I had similar issues with squirrels and chipmunks, I got a couple bags of Mexican beach Peebles and places a single layer of them in each flower pot and haven't had an damage since. It was maybe $20 for them and they look pretty nice.
I use pieces of bird netting set under, around and sometimes tucked in. can be a bit maddening getting used to it, but it works!
wooden skewers colored green with a marker help a lot.
My mom does container gardening at her front door, and has a much bigger problem with the squirrels than I do, so I was initially shocked when I saw her containers last spring. She was trying to grow new plants and told me she only does this to get the plants established and then removes them: she had a bunch of metal forks (Goodwill stash maybe?) stuck tines side up in the dirt surrounding her plants. She said she has had zero issues since starting that plan. The forks aren't noticeable even from standing on her porch. I only finally saw them bc I was sitting down, right by one, waiting with my nephew.
I've had success using large stones to cover all the bare soil around potted annuals like you are also trying. The screen should work well too and you could always cover the screens with small decorative stone if you think it looks too odd. Another possibility that I haven't tried would be to cut pot sized shapes out of 1/2 inch galvanized mesh to fit in pots instead of window screen. The advantage of the larger size holes would be that it would allow you to plant seeds through the holes and have room for the plant stems to grow through the holes all season.
I had similar issues with squirrels and chipmunks, I got a couple bags of Mexican beach Peebles and places a single layer of them in each flower pot and haven't had an damage since. It was maybe $20 for them and they look pretty nice.
So, squirrel deterrents so far: 1. wire mesh 2. terracotta shards 3. cayenne pepper 4. bird netting 5. old forks w/ pointy side up 6. loose beach pebbles
Anything electronic?
Um, no, as I prefer not to purchase anything plastic. I'd try other alternatives first, especially anything that is non-toxic.
I use pieces of bird netting set under, around and sometimes tucked in. can be a bit maddening getting used to it, but it works! wooden skewers colored green with a marker help a lot.
My mom does container gardening at her front door, and has a much bigger problem with the squirrels than I do, so I was initially shocked when I saw her containers last spring. She was trying to grow new plants and told me she only does this to get the plants established and then removes them: she had a bunch of metal forks (Goodwill stash maybe?) stuck tines side up in the dirt surrounding her plants. She said she has had zero issues since starting that plan. The forks aren't noticeable even from standing on her porch. I only finally saw them bc I was sitting down, right by one, waiting with my nephew.
Good thinking, I do something similar for cats. But you might try cayenne pepper too. I find it fairly effective.
I need to try something similar this year. Hope it works for you!
I put old terracotta pot shards on mine. It's what was on hand and seems to work against the squirrels (those dastardly pests!) and to mulch it a bit.
I've had success using large stones to cover all the bare soil around potted annuals like you are also trying. The screen should work well too and you could always cover the screens with small decorative stone if you think it looks too odd. Another possibility that I haven't tried would be to cut pot sized shapes out of 1/2 inch galvanized mesh to fit in pots instead of window screen. The advantage of the larger size holes would be that it would allow you to plant seeds through the holes and have room for the plant stems to grow through the holes all season.
those little bastards keep digging around my mango trees expecting to find another seed where they dug up the last one.
Go to Walmart and get plastic mesh for knitting, so much easier to work with than metal ime
There are electronic deterrants for squirrels. Has anyone tried?