How to protect bulbs from being eaten by squirrels- Any Tips

[NotwatchingSpooks]

Hi
Well I’ve ordered many bulbs from Clare Bulbs and whilst waiting for them I am wondering if anyone has any tips on stopping them getting dug up and eaten by squirrels etc?

Has anyone tried putting a disc of chicken wire in a pot above the bulbs or over the earth in the border etc

Hi, yes the chicken wire works surprisingly well actually. I've also tried chilli powder, which also works, but only until the rail washes it away so you have to keep topping it up; and if the bulbs are in pots I've put a piece of glass over the top of the pot before, which allows the bulbs to get the sun but the squirrels can't get in. I've also found that although the squirrels love tulip bulbs they seem to leave daffodil/narcissi bulbs alone. Hope that helps!

squirrels and mice like crocus, tulips and gladioli. i’ve put my crocus bulbs in window boxes . When i plant my tulip bulbs i’ll be putting chicken wire over them as that does seem to work. alliums and hyacinths are too oniony for animals to eat. i’ve never known squirrels eating daffodil bulbs before.

We have lots of left over roof tiles. So this year I covered each planted blub with a roof tile! The roof tiles are still in place and so must be the bulbs. In the new year I'll remove the tiles so the soil receives rain/sun and hopefully will see the flowers a few months later!

I found covering the soil in fallen leaves worked well, apparently it means the squirrels don’t realise the earth has been disturbed underneath so they don’t realise the bulbs are there. Works well on a large flower bed that’s impossible to cover with chicken wire.

Watching with interest - squirrels have absolutely destroyed my garden in the past few weeks and I’m itching to get some new spring bulbs planted. I have some in pots that will stay in the plastic greenhouse, but chicken wire is a good shout.

@SpangoDweller

Watching with interest - squirrels have absolutely destroyed my garden in the past few weeks and I’m itching to get some new spring bulbs planted. I have some in pots that will stay in the plastic greenhouse, but chicken wire is a good shout.

Yep, I use chicken wire and it works.

I also use those wire shelves you get in plastic greenhouses, which are great as they don't have sharp edges.

chicken wire etc does work.

cayenne pepper also deters squirrels from eating things, at least a bit.

Thank you. I’ve ordered the chicken wire and the man from Clare Bulbs rang to say they are dispatching my order tomorrow 😀 I’m hoping to plant once it all arrives