Until this summer, I've always hung plants mostly from porch roofs, not a place squirrels usually inspect. But after moving in April, I don't yet have that kind of thing setup (lots of work to do on this house.) So they're hanging in/around trees and I'm going to have to bring holiday cacti inside very early, this weekend. This is to save them from any more guerrilla gardening by the squirrels, (pieces all over the ground constantly,) and apparent grazing as well. Probably more reasonable than cutting down the trees yelling, "so THERE, you little (INSERT!!!!'s)"

Uh-oh squirrels! In our former apartment, my Haworthia reindwardtii keeps on disappearing from its container, and always I find it buried in one of the other bigger pots. Then I realized, the squirrels mistook the haworthia for peanuts, since its texture has that rough, hard feel like peanut shells.

Aww Tiffany all I can offer you is my shoulder to cry on and know that I understand.

I have every yard critter known to wildlife. I fight deer, groundhogs, my latest nemesis is a skunk. He is either thinks my garbage can is his enemy or he thinks the world is his enemy. I thought they only squirted when they were cornered. I go outside and every where I walk I smell his marking. I am on acres of land I cannot figure out why he would need to spray that much.

Oh jeez, that does make me feel better. TY & sorry! If only we could communicate with the critters... Does that go away when it rains? Seasonal?

It goes away naturally as long as they do not spray something that holds the smell. He appears to be spraying the garbage can maybe he thinks he can keep every body away until he wants to try to take it down and have the garbage all to himself.

I keep tomato juice around and squirt that it kills the smell. He got the dot that was horrible. The dog ran under the bushes after him so he sprayed him once and now the dog know to not try to go under the bushes anymore.

Cinta, you don't own a black cat with a white strip do you. Hard to keep Pepe La'Pue away. I think the tomato juice is a myth. I forget what was best to use.
I have raccoon problems with our garbage. I used insect spray and so far so good.
I have one big squirrel running round my yard. I hope he gets rid of the chipmunks. We have bird feeders and he's always going to be around.
One morning I was watering my hanging basket on the porch and a bird yelped and flew out. Came back with my camera and this is what I got. Look close in the center.

Awwww..so cute and pretty

Stush, what is that??? another bird?

@Cinta

Maybe you could use what I use to keep the bears out of my garbage. I put meat wrappers, meat trays I don't save, bones, fat, etc. into used zip lock freezer bags I've saved and pour in some ammonia.

I don't keep a compost pile where I throw kitchen scraps any more because it seemed to draw the skunks and racoons to my compost pile. I just throw that stuff off of the cliff across the road.

The end result is that my garbage doesn't smell like garbage and all of the critters, including the bears, leave my garbage alone. My neighbors are constantly having to clean up their garbage after a bear went after the garbage cans.

As for squirrels, I haven't had to figure out a solution because mine stay up in the trees at the top of the slope.

Skunks pass through my yard, but never linger .... thank God.

Smiles,
Lyn

Lyn the problem is there is nothing in the garbage. They are turning over a empty garbage can when they do not turn it over this skunk is just squirting around the can. I have no idea why other than maybe he thinks when and if I put something in his smell will keep everyone away. I have a metal built in container that I put the daily garbage in that is sealed that no smells and nothing can get to it because I have so many critters I had it special made for that purpose.

The garbage goes in the can garbage night and we have to take it to the end of the driveway for pick up. They never knock it over or get in the garbage at the end of the driveway. Probably because of cars coming up the road.

>>>>Lyn the problem is there is nothing in the garbage.

YIKES !

The only other deterrent that I can think of that is often used up here is to pour ammonia on ... in ... and around the can.

There are a lot of critters up here, too. I guess I've been lucky that I haven't had any problems except with the dang deer. Now, that's a rant that won't end.

Smiles,
Lyn

Bev.
There were two birds and they raised a family thru the summer. Lucky they left when we had to bring the basket in for the winter. I left the nest alone due to it completely filled the inside and all the stems grew thru it. After a short while, they got used to us and we enjoyed watching them feed and raised their family of 3. Maybe next year, they will return.
Stush

Stush what a great photo!! You should enter it into the photo contest - there's one for bugs and birds on plants!
Tiffany I hope your squirrel problem in temporary! They can do so much damage to plants!

thanks Greg. I don't do contest. If I was the only one, I would still loose. But thank you.
Stush

Aw come on Stush! This one is more about sharing your photos with different groups of people from who normally read the forums we're on - at least that's how I look at it! I'm just sharing some of the ones I like - like this one (I know - I should probably just keep this for the contest but here goes)
I wanted an "artsy" looking photo - a picked bloom off of my streptocarpus sitting on top of my silver laptop - taken with a flash

I agree that you should enter that picture!

spray the garbage can with cooking spray so he cant can't climb up, put something kind of heavy in the bottom so he cant knock it over and leave a few hot peppers around the outside of can.

Cidsongs!

Hi Cidsongs - Welcome to ATP! Hope you enjoy this site - very friendly people here!!