Caged Plant

Like to have containers of flowers and other plants around your porch, patio, deck, or balcony? Tired of squirrels tearing up your plants and digging in the soil?

Here are a few tips to deter those pesky squirrels:

1. Protect the Soil

Squirrels seem to prefer digging in exposed soil in containers, so cover up the soil to lessen temptation. Ways to cover up the soil include

• decorative rocks of differing sizes, like river rock
• black plastic mesh netting
• black plastic mulch
• chicken wire fencing material, cut to fit
• gravel or pebbles used as mulch

Chicken wire may be hard to cut and handle, especially in a small outdoor area. The plastic mesh netting is much easier to cut and manipulate, but it may not be as durable. However, you can layer the netting for better protection easier than the wire mesh. For either, you do need to tack the mesh down securely with stakes or rocks.

Using plastic or gravel mulch may work as a deterrent, depending on how securely the plastic is tucked into the pot and how good you are at fishing gravel off when you go to re-plant.

2. Cover the Plant

Covering the whole plant with protective material may be awkward or not aesthetically pleasing. I like the black plastic mesh netting for this purpose; it's not as glaringly visible as other means.

3. Deterring Additives

Some substances may deter squirrels. Try coffee grounds, moth balls, or a commercial product like Squirrel Away.

Capsicum powder (like cayenne pepper), peppermint, or cat litter waste (yuck!) may also work. Or your squirrel may be a fan of cayenne pepper, like mine was.

Other people say that several sticks in the soil -- like fallen branches -- also act as a deterrent.

In addition, sometimes dogs and cats are deterrents.

4. Trap Squirrels

You can hire professional to trap squirrels, or buy the trap yourself.

Two problems arise: there are always more squirrels, and what do you with the trapped squirrel?

Releasing a squirrel within 2 miles of its home just sees the return of the squirrel, and transporting a squirrel can be illegal in your area. Killing a squirrel might be considered inhumane.

One More Tip

Oh, and make sure the pot the plant is in is heavy enough or securely fastened. The container will be less likely to be a victim of a squirrel attack.

Some pots you can screw down to a wooden railing or wood ladder before filling with soil.

What NOT to Do

Do not attempt to poison squirrels. Other animals will eat the squirrel carcass and ingest the possibly fatal poison.