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Pesky squirrels

OvertherainbowOvertherainbow Posts: 3
in Problem solving

I love squirrels: they're cute and funny and I don't mind them having a nibble at my bird feeders.  But I HATE it when they dig up my newly-planted pots.  I've heard cayenne pepper (and some say mothballs) will deter them, but will this harm the plants?

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,503

    Holly leaves work best. Sprinkle them around or poke them in the soil if they're likely to blow away.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    Cayenne won't harm the plants, but it may harm the squirrels - if they get it on their paws and then rub their eyes (as squirrels and cats do) the cayenne will burn and ulcerate their eyeballs, causing excruciating pain and blinding them.  I'm sure you don't want that to happen.

    This was spoken about on Gardeners Question Time just the other week.


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • OvertherainbowOvertherainbow Posts: 3

    Thanks for the heads-up.  I shan't be using cayenne any time soon.  Any other suggestions?  I don't want to hurt them, just make them go away.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Chicken wire over the pots.  The plants grow through it  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489

    I use upside down wire hanging baskets over pots, held on place by small canes. The baskets give support to tulips etc.

    SW Scotland
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    least said: soonest mended.

    Devon.
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