Before venturing into flowering, little did I know that the cuteness of squirrels can be countered!
Now you may think it can’t, but seeing your precious flower pots all dug up with torn flowers and food bits will certainly make you think otherwise. Especially if you make the mistake of keeping a bird feeder or water feeder in the vicinity like I did, it’s highly likely that squirrels will make your yard their favorite hangout place.
Even after removing it, I found that these mammals had made my flower pots their new retreat, burrowing the soil for food storage. Thankfully, I caught the problem only a few weeks after setting up my first few flower pots. That gave me enough time to test some popular methods of repelling my “furry friends” for good.
If you, too, are in the midst of this problem, then welcome home. Hi! I’m Stacy, and today, I have curated this guide on how to keep squirrels out of flower pots.
Let’s start now!
4 Ways To Keep Squirrels Out Of Flower Pots
1. Natural Repellents
Sure, you can purchase a chemical or organic squirrel spray deterrent from the market. But if you’re like me, you’d want to explore the natural and DIY ways, most of which are available in your kitchen cabinet. So, let me start by listing some natural squirrel deterrents and how to use them.
A. Hot Pepper And Cayenne Pepper
Unlike humans, no squirrel likes the spicy taste of peppers in its meal. In fact, this is a primary reason why it’s one of the main ingredients in many organic squirrel repellents.
The simplest method will be to sprinkle some crushed red pepper flakes on the soil of the plant that squirrels prefer the most. Since I had an expired bottle of cayenne pepper, I applied a light coat around the stems and lower leaves of my rose pots.
If you want a spray-based solution, add about a gallon of water to a small bottle of any hot sauce, and spray it all over the plants. Remember to apply these repellents regularly after every watering or rainstorm.
B. Garlic
Much like me, squirrels have an aversion towards the smell and taste of garlic. Apart from using some for making my husband his favorite garlic chicken fry, I chop up a few bulbs and mix them with equal parts of water and vinegar.
You should allow the mixture to sit for a few days so that the flavors combine well. Then, spray it over the hard adjoining surfaces (like stakes and fences) to keep squirrels at bay.
C. Peppermint Essential Oils
The flavor and smell of peppermint oil is another natural deterrent for squirrels. You can soak a few cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them on the soil near the roots of the flower plants. However, don’t forget to re-soak the cotton immediately when the smell fades.
Alternatively, mix some peppermint essential oil with vinegar (in the ratio of one drop to one ounce) and spray it on the nearby hard surfaces.
D. Bulbs And Plant Repellents
As ironic as it may sound, you can protect your flower plants from squirrel invasion by, well, planting more plants! It may be helpful to know that the smell and flavor of certain flowers repel squirrels like nothing else.
Plants like daffodils, lilies, hyacinths, allium, lily of the valley, and geranium effectively keep squirrels away. And since these flowers are naturally gorgeous, you don’t have to worry about spoiling the look of your garden.
E. Squirrel Food Supply
Sometimes, feeding the squirrels can be the perfect solution to deter them. For this, you can try setting up a “distraction center” like a food station with water, sunflower seeds, nuts, and other such squirrel treats. Make sure that it’s located at a considerable distance from the plants. However, I wouldn’t recommend this method if you don’t have a lot of space in your yard.
2. Bone Meal Fertilizer
The odor of bone meal garners enough hatred from squirrels for gardeners to use it as a repellent. Therefore, switching your current fertilizer with one that has the bone meal component is the ideal way to drive away squirrels.
Even if you aren’t particularly convinced with this idea, just sprinkle some bone meal fertilizer on the surface without mixing it thoroughly with the soil. You should apply more as and when the current batch gets watered down; it won’t harm the plants in any way.
3. Ultrasonic Deterrent
Although I am not the biggest technology-friendly gardener, I do know that ultrasonic deterrents work extremely well to keep many animals at bay, including squirrels. These devices essentially emit a continuous high-pitched sound within the hearing range of squirrels and chipmunks but outside that of humans. As a result, it forces them away from the installed location.
You can choose to get an electric or solar-powered unit. For the former, ensure that you have a power source near the area where you want to install it. Likewise, bigger lawns and gardens will require multiple units for complete coverage. But you’d want to reduce the number or avoid this option altogether if you have pets who play in that area.
- 【5 Adjustable Frequency Modes for Targeted Control】Features 5 selectable frequency settings to effectively deter various animals—from small pests like squirrels to larger ones such as raccoons, stray cats, dogs, foxes, and even deer. Easily switch between modes to prevent animals from getting used to the sound, ensuring long-lasting protection for your garden.
- 【Motion-Activated with Wide 120° Detection】Built-in PIR sensor detects movement within a 120° angle and up to 30 feet. When triggered, it instantly emits powerful ultrasonic waves and bright LED strobe lights—a dual-action deterrent that humanely encourages animals to stay away from your yard. Automatically returns to standby mode to save energy when no motion is detected.
- 【Solar-Powered & IP65 Weatherproof】High-efficiency solar panel charges automatically in sunlight—no batteries or wiring needed. IP65 waterproof ABS construction withstands rain, snow, and extreme temperatures, providing reliable year-round performance in gardens, farms, ponds, and yards.
- SOLAR POWERED & MOTION ACTIVATED — AWISH ultrasonic animal repeller uses solar charging and PIR motion sensor to detect animals and automatically activate ultrasonic sound and flashing LED light to scare away unwanted animals from your yard and garden.
- EFFECTIVE AGAINST MANY ANIMALS — Works as raccoon repellent, squirrel repellent, rabbit repellent, skunk repellent, fox repellent, deer repellent, cat repellent, dog repellent, bird repellent, and gopher repellent for outdoor yard, garden, lawn, and farm protection.
- WATERPROOF & ALL WEATHER DESIGN — Built for outdoor use with weatherproof housing that works in rain, snow, heat, and cold. Perfect animal deterrent device for garden, yard, patio, driveway, trash area, farm, and outdoor spaces.
4. Adequate Cleaning
Squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons and rodents are particularly attracted to the smell of food. In that sense, you’d want to keep your yard, and especially the area near the flower pots free from any such components.
Since my neighbor has a strawberry garden right next to my lawn fence, I conduct regular checks to keep my lawn free from the nibbles brought in by birds. Other than that, I keep the biodegradable disposal bin tightly shut to prevent it from emitting food smell. If you have larger trees, pruning can be a good way to stop squirrels from getting attracted to your lawn.
Summing It Up
With that, it’s time for me to say goodbye.
There are several ways to keep squirrels out of flower pots, and I’ve talked about the ones that I found to be the most effective. Feel free to combine two or more methods to help tackle the problem.
I should also mention that I keep physical deterrents (like wire mesh baskets and live squirrel traps) as a last resort. But if the squirrels are making you impatient, you may use them from the get-go.
Ciao for now!