At the new place, I have chipmunks digging in my potted plants. Anyone know how to discourage them from doing so.

[Don't suggest mothballs, I can't stand the smell and refuse to walk out on my patio and smell them!]

an old fashioned rat trap works fine

I can't kill 'em! They are too cute... a pain.. but cute!

Use a 12-gauge shotgun!

I am NOT killing the chipmunks! And a 12-guage is overkill!

Maybe they can sing for you

Ha ha ha

Here's a few tips which you may try (without killing the chipmunks).....

Limit the chipmunks' food supply. Chipmunks are voracious eaters, so offering them an alternative food supply only works for a limited time. Coat your garden plant leaves with hot pepper spray. You can make it yourself or buy it at a local garden center. The downside is that it washes off in the rain and needs frequent reapplication.

Prey on the chipmunks' natural fear. Use a product like fox urine or predators' scents and place around the area you want to keep the chipmunks away from. However, these require frequent reapplication, and the chipmunks can eventually become accustomed to the scent.

Use a humane trap. Place the trap in a shaded area near where the chipmunks like to hang out (chipmunks hate open spaces) and bait it with a food like sunflower seeds. You're sure to catch a chipmunk. Release the chipmunk somewhere far away.

They aren't eating my plants, just digging in the soil of the pots.

If thats the case then you may try this out.....

You could get a fake owl and put where they will see it, they won't dare go in your yard again, OR, keep one step ahead of them- like filling up the holes that they dig. Or you could buy one of those pegs that you stick in the ground and it sends little shocks through the earth that don't harm them- they just make them leave.

I could probably try the owl thing!

Be gratefull you don't have to deal with mole's in your yard.

Make a squirrel catapult!-

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f5d_1172741350

OMG

They have squirrel feeders at walmart... maybe feeding them something else will help keep them out of your potted plants

or maybe you can make them there very own potted plant with lots of soil

Wouldn't that be considered animal cruelty

Yep!

The chipmunks are digging in all of them... so it wouldn't matter if I gave them their own pot of soil!

I am going to try the owl and maybe try some red pepper flakes or something.... on website suggested 'used' kitty litter which I have but I don't want any stray cats hanging around either!

Try attaching something noisy to the pots...bells or something like that. So when they climb in the pot, the noise will scare them away.

I put some chili powder onto the soil. There was no digging last night; we will see if they dig in it by the time I get home.