How to keep squirrels from eating my potted plants

Don't use strong-smelling repellents like pepper or garlic because squirrels get used to them quickly and they can damage other plants too. What actually works is putting the pots in high places where they can't reach easily, or surrounding them with wire mesh right at ground level so they can't dig around them.

If you have cats at home you already know their simple presence deters them quite a bit, though it's not foolproof either. Another option is using hard plastic containers instead of pots because they can't scratch them as easily.

Wire mesh or metal screening around the pots is what really works, but make sure it fits snug against the ground because if you leave any space underneath they'll squeeze through anyway.