How to Keep Squirrels Out of Flower Pots

Squirrels can wreak havoc on a yard in many different ways. They disturb bird feeders, dig up bulbs and seeds, and destroy plants.
It is frustrating to spend time and money on plants in containers around your yard only to have them dug up and destroyed by pesky squirrels.
While not harming the squirrels, there are ways to control the damage they do and ways to discourage them from harming your plants.

Things You'll Need

• Blood meal Toy rubber snake(s) Plastic mesh Human and/or dog hair Coffee grounds Used rabbit bedding

Instructions

1. Sprinkle generous amounts of blood meal around the plants in your containers. This will repel both squirrels and rabbits. Blood meal is available at local home stores and gardening centers. Treating pots with blood meal is said to last for up to four months during the spring and summer.

2. Frighten squirrels with toy rubber snakes. Squirrels are afraid of snakes and will avoid containers if you place rubber snakes on and around your potted plants.

3. Install mesh over the dirt in the containers. This mesh can be purchased from home or garden center. Cut the mesh to fit the containers and secure it over the dirt in the containers with gardening staples or stakes. You will need to cut a hole in the center for the plant.

4. Collect discarded dog or human hair and place it on top of the dirt in flower pots. This hair is often effective for repelling squirrels.

5. Place fresh coffee grounds together with plant bulbs to keep squirrels from digging up potted bulbs. Plant the bulbs as directed and place discarded bedding from rabbits on top of the soil. The combination of odors from the coffee grounds and the rabbit bedding can be an effective squirrel repellent.