A woman repeatedly found peanuts in the pots where she planted her plants, feeling puzzled by this strange occurrence. Seeking help on social media platform, she received various responses from netizens, shedding light on unexpected reasons behind the phenomenon.
The woman, named Makyla Ariel, posted on the “Creative Gardening” Facebook group in the United States, asking for explanations about consistently discovering peanuts in all her flower pots. She shared a photo showing a peanut nestled in one of the pots.
Most responses from netizens pointed towards animal behavior. Some suggested that squirrels might be stashing the peanuts for later consumption, while others believed it could be the work of birds.
One netizen said, “People nearby are feeding the squirrels, and they stash the nuts for later consumption.”
According to Gardening Know How website in the United States, squirrels are known for their skill in hiding nuts and other foods in flower pots. The website mentioned that squirrels dig holes primarily to bury food items like acorns or nuts, and flower pots are an ideal choice due to the softness of the potting soil, making it easy for squirrels to dig.
Wildlife Online website in the UK described “caching” as an innate behavior exhibited by many animals, involving hiding food for later retrieval and consumption, akin to humans stocking snacks in a pantry or refrigerator.
The website noted a study which found that overall, squirrels bury extra food for later use, relying on their exceptional spatial memory and keen sense of smell to locate previously buried food.
To prevent squirrels from hiding food in flower pots, potentially damaging the plants, Gardening Know How suggested a trial-and-error approach with the following recommendations.
You can mix some substances disliked by squirrels into the potting soil to repel them. Natural items may include chili peppers, vinegar, mint oil, or garlic (trying combinations of two or more).
Similarly, you can create a homemade spray to deter squirrels. Mix 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of black pepper, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of chili powder, a chopped onion, and a chopped jalapeño pepper, boil them for 15 to 20 minutes, strain the mixture through a fine sieve or coarse cloth, pour the filtered mixture into a spray bottle, and use it to spray the soil around potted plants.
It is important to be cautious as this mixture can be irritating, strong enough to irritate your skin, lips, and eyes, so handle with care.
Another method is to lay a layer of stones above the potting soil to prevent squirrels from digging. However, stones may become hot in summer, potentially harming the plants. In that case, placing a root barrier layer can deter squirrels while promoting plant health.
You can also consider hanging decorative or shiny items near potted plants to scare away squirrels, such as colorful pinwheels or old CDs.
If there are blackberry vines or wild roses near your potted plants, cutting some branches and inserting them upright into the potting soil may deter squirrels with the sharp thorns on the branches.
Furthermore, Laura Bamborough, a garden expert from the UK’s Garden Buildings Direct, mentioned that squirrels have a diverse diet. Removing nuts, fruits, vegetables, and fungi from your garden can help prevent them from approaching your potted plants. (For more details, click here.)