Protecting Plants from Squirrel Digging

Squirrels dig up new plantings. Effective barriers work better than repellents.

Chicken Wire Method

Lay chicken wire flat on soil around plants, cover with straw. Protects bulbs, pansies, and perennials.

Cut 1-inch mesh circles to fit inside pots, place on soil, cover with ½ inch of soil. Squirrels stop digging at the wire.

Bitter sprays (Ropel) or cayenne pepper spray may help on woody plants like hibiscus.

About Gardening: Squirrels Nesting in Curtains and Water Heater in South Asia: Exclusion First, Then Legal Population Control; Chipmunk and Squirrel Relocation: Legal, Ethical, and Distance Requirements; Squirrels in Attic: Trapping, Exclusion, and Legal Compliance; Squirrel Deterrence for Carnivorous Plants and Slow-Waking Purple Pitcher Plants; Squirrel Damage to Carnivorous Plants: Deterrents and Physical Barriers; Non-Cage Methods to Deter Squirrels from Carnivorous Plants; Squirrels Stripping Maple Twigs: Will the Tree Survive?; Protecting Potted Plants from Squirrels with Chicken Wire; Protecting Fruit and Tomatoes from Squirrels; Where Do Squirrel Droppings Go? (And Other Squirrel Mysteries)

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