also unpleasant to squirrels.
3. Lemon water is another squirrel deterrent. Squirrels don’t like citrus.
4. Another effective method is to spray your plants with a mixture of water and vinegar. The vinegar smell will repel squirrels, and the water will keep the plants hydrated.

These strong smells will deter squirrels from getting too close. With a little planning, you can easily deter these pesky squirrel pests.

Why keeping squirrels out of your plants is important 

Squirrels are one of the most common pests in many gardens and landscapes. These pesky critters relentlessly exploit any weakness to reach your plants.

Squirrels will eat a variety of foods. They like fruits and vegetables, seeds, flowers, leaves, young plant buds and more.

Keep an eye out for these telltale signs of squirrel shenanigans in your garden during the day:

• Small, shallow holes: Think golf ball-sized or smaller – those sneaky squirrels are digging around!
• Damaged fruit: Look for bite marks or entire fruits gone missing.
• Vanishing plants: Did your seedlings disappear? Squirrels might be the culprits!
• Gnawed seedheads: Look for nibble marks on the seedheads of your flowers.

Additional tips for keeping squirrels out of your potted plants

While there are a variety of commercial repellents available, these can be costly and may not be completely effective. Luckily, there are a few more tips and tricks that can keep squirrels out of your potted plants.

• Squirrels don’t like walking on sharp objects, so this will deter them from getting too close. Add a layer of sharp gravel or stones around the base of the plant.
• You can also place chicken wire or hardware cloth around the perimeter of your pots. This will create a physical barrier that squirrels won’t be able to breach. By following these simple tips, you can protect your potted plants from pesky squirrels.
• Finally, keep pets like dogs and cats around to scare off squirrels from the area.

By following these simple tips, you can keep your potted plants safe from pesky squirrels. With a little effort, it is possible to keep squirrels out of your plants without resorting to harmful traps or chemicals.

---