Squirrels in my planter!? (flowers, Salvia, spring, plant)

[LilyLady]

I have a wooden planter on my back deck. The plant area is about 4ft long and 14" wide. This year I planted about four varieties of spring flowers. Last year my daughter planted salvia. We've had trouble with squirrels both seasons - no matter what we plant.

Every morning when we go out on the deck there are holes in the soil in the planter! The holes are about 3"-4" deep and always in between the plants. This morning though, one of the tiny delicate spring flowers was smashed - maybe just from the weight of the squirrel, I don't know.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I could do to keep the squirrels out of the planter? Mothballs maybe? Would that hurt the plants? Is there some sort of squirrel feeder that I can put up that might divert them from the planter?

I think squirrels can be cute, but I'm getting frustrated with them.

[Innertuber]

A cuter dog!

[greatblueheron]

I actually feed the cute little devils, so they will ignore the birdseed....they love cracked corn, and have their own spot where they dine

Maybe then they will avoid annuals

Originally Posted by LilyLady

I have a wooden planter on my back deck. The plant area is about 4ft long and 14" wide. This year I planted about four varieties of spring flowers. Last year my daughter planted salvia. We've had trouble with squirrels both seasons - no matter what we plant.

Every morning when we go out on the deck there are holes in the soil in the planter! The holes are about 3"-4" deep and always in between the plants. This morning though, one of the tiny delicate spring flowers was smashed - maybe just from the weight of the squirrel, I don't know.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I could do to keep the squirrels out of the planter? Mothballs maybe? Would that hurt the plants? Is there some sort of squirrel feeder that I can put up that might divert them from the planter?

I think squirrels can be cute, but I'm getting frustrated with them.

[california-jewel]

Once you feed the squirels it is hard to get rid of them or for that matter any wild animal that you feed. Wish i could help you then you could help me with my rabbit problem, not the big ugly ones, the cuter little ones, that are a nuisance. And the racoons, who have a freaking mind of their own!

[Bulldogdad]

Shoot the damn things.

See the best solutions are sometimes the easiest.

[nuts2uiam]

Have you tried cayenne pepper? I have both flakes and power and that seems to deter them ...not totally but some is better than none.

[annaegel]

I have had some success with mothballs. You may not like the smell yourself thuogh. Someone suggested to me to crush them, not to powder, but in larger chunks. You will have to replace them because the water makes the melt eventually. Squirrels are a pain!