The potheads of the animal kingdom

It’s that time of the gardening season where our hard work potting up beautiful plants, flowers, vegetables and herbs come to the rapt attention of…critters. Yes. Those naughty, curious, destructive, insistent chipmunks, squirrels, voles, mice, bunnies, raccoons, armadillos—you name it—just cannot leave our pots alone! 

What can we do about the destruction, short of posting “No Critters Allowed” signage everywhere these persistent non-readers gather? Here’s what I find works:

• Bonide’s Repels-All. Available in granules and spray, this animal deterrent irritates nasal passages. You’ll understand why the moment you crack it open because shoo-wee it reeks! It’s biodegradable and harms nothing but your nose. Caution: If you love birds, keep this away from feeders and bird habitats. They hate it, too.
• Milorganite organic fertilizer. Used primarily to green up lawns, this granular, slow-release, nitrogen fertilizer also effectively runs off critters because—stink alert!—it’s quite odiferous. Combined with Repels-All, it’s incredibly effective. Caution: Check your local laws for restricted use.
• Plastic forks. Only mildly effective for dining, those pointy tines—used in large amounts—can deter digging by creating a functional and potentially painful fence. Of course, you then have a fork fence. Around your beautiful flowers. But bonus: You’re also aerating the soil.
• Cayenne pepper. You may like spicy food, but critters don’t enjoy the paw-licking kick of any red pepper. You can teach them a lesson and use up those expired spices at the same time. Bonus: Make your own hot pepper spray!
• Mint. Critters aren’t really into fresh breath, so steeping a handful of this herb in 4 cups of boiling water for 24 hours and spraying the stems/leaves of plants is an herbal deterrent. Pro Tip: Mix in 2 TB of both cayenne pepper and garlic powder for maximum stink.
• Bone meal powder. This natural fertilizer has a strong smell critters don’t appreciate. Just mix it in with your potting soil before planting. Caution: Bone meal can be toxic to dog and cats.
• Strong coffee grounds. Ahhh…the smell of coffee in the morning. Delightful to humans, its fragrance has an ick-factor to critters. Just mix in your grounds with the top inch of soil. Bonus: Coffee hour is every hour!
• Stone, gravel or pebbles. Top dress your pots with at least a one-inch layer of light-colored small/medium stones to let water through and camouflage the soil underneath. Too much work for most critters to dig through. Bonus: Adding this stone mulch helps soil retain more moisture.
• Chicken wire. If you’re truly desperate and don’t mind the caged look, you can stop the critters at the door. A wire cage works as a “cloche” to let plants thrive, but stop the digging. Pro Tip: Add the wire to the top of soil and let young plants grow through the layer.
• Hair. If you have a dog or lots of hair in your human brush, you can tuck chunks of hair atop the soil, then cover with a layer of mulch. Worth a try!

As usual, the chemical deterrents work best. But if you’re chemical-adverse, give the DIY options a shot. Hit or miss, your wildlife will appreciate the challenge.