How can I discourage these pesky squirrels from digging around in my plants??

Short of putting out poison, I don't know what to do, they are tearing everything up.

Hot chili peppers will work for a little while, then they might become immune to them.
I've also heard bone meal works, but it can also draw some critters to it. I wouldn't use it if there is the possibility that other critters will come running; dogs for example.

Add some hot pepper spice when you water, might help too.

I am going to try that now. Hope these are not Latin American critters and love spice.

Ha!!

If you can put chicken wire over them, that helps.

Karen

The pots and spots are so spread out, that is not an option.

I will use it some net fabric for my rock garden to keep the rabbits from using it for a buffet.

But I have maybe 30-50 standing pots on the patio which the squirrels are digging in.

If you are not opposed to using moth balls they seem to work , but only use on non edible plants and keep away from any pets.

Forgot about moth balls, you're right Bob.
And yes about the pets.

Too many pets running around my community so I would not like to poison them.

Pepper seems to be the safest answer. It may annoy the pets but at least it won't kill them.

I scattered some Emiril's Essence, which is mostly pepper and they are still digging it up, I could not find the cayenne.

Should I have done it differently than just scattering it in the beds?

No Marilyn, Emeril won't stop them, it's not hot at all. You need cayenne for HOT. You just made them more tasty

Karen

Back to the store. Emeril tastes hot to me.

How was I to know that they were gourmands?

You think Emeril's Essence is hot??? You have to be kidding. You've never tasted Cayenne pepper?

Karen

A tiny pinch of Cayenne in chili is enough to burn the inside of my mouth.

And clear my sinus and tear ducts for days.

My chili gets
1 heaping t. cayenne
1 t. allspice
1 t. cinnamon
4 T chili powder

Karen

My favorite recipe is

Gary’s Chili
Cook down and drain
2 Lbs. Ground beef
2 C Onion
2 cloves Minced Garlic

Add 1 28 oz (or 2 14 oz) can Light Red Kidney Beans
2 8 oz can Tomato Sauce
1 ½ T Chili Powder
1 T Black pepper
1 T Apple Cider Vinegar
1 T Sugar
8-10 drops Tabasco Sauce

Of course I use only about 1/2 T of Chili powder and two drops of Tabasco

I think you're eating tomato soup with meat in it.

Cayenne will usually keep the critters away, but you do have to reapply after rain. That's the downside. I've never used moth balls, but I've heard that they work well.

Karen

A few plastic forks stuck in the pot with the tines sticking up about 1/2" will keep critters out of there, squirrels and toads.

I tried using cayenne pepper to keep my dog from chewing on the corners of my end table. Sigh, you wouldn't think an Alaskan malamute would have a taste for hot things....Just made things worse. He'd sit there licking the corner of the table, gazing up at me with those big brown eyes as though to say, "Thanks, Mom! A little seasoning was just what this table needed!"