Arjay Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 An animal has been digging into a couple of my tall patio pots and scattering soil over the patio - damn nuisance. It's happened during the day so I suspect it's a squirrel. Any advice on how to keep them away? The funny thing is that one of the plants is a crown of thorns and he's gone digging in that one twice in 2 days. Must have a thick skin. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 cover the dirt with larger river rocks. are you sure it is not a cat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjay Posted December 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 cover the dirt with larger river rocks. are you sure it is not a cat? Where would I find river rocks? It could be a cat, but not mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 You can buy them by the bag at Jara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjay Posted December 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 You can buy them by the bag at Jara Thanks but where or what is Jara? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo1 Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 I use large broken pieces of floor tile to keep my cat out of my pots. Works like a charm. Jara is the hardware store just west of Telmex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensley Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 We had a squirrel in our back yard digging up everything, it was a pain and a big mess, we tried amonia didn't work, there are very large rocks and he would move them, we flooded his holes, for some reason he finally quit digging but I still do see him or her in the yard every now and again. I heard moth balls from the $store work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floradude Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 Commonly in my yard it is the possums that do this. I also have skunks routinely in the yard also but I am not sure if they do this. It is not cats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 Cats do not dig out dirt from lfower pots? I had cats who routinely did that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joco Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 It could be raccoons or opossums looking for grubs. Let them get all the grubs out and you will have a healthier plant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 we also have skunks and possums and they do not dig the pots so it may be that there are some type of insect that would attract the possum or that they like the roots of the plants you have in the pots. Squirrels could be it too, you have to eliminate the possibilities one at a time. Get the larger rocks or like an other poster said large broken tiles, something a little heavy and you can see what happens.. It all depends what attracts te animal to your pot..good luck figuring it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 It doesn't matter who/what is doing it. Put some rocks in the pots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjay Posted December 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 You can buy them by the bag at Jara Thanks. We bought some this morning and will give it a try, after I've swept up the mess AGAIN !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joco Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 It doesn't matter who/what is doing it. Put some rocks in the pots. Urinate on the soil and animals will avoid it. Creepier but cheaper than buying rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm1mex Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 We had squirrels dig in our pots and we got hardware cloth (the wire made of little squares and comes in a roll) at the hardward store by Sunrise restaurant. We cut it into pieces and put it around the plants on the dirt and it works but a lot of work and the stuff is sharp when you cut into it. River rocks sounds much easier and safer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjay Posted December 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 We had squirrels dig in our pots and we got hardware cloth (the wire made of little squares and comes in a roll) at the hardward store by Sunrise restaurant. We cut it into pieces and put it around the plants on the dirt and it works but a lot of work and the stuff is sharp when you cut into it. River rocks sounds much easier and safer. I have soil to top up the pots and my river rocks and will get my gardener to do it tomorrow, since those rocks weigh a ton. Will let you know how it works. Joco's urination suggestion is definitely not on my radar, especially onto the crown of thorns - OUCH !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkshawn Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 Well just to add to the confusion, we have been complaining about something digging into our planters & pots. So yesterday I hear a clattering of the flat river rocks that we cover some of the planters with. Looking over to source the sound I find a large 200-250mm grey/brown bird with a large stout curved black beak eyeing me. Sibley Guide to Bird's reduces the species to possibly a Curved Bill Thrasher! So you never know? I have had cat paw prints on the hood of our car so had suspected it as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 It makes sense if you have some goodies for that bird in your pot why not? Nature is funny that way.I would not have thought of a bird but it makes sense. Blaming a cat was my first thought but they are not the only ones digging.. Our neighbor in California had a pool by a creek full of kois, one day I went by and they were all gone. We never found out what happened. Some people suspected a bear, I suspected a river otter but there was an electic wire around the pool so who knows.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha Posted December 25, 2013 Report Share Posted December 25, 2013 Bunched up small guage chicken wire wrapped aorund the base of the plants works too. They usually have that at Jara as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Delfina Posted December 26, 2013 Report Share Posted December 26, 2013 I use "malla de gallina" (chicken wire) I get it at Jara. or use a few of "mosquitero screen". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjay Posted December 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 Since I put the river rocks on the planters on Monday, nothing new has happened but what self-respecting animal or bird would go out in weather like this !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 Now you have our curiosity up you will have to update us if you ever find out what the animal was! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.