Our sympathy--we went through the same thing with squirrels. Mothballs (not flakes) seemed to work, but have to be renewed after a rain. We sprinkled them in a circle around the plants we wanted to protect. We found a cheaper way to go--hang the toes of nylon stockings filled with dog fur on the plants. The squirrels think Rover is hiding in the bushes. That also has to be renewed. If you don't have a hairy dog, try asking a grooming parlor to give you dog fur. This also works on roof vents, although you may have to explain your "decorations" to the curious!

Maybe build them a house and put it in a tree. And feed them something they like better than ginger roots.
There was a squirrel on our patio several times this weekend trying to steal the dog's blanket. I finally put some small rags out for him. I'm sure he's looking for nesting material. I know they can be a pain, but they sure can be cute too.

The squirrels have been digging up my newly planted bulbs too, lily of the valley and calla lily... I'll try moth balls. Any other suggestions?

I had visions of you fending off the squirrels with a miniature sword and shield. Glad it hasn't come to that yet.

I only have a few squirrels & they don't cause any damage at the house, unless you count getting fried & knocking out the power. If I don't fill the bird feeders they steal the dogs food & the birds food. They stay clear of the ferret & her cage. Maybe a ferret??
Tally Ho!

The squirrels have also become destructive on our property. We just spent a bunch of money having roof jacks and wood trim repaired that they had chewed. I put up an owl house, and the squirrels promptly moved in. I was told that a product called Ropel will repel them for some period of time if applied to the roof and trim of the home. I am going to try it. I have a squirrel-proof bird feeder that works pretty well. I don't have a solution to keep them from eating the plants. If you're like me and have oak trees (or pecans), you WILL have squirrels!

Good luck!

Squirrels drive me nuts! They have eaten Tulip bulbs and asa result from taking the bird's seed I have stopped feeding the birds.

I have a bird house a friend made for me when I moved in this house seven years ago.Recently a squirrel chewed and enlarged the entrance and I've seen him in there. I can see he is a tight fit inside. It's amazing how he can get through that tight opening. They must be all fur.

I'm sorry I got started on this subject. It just makes me Crazy,

I can only assume that because I live in the country where the squirrels have more room to roam is why I have no damage caused by them. Of course, they would get to my bird feeders if I did not have them protected by the "bubbles" on top, but I give them ONE feeder they can feed from, and that seems to satisfy them. They do not bother my flowers at all, and I have had no house damage. I am sorry some of you are -- that must be aggravating, to say the least.

I actually bought a pellet gun to shoot them, but then didn't have the heart. They are kinda cute. Two strategies I'd suggest is making sure they have plenty of food. Seems like they cause less trouble when their stomach's are full.

If you can't change the squirels, maybe change your attitude and learn to accept a little damage as part of the bigger picture.

But if they get into the "red zone", one thing to consider is buying a trap and relocating them.

That worked for me till one day I came home and found a skunk in the trap. Think about that. What a canundrum! I spent hours of trying to figure out a way of getting it out, without hurting the skunk. Not many good options. I finally decided that I'd risk all, since it was my fault and not the skunks, and just let him out.

After a couple cans of "liquid courage" beer, I worked up the nerve to approach the cage. But I did have some luck as I guess the skunk knew what was going on and decided no to spray me. So it all ended well and that was the last time I used the trap.

In the end I quit chasing the squirels around and made sure they had some food. After that, the damage went down to a very acceptable level and I made some new freinds,,, the squirels and skunks and woodchuck, and possums and racoons. I mean, not freinds like they were invited in the house, just peacefull neighbors...

The best defense, is to learn how to co-exist, by learning about the critter, and how to make peace with them.

Humans need to recognize the needs of other creatures on this planet.

To keep squirrels out of the attic, for instance, make it difficult for them to reach the roof, by trimming back your tree limbs. (Better yet, don't plant that close to start with.)

We can all get along, if we consider the needs of others.

Most family pets do as much or more harm in the yard, than wild creatures.

I feed birds, and as a result, lots of squirrels. They also roam alongside the house, inside the massive jasmine plants. I don't mind them, they're cute, but to keep them from becoming destructive pests (as they were at first), I'm very careful to give them a feeder full of peanuts each morning. They get their fill and take off for the day, to haunt some other house, I'm sure. But when I skip those peanuts, they dig in the grass and run all over the yard and the rooftop.
My dogs do scare off the "tough" ones!

try bloodmeal on your plants, they don't like it.

I've heard varied results for Ropel.

Personally, I find them enchanting. We have squirrels all around. They are nesting now and need nutrients they typically do not. They are amazing mothers. On really cold days, they will sit on the nest for hours and hours coming out when the sun warms the little ones for a quick drink and some food.

I've left a group of 13 tulip buls sitting in the garden for 10 days. They never nibbled a one. I assume it is because they weren't hungry. YOu might try a squirrel feeder.

They alos like rosebuds, but again only this time of year, late winter early spring when they have little ones and food is not as plentiful.

Bloodmeal? really? I was told to avoid using bonemeal because they are attracted by it, but they're attracted to all out pecans and acorns so I don't know what it would take to actually repel them.

They chew on the wood trim on our house and my spouse shoots them with a water gun filled with jalapeno juice. I don't think they like it, but they don't leave for long.

I'm with Rick . . . co-existence is often the only route. I stuck three ears of corn around a hub that spun . . .and placed that on a pole they could just jump to. They'd go thru all kinds of antics and spin around hilariously. So I started my suirrel amusement park. After the Tilt-A-Squirrel came the Bungee Jump where once again they had to leap to get to the corn, this time suspended on springs and bungees and held inside a grill basket . . . they'd spin and bounce and sometimes actually get a bite if they held on. Finally I rigged the "Elevator" . . . 8 feet of beadchain run thru a pulley, hung about 15 feet high with corn on either end. They'd jump down from a branch onto the upper corn and take a an 8-ft ride and then a 7-ft drop. Afterwards, the other ear was primed for the next rider. It was an awesome site watching those bushy tailed so-and-sos ride that thing over and over . . . but it only took them a day or two to defeat it. Never got around to building the Squirrel-pult, but I've got the plans. Keep em distracted and they'll miss what yu want them to miss and provide a little low-cost hilarity on the side.

I've seen some similar obstacle courses built for squirrels on TV. What a hoot! Would love to have one. Maybe you could set up a business of building squirrel trapezes.

About the only damage they do in my yard, which isn't really damage, is planting pecans in the flower pots and beds -- making lots of little holes, and then little pecan trees to pull out a few weeks later, but I don't really mind. It's a fair exchange for the entertainment they offer. And they give the dog a little excitement in his day besides. They used to get into the pigeon feeding bin, until I sprinkled a little 'Squirrel Away" hot pepper around it.

Mine offer so much entertainment each day, and I had one that had lost her tail - just a little ball of fur like a cottontail rabbit, and she was the cutest of all. She has not been around this year, so think she may have gone to squirrel heaven - she was at least 5 years old. I don't know their life expectancy.