squirrels are eating my pansies (lawn, cats, yard, spring)

[citydweller]

I noticed my pansies haven't been looking great but honestly I never thought this could be why. Anyone else have this going on?

[andthentherewere3]

That is so cute! Well, except for the damage he's doing. There are all kinds of sprays you can buy at garden centers, with a bad taste to discourage animals from eating them. I don't ever remember seeing a squirrel eating my flowers, but then again I spray them to keep deer from eating them---maybe it keeps our squirrels away, too.

[Ohiogirl81]

Oh, that's so cute. But I know that's not what you want to hear!

Squirrels get hungry, too -- toss them some peanuts, far away from your pansies. Or, make a mix of water and hot pepper sauce and squirt it on the pansies. Unless the squirrels have an unusual palate, they'll stay away.

[PJSaturn]

I've had problems in the past with squirrels digging up and eating my flowers. I don't like to use harmful pesticides, so tried putting some hot sauce in a spray bottle and sprayed the plants with it. Once burned, the squirrels stay away. I also put moth balls out on the ground around my tulip and daffodil bulbs when they start sprouting in the spring. The pungent odor helps some to keep the squirrels and rabbits from eating the new shoots.

Squirrels eating my plants was a relatively small problem, though, because I had HUGE problems for a couple years with squirrels getting into my house and inside the walls! (My house is 95 years old, and they find their way in through cracks in the foundation.) They would run up and down from the basement to the attic, and made all sorts of noise. Egad! That was awful to deal with! Those little varmints are hard to control! My problem has since been resolved, though, at least for the time being. Good luck with your pansies!

[London Girl]

I apologise in advance for this off-topic post but I misread the thread title as I was scanning through and had to do a double take!!!!!!!!!!

Hope the hot sauce helped keep them away

[Wurzig]

Rodents like pansies and also devour blue lobelia....they are like candy. I have even eaten a pansy in a salad fixed at a fancy dinner by a fancy chef. People can also eat rose petals.....

The above offerings are the best I would give, too, as I have had a lot of trouble with rabbits.....(who are also very destructive). I've tried bitter stuff, other bitter stuff, more bitter stuff, stinky stuff with coyote urine in it, blood meal, bone meal, hot chili peppers, moth balls, poison stuff bought at a farm center, (rabbits didn't eat it, but the rats and crows did), you name it.....and now I have 'scare crows' that spray water where there is motion. (The dam*ed crows are so smart that they have learned just how far the scare crows spray, go beyond the boundary and still tear the lawn up looking for grubs, and yes, I spread grub killer out, too). Look up a thread.....I think it's called Pesky Wabbits....it'll help you out....

[DewDropInn]

Consider yourself lucky. Out here in the desert we have javelinas which are these wild pig-like animals which will eat anything and everything. (Dang, I wish I knew how to post pictures.) And they stink. And poop. Anywhere.

Nothing like looking out your front window and seeing five or six of these things chomping away at the $40.00 cactus you thought was so pretty.

[GBNeal]

pansies are food for use and animals also so don't blame the squirrels....best way is to place them in a place that the squirrels can't get to or sprinkle with a squirrel deterent that you can get at a garden center or with a hot pepper spray....or get a cat to chase the squirels...lol

[BELLABELLA21]

Get a cat! You only need one but the more the merrier. I have three. They not only will chase squirrels but cats will also eat them but only up to the arm pits, the arms and the head are left as a trophy. Then they lovingly place their prize catch at your door step. If you reward the cat with a treat and praise they will also get moles and voles and mice for you. My trusty cat has been doing it for years. He also chases other unwanted animals off the property. I once watched him pounce on another feline in my garden and pin it to the ground. All the while roaring like a lion or something. Hard to believe by watching his behaviour in the yard that he was as gentle as a lamb in the house and very loving. He is very well taken care of and fed but he loves to eat the squirrels. It must be like steak filet for him. IDK. Cats are the best deterrant for any rodent problem around your house and garden. They clean themselves and require very little maintenance. They're reward is your love!

[Ghengis]

moth balls