Phantom Acorn Planter

Over the last few days I've noticed that some of my bigger pots in the polytunnel have been disturbed and on closer inspection it seems some little fellow has decided I should grow oak trees.

Whilst a good idea given the issues that oak have, it's not something I had in mind

I would find it hard to believe a squirrel can get in and out, is it a Jerry mouse?

 

It will certainly be a squirrel - love them or hate them, - they are resourceful little b*****s.


a-a

 

I have a lot of perennials in pots at the back of our glasshouses at work, we get both acorns and peanuts coming up and they dig holes in the trays of bedding..

 

Can't understand how it's getting in - the gaps just aren't big enough!

 

If they can get into the roof of a house, a polytunnel's a doddle!

 

Yes, they're amazingly clever creatures and i wouldn't put anything past them !

Years ago, when i first had experience of them, i just stood and watched as one shot up the house wall - with their sharp claws a house wall is the same as a tree trunk !!!

 

The little critters like to plant plant hawthorn seeds in my pots.....and I have enough trouble with the one already

 

Another 2 acorns today - think I've found where the little darling is getting in, and a piece of 4 by 2 will sort that out.

To block the gap that is - not bash it's brains in

 

Sounds like they're pretty well acquainted with your polytunnel rootball!

 

Well it's very good it planting, and it chose some nice healthy acorns too.

Maybe if I set out a neat row of pots and some seeds I might get myself a new assistant.

 

I think you're on to something there!

 

That's not such a bad idea Rootball. Put a few pots of soil outside where it was getting in and it may deter it from forcing it's way in elsewhere.

 

We currently have a squirrel coming in our garden everyday and burying walnuts everywhere :D


Jays also bury lots of acorns, not usually in small gardens and pots though....

Mice on occasions also store nuts/acorns in pots etc.

I remember once watching a wood mouse hide some sunflower seeds at the base of tree just behind some loose bark and then as soon as it ran off a nuthatch kept coming down and helping itself :D

 

Could be a mouse as I've had them bury hazelnuts in bags of potting compost. They're fond of digging out larger seeds such as sunflowers, peas, beans, beets, etc., eating some and burying the remainder in trays of compost with small seeds in which is doubly destructive.

I staple bands of polythene dpm around the vertical supports to both my greenhouse and poly tunnel staging to make them too smooth for the mice to climb up and get to the pots and seed trays. If they managed to get past those (none have) the final defence is 'little nippers' placed next to vulnerable seeds.

 

I'm now the proud owner of a 3 inch acorn seedling