Coffee grinds keep squirrels from digging in planters?

[froggy]

My 'garden' consists of a balcony. i like to grow some veggies, shrubs and trees etc. in containers, because i refuse to admit i don't have a garden.
Last year I lost all my chestnuts and lavenders to squirrels, this year at least 5 tomato plants. It got to the point where you walk onto the balcony and the squirrel is sitting there with a nut in one hand, and a decapitated tomato plant in the other. Oh, and the mess they leave is outrageous.

Tried leaving the dog on the balcony. He says I don't pay him enough.
Tried moth balls. They stink, don't do anything, and I worry about poisoning 'innocent' critters.
Tried planting 'groundcover' lettuce and herbs - apparently very tasty for blue jays.
Tried cayenne pepper. No difference.
Will try dog hair next.

The main problem is my neighbours feeding them. I can throw rocks and the squirrels just go to check if its edible.

Anyhow, I've noticed they don't seem to dig in planters I emptied the coffee grinds into. It could be the extra watering compacted the soil, or it actually is the coffee.
Anyone notice that too? Or have other suggestions?

Getting a mean balcony cat is looking better and better.... But with my luck, the cat would probably end up fraternizing with the little pests...

[Marlingardener]

I don't know about coffee grounds, but tack strips used for wall-to-wall carpeting does. It looks like a wooden yardstick with tacks sticking up. Cut into lengths and placed on the soil surface deters the little bushy tailed intruders. It is available at flooring stores, and if the owner/clerk is having trouble with squirrels, he/she just may give you some out of sheer revenge !

[watermelonpunch]

Squirrels like lavender?
That's something I have to look into further because I'd read that lavender was not liked by the usual garden pest mammals. :/

Is it a full season long problem, or mainly in the spring?

When I lived in an apartment building I was a balcony gardener, but never did vegetables. Just flowers & plants, and some herbs at one time.
The squirrels were more interested in my garbage can. I went through 2 animal proof garbage cans on the porch because the squirrels would actually chew on the plastic... it was like a winter-long project. But I would see them poking at it in the summer. I usually only put stuff in it like overnight or just for a day or so, mostly just so I could get it out of the kitchen can but not have to walk it down to the dumpster at night.
I remember at some point I started spraying the inside with ammonia. :/

I have some kind of stuff that's stinky stinky that repels woodchucks, rabbits, and deer. Don't know about squirrels since they dig in garbage I don't know how much something stinky would actually put them off! lol

In another area of the forum, someone was mentioning cinnamon for various pest deterrent purposes. When I looked it up, I think I did see something about squirrels.

The only other kind of solution is a diversion solution.
But with your neighbors feeding them... you would think that would be that.
So I don't think that's the right way about it.

I think caging the vegetables & plants that the squirrel wants would be the only sure-fire solution. :/