I have a situation I hope you can help with. My little boy's daycare
class planted a bunch of different kinds of sunflowers a month or so
ago. I dug out and added compost to a section of their playground and
they've been doing just great. In addition, I took on a project with
the class to plant 2 raised beds out behind the fence of the playground.

The problem is that there are squirrels or something that have been
shredding the sunflowers! There are only a few left standing now. Some
leaves are being eaten, not by squirrels, I presume, but we're finding
stalks shredding, broken off, lying on the ground, etc.

While I'm at it, the raised beds are lined with 1/2" aviary wire, but
obviously have some gaps or holes, because we started finding holes
around the bed corners, and our freshly planted seedlings and newly
sprouted beans gone. I've been building wire cages and baskets to both
sink down in the ground, as well as cover the tops.

Problem is, that'll work okay while things are still small, but what on
earth are we going to do when things get big and bushy? The tomatoes
are fine, but there are no tomatoes on them yet. The cucumbers we were
going to trellis. Same for the pole beans, gourds, and mini jack
pumpkins. They haven't bothered the radishes.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions of things I can do to save what's
left of the sunflowers, and how I can protect the cukes, tomatoes,
pumpkins, watermelons, cantaloupes, beans, etc., etc.

Many thanks,
Karen
zone 8, northern California