While their acrobatics can be amusing, squirrels become less cute when they start treating your potted plants like their personal playground. Both the classic tree squirrels with their bushy tails and the chipmunk-like ground squirrels can wreak havoc on a perfectly good container garden in no time. Why? Well, because to them, your pots look like prime real estate for burying food, and the tender greens in the containers look like a buffet. If you’re tired of these little pests digging up your plants, you might want to consider a few tricks to protect your pots and encourage them to do their business elsewhere.
One effective way to disrupt a squirrel’s gardening spree is by using barriers. Now, I know what you’re thinking—squirrels are crafty little creatures that can get around just about any obstacle in a traditional garden. But in a container garden? You’ve got a fighting chance. A simple DIY barrier, like a cylinder of chicken wire or fine mesh placed just inside the rim of the pot, can do the trick. Make sure it’s tall enough, about two feet above the container, and mold it to fit snugly.
Leave this barrier up for a couple of weeks to throw off the squirrel’s usual routine. After all, these critters are creatures of habit. Once they realize your potted plants are no longer an all-you-can-eat salad bar or a five-star food storage facility, they’ll likely move on. With any luck, they’ll find a new spot to bury their treasures and leave your plants in peace.
If digging is the issue, another method involves adding a layer of 2-inch river rocks on top of the soil around your plants. Squirrels may not be too keen on moving heavy rocks just to get to the dirt. The extra effort might convince them to look for easier digging grounds. And while they’ll snack on your plants if they’re desperate, they’re often more interested in what’s beneath the soil than what’s above it.
Finally, a little trick of misdirection can work wonders. If you notice a particular pot being targeted, try moving it to a new spot. Squirrels are predictable—they’ll keep coming back to the same location over and over. So, park the pot in a brightly lit shed for a few days, or move it closer to where there’s more foot traffic, like your porch or deck. After about a week, you can return the pot to its original place or just leave it where it is if the squirrels seem to have forgotten about it. Either way, you’ve successfully outwitted the furry invaders—at least for now.
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