Squrrels Digging Up My Plants

[silliemillie]

A couple of days ago I planted up my tubs & was really pleased with myself.

So upset this morning to see that the squirrel has dug them all to put is nuts in!

I'm so upset, it took me ages, now I will have to start again.

I dont want it to happen again so can anyone suggest anything to keep the squirrels off next time?

[vakayu]

I know you won't want to hear this and I am sorry for your trouble but you are so lucky seeing squirrels,I spent years as a small child waiting to see one in the wild.

[silliemillie]

Oh no, not at all! I love the squirrels, there are two who chase each other around my gargen & fences, I love to see that.

So I dont want to get rid of them,, just to keep them off my tubs.

[MyBlackHen]

A dome of chicken wire, or similar. It will also act as support for your basket plants.

[vakayu]

Can I ask are you in a rural setting or urban?

[RATTER15]

Was this the squirrel trying to bury his nuts?

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l127/rad87gn/website/squirrel_nuts.jpg

[silliemillie]

Yes I thought of that but I dont know how I would secure to stone planters, I was thinking maybe there is something I could spinkle that the dont like, similar to what you do with foxes & cats.

[silliemillie]

Vakayu - fairly urban as in I am on a main road but I have huge back garden which attract quite a lot of wildlife.

[silliemillie]

LOL Ratter, yes I think thats him actually.

[woofgang]

you can try chilli powder or pepperdust.

[vakayu]

Hi silliemillie I have just googled keeping squirrels out of plant pots,gardens digging up and unearthing bulbs etc there is a wide and varied response ranging from a gravel mulch to cayenne pepper, and blood meal sparingly,so if you do the same you can choose.

[RATTER15]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=animal+deterrents&tag=googhydr-21&index=outdoor&hvadid=10244379272&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=634112&hvnetw=g&;hvrand=1477754641644321701&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_66m76b42wa_b

[silliemillie]

Wow thanks guys, theres a lot to choose from there, will give some of them a go.

[vakayu]

So many things to choose from eh,whatever you go with good luck.

[wildwood]

My old Mum used to have the same problem with her cat digging in her pot plants. She cut most of the legs of old pantyhose and tied the remains of the legs, then pulled the hose up from the bottom around the pot and tied the top. You can still water them through the hosing. Not sure if your tubs are small enough for this.

[hammerman]

I planted around 55,000 bulbs last spring. Squirrels ate or moved half of them. I have anemone blanda, dwarf tulips, crocus and winter aconites coming up in the lawns, the beds and god knows where else.

I would therefore happily suggest an air rifle !!!!!!!

[DSJ]

Buy a product called 'Silent Roar' from your garden centre. The squirrels will run a mile.

[Tilly2]

hammerman.............55 000 bulbs? Wow! Do you work for the Parks Department?......................55 000 bulbs? I can't get over that!

[carrust]

Try some strong smelling soap near or on your planters. It worked for me on my bird feeders.

[hammerman]

Tilly, yes im head gardener for a 2 acre rock garden as you come into Brighton. It's believed to be the largest council run rockery in Europe

[shoota]

Where is the squirrel getting the nuts at this time of year?
Find the source and remove it or make it squirrel proof.