Protect decorative containers

Don’t let animals invade the containers you set out in your yard! First, remove debris from the pot so there’s less nesting material for critters like squirrels and raccoons. Next, fill the pot with empty plastic bottles or chunks of foam. They take up space, so large critters can’t get in. But don’t pack the pieces in so tightly that water can’t drain through. Finally, cut a piece of hardware cloth or metal window screen to wedge into the opening, on top of the filler materials.

If you have mice, voles, or even slugs who might move in, put a piece of metal screen over the drainage hole before you add space fillers inside the pot.