Your garden or planter area is probably a space that you work hard on and take pride in. So when those pesky squirrels come around and eat your plants or make a mess of them, it can be frustrating! There are several methods for keeping squirrels away from your potted plants and today we are going to talk about 5 of them.
Create a Physical Barrier
The first option to prevent squirrels from getting into your plants is to create a physical barrier that makes it more difficult for them to climb in. For potted plants, this might be a mesh or chicken wire cage around the base of the plant or using a plant cover. You could make it more difficult for the squirrels to dig in the plants by adding rocks or pebbles to the top of the soil. The main goal of this method is to make it a challenge for the squirrels so they give up and go somewhere else to dig around.
Use Scented Deterrents
There are a few different types of natural deterrent options that you can use to make your plants less appealing to squirrels. For a dry option, try sprinkling cayenne or red pepper flakes, or dry minced garlic on the soil. For a spray option, you can make a concoction of water, hot sauce, and vinegar, which will deter the squirrels. Squirrels are picky and do not like the smell or taste of any of these things.
Plant Squirrel Deterrent Plants
Another method of natural deterrent is to plant strong smelling herbs like lavender, rosemary, or thyme in pots nearby. You can also plant mint, daffodils, or marigolds, which are known to be squirrel repellant plants. You can plant these alongside the plants you want the squirrels to avoid, or in pots nearby.
Use a Decoy
Decoy statues can be a great option for squirrel prevention. Some decoys mimic natural predators of squirrels and will make them stay away. Owl decoys, coyote decoys, and snake decoys are all great options to keep squirrels away from your garden or plants.
Remove Attractors
One of the easiest ways to deter squirrels from your plants is to remove things that attract them in the first place. If you have birdhouses nearby, move them away from your plants. Make sure that you clean up the plants and prune them regularly. Pick up any fallen fruit nearby and debris from your garden area, like stray twigs and leaves, which provide the squirrels some camouflage.
Conclusion
There are many methods to try and prevent squirrels from eating and digging in your plants. Some of these methods may work better than others and it all depends on what the squirrels in your neighborhood are willing to tolerate. Unfortunately, sometimes they just don’t stop. If all else fails, you can try relocating your plants to a different area of your porch, patio, or garden area.
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