Some type of animal or bird keeps digging in the pots on my patio, how can I deter it?

Question

I have a lot of flower pots on my patio, but I am a rubbish gardener. The only thing I can grow are marigolds, which I sowed two weeks ago, but some animal, probably a cat or a bird keeps coming and digging in the pots, (not all of them) it makes quite a mess apart from the fact that it mucks up the possibility of the seeds from germinating. How can I deter this creature please?

Answer 1

I'm not sure where you live, but I had that problem and it turned out to be squirrels. I had luck with putting in little pieces of moth balls. They hate the smell! It's almost definitely not birds.

Answer 2

Same thing happens to me, it is squirrels doing the damage. It could also be moles or chipmunks. I use mesh wire to stop them from digging the holes, but once the flowers start blooming, I put a plastic milk crate over the plant or pot and that has stopped the digging and the plant still gets air, sun, and rain. Depending on the size of the pot, you could cut a plastic gallon jug at the bottom and place it over the pot--open the top so it can breath. You can also add moth balls for good measure.

Answer 3

The spray bottle is a good solution but you have to catch them in the act. The saran wrap is also good, as would newspaper or aluminum foil. They don't like the sound or the feel. They also don't like the smell of citrus so if you put some lemon juice and water in a sprayer and then spray the dirt (not the plant), that may help.

Answer 4

Try placing a small mesh screen over the pot, enough room for the plants to grow thru but enough to stop the digger, sounds like a cat or rodent to me. Moth balls can be toxic to kids and animals, if you use these be very careful.

Answer 5

The culprits are probably squirrels or chipmunks. Try placing wire mesh over the top of the pot to prohibit access to the soil from your critters. Be careful if you chose to use mothballs...they are very toxic to humans as well as pets.

Answer 6

My guess would be cats using the planters for a litter box. I sprinkle chili powder in the dirt of my house plants and on the shelves of plant holding units by the window. My cats won't go near them now. I have pinecones on top the dirt of outside planters.

Answer 7

Deer dont' like marigolds, they will leave them alone. Mothballs are a good choice but if it is deer getting anything else the BEST way to keep them away is male human urine. You son't need so much where you smell it, just enough for them to.

Answer 8

Go to your local nursery and buy some animal repellent spray. Fairly cheap and most brands work quite well. Be sure to read directions for application.

Answer 9

its probably cats or squirrels. go down to a store that sells hunting and camping gear and tell them you need Cougar urine. yes they do sell it in a bottle. I'm not sure if its the real thing or not but if you put that in your pots nothing will touch them!!!!

Answer 10

if fir sure it is birds you can buy a plastic ''owl'' the birds will never comenear the owl they are deathly afraid...