Haven't noticed them anywhere near my containers so far--they're still enjoying seed that gets spilled from the bird feeders under the crabapple tree 15 ft. away. Fingers crossed none of them get curious and decide to have a look inside. I did use duct tape but like you say, if they want in, they'll find a way.

I've had a bad problem with them, probably the chipmunks but also the bigger ones will get my tulip bulbs. I have to cover a lot with chicken wire and let the plants grow through or pull it up when the soil isn't so tempting for them. If it's over the ground, I secure at intervals with landscape pins; if a single container, I bend it down and around.

They are most likely to dig in loose or freshly dug soil. It's not worth it to drag out the Liquid Fence and repeat applications all summer if it even works on them. I do use it though for other critters on my lilies and certain plants.

Sor many of my potted plants, I keep a collection of rocks I pick up when digging, and push them down in a bit, try to get them close together. A side benefit of that is that it keeps the moisture from evaporating as fast as it would otherwise.

Last year I covered all my opened containers with chicken wire secured with pieces of stakes. It looked ratty but kept them out of all of them. They have ruined seedlings in no time.

I also have four stands I set my shallow seedlings in during the misting stage B4 transplanting. They have small diameter metal tube legs which they aren't so inclined to climb into.

But those rascals will climb up any way they can find. I keep porch boxes of lobelia on my front rails. The buggers climbed up some supports and got in them so I covered them with chicken wire. The lobelia grew right thru. A nuisance but worth it.

Once plants get dense and strong enough at the surface of containers, they don't seem to bother them.

I was crushed when they dug up a whole porch box of violas about 3 years ago I'd started in the house and was hardening off, brought them back in, but the whole batch was ruined. Chicken wire would have prevented that.

Some people stick plastic forks down in the soil or steel wool, but I don't like to harm them, the forks are probably ok, but the steel wool might not be good for them.

Fortunately the squirrels leave my jugs alone. Though they love to dig up any newly planted seedlings. I find bamboo skewers placed strategically around the plants helps deter them.

-StLGirl

They leave MOST of them alone. You have to be reaallllllllly careful about not leaving ANY sort of delicious smelling things in the containers.

they found a breadbag that had some crumbs in it and tore that one apart. I also had some yogurt containers in a cookie box or muffin box and there must have been something in there because they tried really hard to mess that one up.

Other than that, they leave stuff alone.

My first year, I wintersowed in large flower boxes. I covered them with a thick piece of plastic sheeting and used clothespins and binder clips to secure the sheeting. In the spring when the seeds had germinated, I clipped some cheap tulle I bought at Walmart over them in the same manner. It worked, but you have to stay on top of it, because those squirrels will stop at nothing. My jugs were not touched nearly as much.

Amy

Squirrels haven't bothered my containers but I did have a problem last year with protecting seedlings from the birds! I'd say 80% of what I winter sowed germinated and grew well...and I'd say another 25% were eaten! :) Next year I have some baskets and containers I'm going to use to cover the plants until they get a little bigger.

The way to keep squirrels out of your beds and pots is to feed them!! I was plagued by squirrels for many years because my neighbour, a very nice retired gentleman fed them and of course they came over into my yeard. Each year, invariably my DH buys to many nuts (mixed in shells) and I place the left overs in an old children's beach pail, and put it in the back on my wood pile. They get all they need there and leave my plants alone. I recall having to put rocks on top of the soil of my pots like Aliska, but that is rather tedious. I need to refill the pail about twice a year.

I feed the birds and squirrels year round, should do in the back, too.

But the current resident chipmunk under my front porch takes the sunflower seeds and immediately looks for a place to bury them, the closest container, if I hadn't gotten proactive.

I'll just keep on with the chicken wire, only looks bad for awhile and easier to deal with and move around and secure once cut.

Yes, the rocks are a nuisance in my one gallon pots. I've moved most of the geraniums out of there and into window boxes. Those if I don't have mounted, I just string along the front of the beds, adds extra color and get more sun.

I didn't know the birds went for seedlings, will have to watch that, too!