City living means sharing our space with some… uninvited guests.

Here’s the “Get Off My Stoop” Strategy 

Get Spicy!
Squirrels hate heat. A light dusting of cayenne pepper on the soil surface usually sends them packing.  The olfactory option is to toss a few mothballs on top of the soil. The mailman might look at you a little funny, but squirrels don’t like the smell, and you can get them at the Dollar store.

Recycle Your Coffee Grounds
Spread used coffee grounds on the surface. The high nitrogen is great for the plants, and the bitter scent/texture is often enough to deter casual diggers.

Physical Barriers
If your pests are really persistent, tuck a few toothpicks or wooden kabob skewers into the soil –  they’re another easy score at the Dollar store. It’s invisible to neighbors but says “stay away” to fuzzy intruders.  Or, try the fork method – push a few plastic forks, tines-up, around the perimeter of the planter. Squirrels will quickly learn that your boxes are “prickly” and move on. 

Another option is a handful of small rocks – again, try the Dollar store for a pack. 

Pro -Tip
If you’re adding fertilizer (which we don’t generally recommend adding to our seasonal planters) avoid bone meal or blood meal.  They are a “dinner bell” to scavengers. If you’ve used them recently, that is almost certainly why you’re being targeted. Switching to a liquid synthetic or seaweed fertilizer will significantly reduce the “attractiveness” of your planter’s soil.