Squirrels and planters

This has turned into a daily routine.  It seems like the squirrels have used our planter in the past to bury acorns, so I guess they're digging them.  We've re-used soil in the past and haven't had such an issue as we do this year.  I tried adding cayenne and red pepper flakes as a deterrent which I think has worked in the past - but doesn't seem to help this time around.  Any other solutions?

Here's my initial planting with the next day wreckage:

Cinnamon definitely works for keeping cats from digging in plants - not sure how squirrels feel about it though.  

I do see it is a scent that will deter them - I will try that next: 

Squirrel Free Yards Even With Vegetable And Flower Gardens
Both vegetable and flower gardens are attractive to squirrels because they are a source of food. There are simple things that you can do to repel them from destroying all of your hard work. Using black and cayenne pepper is safe for both types of garden. Other scents that will deter squirrels from your gardens are nutmeg, cinnamon, Serrano and crushed jalapeno peppers. These can also keep the squirrels from digging and placing nuts in your garden beds because of the sting of the pepper. 

I'm guessing the cayenne was getting washed out after rains.

My dad used to use one of these (I grew up in a more rural place).  I have never found anything that works nearly as well. 

Just for the record, that's an air powered pellet gun.

moth balls

I'm not a fan of moth balls.

I think I'll do this recipe next time:

Fill a pot with 1 1/2 quarts of water, and bring it to a boil over the stove before adding 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, two chopped onions, and a single chopped jalapeño. Allow this mixture to boil for about 30 minutes, and then remove it from the heat. Let the mixture cool, strain out the vegetables, and pour the remains into a spray bottle using a funnel.

I ended up getting a bottle of Bonide - Repels all - which seems to do the job.

jamie said:
I'm not a fan of moth balls.

 It's so damn hard to get them off the moths.

Anyone know what animal this could be and what to do about it? No mound and about 4” diameter.  Inclined to leave it alone but two ornamental trees whose roots are nearby are not doing well.

Groundhog 

Woodchuck? Seems big for a vole. 

Groundhog or the cuter name Woodchuck. Probably Mom and babies.  The family will disperse in the summer. The kits are adorable.

The groundhog breeding season begins in mid-February, soon after the animals emerge from hibernation. Pregnancy lasts 31-33 days and the single, annual litter of 2 to 9 pups is born toward the end of March or early April. At birth, baby groundhogs are naked, blind and helpless and measure less than four inches long.

Looks like you are about to be an uncle.

They are cute. Don’t plant anything you want to eat!

ok, I decided to try an alternate solution - and this worked for a week.  Until this morning - they completely took out a number of plants.  Planters are still not as ravaged as before.  Usually the dig around them - today they just ripped some plants out completely that are unrecoverable.  I added more - just frustrating.

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

 It's so damn hard to get them off the moths.

micro surgery? Lasers work best…

I use this, smells like skunk but it works for me. Spray around the planters because if you’re watering it often it will wash away the repellent. 

yes - if you scroll up - I was using  this before - just thought I'd try something different - the spray tends to wash away quicker after a rain I found - I guess I just need to stay on top of it.  It was just really weird - a few plants from some of the planters are just gone - now sign of them at all!

jamie said:

yes - if you scroll up - I was using  this before - just thought I'd try something different - the spray tends to wash away quicker after a rain I found - I guess I just need to stay on top of it.  It was just really weird - a few plants from some of the planters are just gone - now sign of them at all!

are you sure it’s not a gopher eating the plants? 

Jaytee said:

are you sure it’s not a gopher eating the plants? 

Simone noticed some blackbirds - like starlings - going to town on the planters - interesting.  There is a gopher around  - I rarely see it though.

Jamie, get rid of your inhibitions and just try the moth balls already.  They're cheap.  And simple.  

I don't think we have any gophers in NJ.

https://www.havahart.com/gopher-facts#:~:text=Gopher%20Geography&text=U.S.%20species%20are%20only%20found,of%20Alabama%2C%20Florida%20and%20Georgia.

Squirrels are only part of the problem. I've been nurturing Canterbury Bells for a year waiting for them to bloom this summer. I'm keeping them in pots as the deer ate all of the ones I planted in the garden. My feral cat has decided this pot is too comfy to only support flowers.