Help! - Ask Extension
I went out to water seeds planted in the vegetable garden and found "something" had been trying to dig up tomato plants. I put the soil bac...
Knowledgebase
Help! #904073
Asked June 03, 2025, 9:02 AM EDT
I went out to water seeds planted in the vegetable garden and found "something" had been trying to dig up tomato plants. I put the soil back. Then I walked in the back where we have a long flower garden and found all the plants in four pots that were doing beautifully yesterday all taken out of the pots and thrown on the ground. About half our marigolds and ageratum were dug out and left on the ground. I'm attaching just one pic of this.
I had planted native perennials two weeks ago and about half of those were dug up and thrown on the ground. Many begonias close to the house were dug up and left.
The ground in most of these areas is very soft and spongy and there are a LOT of holes. I've seen chipmunks near the back of the house where the begonias are. Is this the problem?
I fertilized with fish emulsion yesterday. Could this have enticed them? I've used this for several years and never experienced anything like this.
Any help is appreciated! Oh, and they ripped out a basil plant in a metal tub on our deck, but left everything else alone.
Thank you so much!
Summit County Ohio
Expert Response
How much more detail do you want?
Hello,
There are a number of different animals that may be disrupting your newly planted flowers, herbs and vegetables and I can certainly sympathize with your frustration.
Squirrels and chipmunks will often dig in newly planted pots and gardens but not necessarily damage the plants. Groundhogs, deer, and rabbits will typically eat plants but deer and groundhogs may also dig them up without eating them. Skunks and raccoons will often dig up turf grass looking for grubs.
Typically, when you find plants that have been dug up, you can replant them successfully. Re-dig the hole and replace the plant in the hole ensuring all of the roots are covered and water well.
To deter animals from digging in pots, you can try adding rough stone such as lava rock or pea gravel on top of the soil.
For new plantings in the garden, you can try sprinkling cayenne pepper on the soil around plants to help deter digging.
There are a number of different types of spray deterrents available. Be sure to read the label to ensure the animals you want to deter are included on the list. Not all deterrents work for all animals. Keep in mind that it's best to use the deterrent before an animal discovers new plants to investigate.
Laying chicken wire around new plantings can also deter digging but this is a more labor intensive option. Fencing to exclude animals is another option, but this will have little to no effect in deterring squirrels and chipmunks. Using a mesh netting over fruit and vegetable plants is sometimes recommended but it's important to note that mammals and birds can become trapped in the netting causing injury or death.
It's possible the fish emulsion fertilizer acted as an attractant, but that may also be a coincidence. A raccoon or skunk may have been attracted to the fish smell and dug the plant out to access the fertilizer. On the other hand, squirrels and chipmunks are often attracted to recently disturbed soil to cache seeds for later consumption.
One option to determine what animal is digging up your plants would be to install a wildlife camera. This article from Ohio State extension explains the basics of installing and using a wildlife camera.
This article from Michigan State University explains the different types of damage caused by animals and insects and some possible deterrents.
This article from University of Massachusetts extension has more information about various methods of deterring wildlife from your garden.
There are a number of different animals that may be disrupting your newly planted flowers, herbs and vegetables and I can certainly sympathize with your frustration.
Squirrels and chipmunks will often dig in newly planted pots and gardens but not necessarily damage the plants. Groundhogs, deer, and rabbits will typically eat plants but deer and groundhogs may also dig them up without eating them. Skunks and raccoons will often dig up turf grass looking for grubs.
Typically, when you find plants that have been dug up, you can replant them successfully. Re-dig the hole and replace the plant in the hole ensuring all of the roots are covered and water well.
To deter animals from digging in pots, you can try adding rough stone such as lava rock or pea gravel on top of the soil.
For new plantings in the garden, you can try sprinkling cayenne pepper on the soil around plants to help deter digging.
There are a number of different types of spray deterrents available. Be sure to read the label to ensure the animals you want to deter are included on the list. Not all deterrents work for all animals. Keep in mind that it's best to use the deterrent before an animal discovers new plants to investigate.
Laying chicken wire around new plantings can also deter digging but this is a more labor intensive option. Fencing to exclude animals is another option, but this will have little to no effect in deterring squirrels and chipmunks. Using a mesh netting over fruit and vegetable plants is sometimes recommended but it's important to note that mammals and birds can become trapped in the netting causing injury or death.
It's possible the fish emulsion fertilizer acted as an attractant, but that may also be a coincidence. A raccoon or skunk may have been attracted to the fish smell and dug the plant out to access the fertilizer. On the other hand, squirrels and chipmunks are often attracted to recently disturbed soil to cache seeds for later consumption.
One option to determine what animal is digging up your plants would be to install a wildlife camera. This article from Ohio State extension explains the basics of installing and using a wildlife camera.
This article from Michigan State University explains the different types of damage caused by animals and insects and some possible deterrents.
This article from University of Massachusetts extension has more information about various methods of deterring wildlife from your garden.
