let the dog spend more time outside ... or.. get a dog.. lol ..

i havent had dogs for 10 years ... but the squirrels still cross the yard thru the canopy ... i wonder how long squirrels live ...

pots can be covered with hardware cloth while dormant ... or chicken wire cages when actively growing

the more time you spend in the yard during the day.. the less the squirrels will be active in said yard ...

its a battle.. all vermin are ...

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffnt&q=garden+squirrel+protection&iax=images&ia=images

That’s so annoying! I only have them in the trees but they make the dog hysterical. I put the hose on “jet,” and spray them. They don’t like it. How about some kind of noisemaker? I realize you don’t wanna babysit your succulents all day. Good luck.

I don't have to deal with squirrels anymore, but I remember them doing the same to my potted roses... grrr...

I don't know if this would work with squirrels, but I use lava rock. I also use it as mulch in other areas in the garden and my cats refuse to touch it and never walk on it because it feels sharp to the touch.

That’s so annoying! I only have them in the trees but they make the dog hysterical.

==>> oh yeah .. and then the running in circles dog.. destroys the garden .. i forgot.. or blocked out that part ... lol ..

so then you have to train the dog to stay out of the garden ..

ken

ps: does she jet spray the squirrels or the dog.. or both.. lol ...

I had a bunch of those six-pack peat flats once, which I tore up and laid in sheets on the surface of the soil in my pots. I covered them with something---maybe soil. That worked for me.

Wide coated (so it won't rust) metal mesh works. The plants grow through it, the squirrels dislike digging in it.

For most mammals, I spray plants and the ground in the area that they're annoying with the following:

1 qt water

1 tsp to 1 Tbsp Tabasco sauce

A few drops Elmer's (or other white) glue (helps it stick a bit and tastes/smells bad)

A few drops soap or detergent (for spread, and tastes/smells bad)

In the garden, I use this as a general spray in May and June to deter rabbits without any phytotoxicity problems or other issues (the dose is too low even on sproutlings).

Ground sprays stop squirrels from digging up tulip bulbs.

Only a ghost of a mist is required. Refresh after rainfall.

I have to use little teepees of hardware wire until plants get started. I guess our soil is too hard for digging unless someone does it first. It also keeps the dog from squashing them while chasing the squirrels.

(I jet spray barking dog AND barking squirrel. If the setup is right, you can make the wet squirrel jump into the dog's range and then everyone is happy except the squirrel.)

Top dressing with gravel or lava rocks as suggested by JoJo has worked for me in the past. I have tried many other tricks, this worked the best and easiest to implement

Ken, the squirrel gets sprayed, not the dog. Last summer my faucet had a squeak when turned on, and all the squirrel had to do is hear that squeak and it took off. You've got it: the dog runs through the planters, crushing plants and getting dirty feet.

I like the lava rock idea.

I have this problem now. Besides squirrels, I also have rabbit problems. All my sedums: blue spruce, dragons blood and angelina all eaten. I know they’ll come back nicely but it’s annoying. Sedum album is spared. They ate 90% of my sempervivums, jovibarbas and rosularia s. The heucheras and poppies Are reduced to just exposed crowns. I kept spreading Liquid Fence granules after It rains and after the snow melts. I’m desperate at this point. I think it stems from the fact I have a small woodland near my area but is now gone and animals have now no source of food.

My only practical suggestion is to distract them with other food elsewhere.

I tried that. It just attracts more of them. Who then eat all the food and hunt for more... ;-)

Well then, distract them by putting out additional food on somebody else's property )).

Thank you for all your suggestions!

We have a dog, and she does her part to chase them out, but they like to run around the yard on the top of the fences where they are out of her reach. They're cheeky little bastards!

I will try the lava rock idea and see how that goes. Most of my pots up by the house are pretty untouched, but the ones around the yard are a constant battle. I may have to resort to a wire mesh if it comes down to that.