How to prevent my spring bulbs from squirrels and other rodents

Marlena
by Marlena
My bulbs are being dug up and left on top of the soil. I have had to check on them daily and rebury them in the ground but it is getting worse. I am beginning to wonder if I have any bulbls left in some places.
  6 answers
  • Joanne Sanders Joanne Sanders on Apr 09, 2014
    Have you tried spreading mothballs in the garden bed?
  • There are a couple ways to protect bulbs and they involve creating a wire basket to protect the bulbs or use gravel to fill in on the bottom and around the planted bulb (which I do with some plants and bulbs now). Squirrels do not eat daffs but they do like to tear things up! I have daffodils in places I never planted along with Hyacynths that are moved. I use gravel for some things now because it is easier and cheaper than wire baskets. Good luck and happy gardening!
  • Chantel Tupper Chantel Tupper on Apr 09, 2014
    chicken wire under the top layer of soil.
  • Donna Byram Donna Byram on Apr 11, 2014
    Seen where the recommend talcum powder. Place bulbs in a bag of talcum powder and shake gently to coat the bulbs. Seen this on Grit Facebook page. Read they don't like the smell or getting the powder on their paws. Don't know how long it would last?
  • Jennifer G Jennifer G on Apr 13, 2014
    A layer of chicken (or similar) wire over the top of the soil works well. I didn't bother burying it under soil since I use mulch on top anyway and the mulch covered the wire, but I did add 'decorative' rocks to weigh it down so the critters couldn't move the wire.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Apr 13, 2014
    The critters got after my stuff too...even chewed up the twisted paper seat of my rocker and chewed off some of the green paint on my glider! A rabbit sat on a step above a pot on my front entrance steps and feasted! I saw him! You might try sprinkling some talcum powder around on top of the bed...???