Vegetable Garden Pest Problems – Squirrels?

by Mike Lieberman on October 28, 2009 · 10 comments

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Up until this point I’ve been pretty lucky with the pest problems in either of my gardens. The fire escape garden has a built in defense from pests being on the fourth floor. My backyard vegetable garden doesn’t have that luxury.

Back in June there were some small signs of pest problems, but nothing horrible. The containers seemed to be a pest deterrent.

I’ve since expanded to more than containers though to cinder block gardening and during my final fall planting used traditional pots.

The pests seem to be much more willing to mess with the plants in these. One of the cinder block had nearly all of the plants pulled up out of the soil. Two of the pots had huge holes dug into them and the plants were scattered.

My guess is that it’s squirrels doing this because, well I always see squirrels scampering around in the backyard and almost saw one approach the pots.

Now the question becomes how do I deter them? Thoughts?


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  • http://twitter.com/JeanneWeier Jeanne W

    set your pinwheels up in your pots. that might keep the squirrels out.

  • Mike Lieberman

    Good call on that one.

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  • http://blog.wewantraw.com/ Damon

    Try some cayenne pepper. You have to reapply after rain but it's cheap in the bulk section. That or chicken wire covers….ugh :(

  • Mike Lieberman

    You're the second person to say that. I'll have to toss some down. Thanks.

  • RawDamon

    Try some cayenne pepper. You have to reapply after rain but it's cheap in the bulk section. That or chicken wire covers….ugh :(

  • Mike Lieberman

    You're the second person to say that. I'll have to toss some down. Thanks.

  • http://twitter.com/JessicaCRB Jessica Braun

    I’m not sure how to deter squirrels but I know that they love cinder blocks, all rodents do. Cinder blocks are the perfect size for them to crawl in and out of and nest in…so if all else fails you could always go back to pots that are less appealing to the little monsters.

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Cool. Thanks for the tip on that.

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Cool. Thanks for the tip on that.