The problem with grease (ie crisco) is that over time it dehydrates and becomes tacky, then the squirrels can climb it. I finally configured a standard bird feeder pole ( slender metal rod that sticks into the ground, and curves at the top into a hook where the feeder hangs) that has a cowling that hangs over it. I had to make a number of adjustments to it (cowling higher, move it away from trees where the could leap from, etc.) but eventually found an equilibrium where the squirrels are defeated.
