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Garden Gate:  Squirrels digging in my potted plants  |
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Lady in Pearls
True Blue Farmgirl
105 Posts
Ashley
Texas
USA
105 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 22 2015 : 4:20:05 PM
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With fall and winter finally considering arriving in my neck of the woods (Houston area), the squirrels are busy burying their pecans, acorns, and other seeds. Even though I'm an urban farmgirl (I live right in the middle of our city), it's an old town with 200 year old oaks, enormous slippery elms, and pecans in every yard-which means we have a ridiculously high squirrel population.
They have been digging up my potted plants (grow boxes are the worst). Does anyone have a tried and true way of keepin them out? I've tried using forks stuck throughout the pots with limited success. I've read a cayenne pepper spray may work, but would like to avoid that since I have a toddler. Covers would work, though I'd like a solution that is more aesthetically pleasing.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions!
“If more of us valued good food and cheer above hoards of gold, it would be a merrier world." - Tolkien
http://myfrenchreligion.blogspot.com/ |
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7289 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7289 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2015 : 7:10:28 PM
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I have heard that mixing a whole bottle of tabasco sauce in a gallon of water and spraying that on the plants will help keep them out. In addition I have also heard that putting human hair around the plant stops them because they don’t like the smell of humans. I have not tried either of these personally but it may help. Good luck!
Krista |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4764 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4764 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2015 : 05:09:29 AM
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I have the same problem here with squirrels, mostly in the spring and summer. I contacted the Chicago Botanical Garden about what I could do to stop the squirrels and chipmunks from digging in my containers. They suggested sprinkling cayenne pepper on top of the soil.
Good luck and let us know what works for you.
Dawn in IL |
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hudsonsinaf
True Blue Farmgirl
3162 Posts
Shannon
Rozet
Wyoming
USA
3162 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2015 : 05:58:31 AM
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Hubby says squirrel stew. Human and dog hair both work... But you have to keep replacing it, as the scent wears off. And yes, cayenne spray. Why are you concerned about your toddler with that? Just wondering :)
~ Shannon
http://hudson-everydayblessings.blogspot.com/ |
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Lady in Pearls
True Blue Farmgirl
105 Posts
Ashley
Texas
USA
105 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2015 : 2:34:01 PM
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Thanks ladies! I'll try cayenne, I was just concerned he'd pick something out (greens, radishes) and get a mouthful of pepper. I'll just have to make sure he brings them to me to wash first!
“If more of us valued good food and cheer above hoards of gold, it would be a merrier world." - Tolkien
http://myfrenchreligion.blogspot.com/ |
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hudsonsinaf
True Blue Farmgirl
3162 Posts
Shannon
Rozet
Wyoming
USA
3162 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2015 : 3:16:40 PM
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If you spray it just on the soil, you should be good to go. We use it on ours, and I haven't had any issue yet.. though honestly, even my two year old enjoys spicy foods! The only one that doesn't is my 6 year old.
~ Shannon
http://hudson-everydayblessings.blogspot.com/ |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Nov 24 2015 : 12:58:40 PM
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Oh, Ashley! That is such a bummer! We had that happen one year, too! As long as the dog was outside to chase it away, we were golden. But when she came in for the night, the squirrel was right back out there. Ugh! I hope the pepper spray works! Human hair really should do the trick, too! :)
Shannon - my hubby would've said the same thing! LOL!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
www.papercraftingwithnini.ctmh.com
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1513 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1513 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2015 : 9:12:48 PM
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I used pieces of scrap 1/4" square hardware cloth or overlapped layers of heavy plastic screen from the bottom of recycled plant trays in my flower pots to create a physical barrier the squirrels can't dig thru about half an inch below the soil surface so it's not visible. It has been enough to frustrate our squirrels and raccoons to the point where they have moved along. If you have vegetables or flower bulbs you can cut holes or use a larger screen size to allow the stems to grow through. I've also found that it's a good idea to use wire stakes to secure the hardware cloth so they can't move it easily.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
http://blueskyanddaisies.blogspot.com
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2015 : 2:25:44 PM
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I had the same problem, and mulching with pea gravel stopped them from digging. I don't know why, but it worked. Helps with moisture retention and keeping weeds out too.
http://www.apartmentfarm.wordpress.com
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1513 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1513 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2015 : 7:27:59 PM
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I have had good luck with gravel mulch too, but it isn't always practical for areas where tilling or changing plants from season to season are necessary.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
http://blueskyanddaisies.blogspot.com
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2015 : 7:47:24 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by edlund33
I have had good luck with gravel mulch too, but it isn't always practical for areas where tilling or changing plants from season to season are necessary.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
http://blueskyanddaisies.blogspot.com
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, absolutely true. It really only makes sense for perennials in pots - too much of a pain otherwise!
http://www.apartmentfarm.wordpress.com
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2015 : 10:02:57 PM
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Ashley,,, I feel your frustration... I was out checking my Fig tree saplings,,, and sure as all get out,,, the darn gophers have come above ground and have started chewing on the base of one of my Fig trees.
I always use small gauge chicken wire around the root ball to keep the gophers from chewing the root off... and darned if the little buggers didn't go above grounf and start chewing on the tree base.. uugghh!
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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Lady in Pearls
True Blue Farmgirl
105 Posts
Ashley
Texas
USA
105 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2015 : 1:33:18 PM
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Oooh! Pea gravel would look nice in my alpine strawberry pot, though probably wouldn't be practical in my grow boxes. I'll have to try it! I sprinkled some dried, ground (probably expired) cayenne on the soil this morning, just to see if that would faze them. I'm sooooo pregnant and the thought of making the fresh cayenne tea is not appetizing. I'm super sensitive to any strong smell or taste when I'm expecting, so I haven't looked forward to doing it. I'd probably forget to shake the jar too, since pregnant brain makes me forget my own name sometimes! Lol!
Grace, what a mess! Luckily squirrels are our offensive rodent, our gumbo-like clay would be a nightmare for gophers! I hope your figs turn out well, I have a baby fig too and just love the fresh fruit off of it! That's the only way to eat figs, is plucked right off the tree!
“If more of us valued good food and cheer above hoards of gold, it would be a merrier world." - Tolkien
http://myfrenchreligion.blogspot.com/ |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2015 : 10:41:09 PM
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well I had to dig up my Figs trees and temporally pot them.. the gophers got to them,,, hopefully I have enough tap root to save them... Ashley,,, do not tell your rodents where I live! lol!
darn rodents.
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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Edited by - katmom on Dec 07 2015 10:47:33 PM |
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Garden Gate: Squirrels digging in my potted plants |
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Squirrels digging in my potted plants
