Keep Squirrels Away from Potted Plants with These Natural Repellents

Squirrels can be one of the most annoying and destructive backyard pests, especially for potted plants. But before you resign yourself to a garden full of ravaged flowers and unearthed bulbs, know there are many strategies to deter these pesky rodents without chemicals or traps.

Certain potted plants naturally repel squirrels with their smell, taste, or appearance. Companion planting these alongside more vulnerable flowers and vegetables creates a squirrel-resistant barrier.

Here are some of the best plants for repelling squirrels from your potted garden

Smelly Squirrel Repellents

Mint

Mint’s strong, refreshing aroma for humans is downright offensive to squirrels. The potent menthol smell overwhelms their sensitive noses, acting as a natural deterrent. Peppermint and spearmint varieties work equally well. Plant mint in pots around the perimeter of your garden beds or mix in with potted vegetables and ornamentals. Cut fresh sprigs to rub on fenceposts or tuck into problem areas.

Lavender

The sweet floral scent of lavender makes it a beloved herb for perfumes, teas, and aromatherapy. For squirrels, however, one whiff of lavender elicits instinctual avoidance. Interplant pots of lavender throughout your garden beds or use cut stems to create mini “security fences” around vulnerable plants. Its purple blooms also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Alliums

This plant genus includes onions, garlic, chives, leeks and shallots. Their pungent flavors come from sulfur compounds that also happen to repel squirrels. Plant allium bulbs throughout your vegetable and flower gardens. Garlic and chives are easy to grow in pots with proper sunlight and drainage.

Marigolds

These bright ornamental flowers have a musky, pungent scent that keeps squirrels at bay. Marigolds also deter other pests like nematodes, aphids, and cabbage worms. For maximum squirrel protection, plant marigolds liberally throughout your potted garden, especially alongside tasty veggies.

Plants With a Spicy Kick

Squirrels dislike spices as much as strong aromas. The irritating sensation overwhelms their senses and deters digging in treated areas. Try these spicy potted plants:

Hot Peppers

Plant hot peppers like cayenne, jalapeño, habanero, or Tabasco varieties to naturally repel squirrels. You’ll reap a bountiful harvest of peppers for your own kitchen too! Grow them in containers for easy mobility to problem areas. Dried, crushed peppers or a hot pepper spray makes an economical repellent.

Rue

This herb has a bitter, spicy flavor reminiscent of black pepper. Rue grows well in pots, making it easy to position near squirrel trouble spots. You can also crush the leaves to release the volatile oils and create a concentrated squirrel deterrent. A little goes a long way due to rue’s potent taste.

Catnip

Yes, the plant that drives cats crazy is conversely repugnant to squirrels! With an odor similar to mint or thyme, the chemical nepetalactone puts squirrels off their appetite. Grow catnip in pots and generously sprinkle crushed leaves around your garden perimeter and over soil surfaces. Itspurple flowers also attract bees.

Physical & Visual Repellents

Sometimes scent and taste aren’t enough. Deploy these plants that physically obstruct squirrels or visually warn them off:

Prickly Plants

Thorny, spiky plants act as a physical barrier against digging paws. Holly, barberry, pyracantha, roses, and yucca are great choices. Plant them strategically in pots near vulnerable gardens or in squirrel “hot spots.” Prune mature plants to maintain their prickly nature.

Ornamental Grasses

Tall, dense ornamental grasses obstruct visibility and physically hinder squirrels. Options like maiden grass, fountain grass, pampas grass, or purple fountain grass make attractive additions to garden beds or decorative pots. Plant grasses in gaps squirrels could squeeze through or use as screening.

Daffodils

These spring bulbs contain toxins that cause vomiting in squirrels. Plant prolific drifts of daffodils around trees, gardens, and pathways. The bright flowers signal danger, while their early emergence prevents squirrels from digging up bulbs. Choose heirloom varieties that return faithfully each year.

Give These Potted Repellents a Try

Now that you know which plants naturally deter those bothersome squirrels, give companion planting a try! Work these squirrel-repelling plants into your potted gardens by:

• Planting marigolds with vegetables like tomatoes or carrots
• Surrounding flower pots with mint or lavender
• Adding hot peppers to container veggie gardens
• Screening off gaps with ornamental grasses
• Lining walkways with potted daffodils or prickly shrubs

Be sure to use enough repellent plants to overwhelm squirrels with scent, irritation, barriers, or warnings. Consistent garden maintenance is also key – prune back mature plants, promptly deadhead faded blooms, and replace elderly specimens.

With some strategic planning and thoughtful plant choices, you can safely and humanely protect your potted plants from squirrel havoc. Your flower pots will overflow with blossoms instead of scattered soil and your veggies will make it to your table, not a squirrel’s stash. Give companion planting and other organic pest deterrents a chance before resorting to chemicals or traps. With the right natural repellents, you can steer squirrels away from your pots and finally achieve garden harmony.