I will be planting my bulbs today or tomorrow- I live in zone 5b. I have a squirrel "issue" they dig up just about everything-they even destroyed the fabric under the mulchtrying to dig up my plants. They even eat some plants-my bleeding heart, and some other perrenials whose names I don't know. Is chicken wire over the bulbs helpful and will they eat the bulbs after flowering?Is there anything squirrels WON'T eat?
2006-11-02 04:25:30 · 12 answers · asked by mattysmom 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
i have tried all the deterrents out on the market and only the wolf urine thing worked- for about 10 days. I was at war with them when I moved in- they would even jump onto our patio table while we were eating. My husband seems to think if we lay out enough nuts for them, they won't disturb my plants- WRONG! I just have fat squirrels. BTW- Good luck to all of us gardening!
2006-11-02 07:49:23 · update #1
try sprinkling pepper around them ,you will need a lot tho
2006-11-02 04:28:47 · answer #1 · answered by dumplingmuffin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chicken wire is the answer! Works great to keep dogs out too! You can also use Habenero Pepper spray in the spring when they start to appear from hibernation. (The bulbs). Simply got to the store and puchase a cpl of teh hotties. Take them home and put them in ablender with about 1 quart of wter for every 4 peppers. Blend until as close to a liquid as you can get. strain thru cheesecloth, paper towel or coffee filter and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the tops of the newly emerging plants. (will need to reapply after rain or snow).
The little buggers should take abite and run the other way! The whole peppers are great for potted plants and so are mouse traps!
Mouse traps would stop the squirrels too! (along witha hungry cat!)
2006-11-03 15:23:34 · answer #2 · answered by bixbygretta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What I did to keep squirrels from digging up my tulip bulbs:
I planted a bulb bed, 4x8' 6" deep, then I covered the bulbs
with soil, lay chicken wire over the whole bed, then I mulched.
I had not trouble with the squirrels after that.
Although, when they began to grow, few of them would get stuck
under the wire and I had to move the growth out from under the wire. That really was not problem.
But I also agree with planting Narcissus with tulips.
2006-11-03 15:27:02 · answer #3 · answered by flowerweeangel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hahaha!! Good luck! Those little buggers are something else! You could try liquid fence...it's a spray for rabbits but it might work for the squirrels too. Also I've heard a good sprinkling of cayenne pepper will do the trick.Cute story: Years ago I had never planted a bulb in my life...Spring came and in one of my beds rose a PERFECT row of red and yellow tulips! Had to be squirrels! That's what really got me into gardening.They were so pretty! Hope you find a solution and are rewarded with spring beauty as I was! (Also zone 5)
2006-11-02 04:35:21 · answer #4 · answered by Reenie: Mom of Marine 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
PLEASE don't poison any animals, poison is indiscriminate and you might end up killing your neighbor's cat. Besides, you wouldn't actually want something to die so that you could have flowers, would you?
I have tried a lot of things, including hot sauce and cheyenne pepper, rocks, changing planting depths, and planting three times as many so at least some will come up. I even tried planting them in pots on my front porch last year.
This year, I am going to sink chicken wire cages in the ground and plant the bulbs inside the cages. By the time the bulbs sprout up the squirrels won't want them anymore. This also protects them from ground voles and ground squirrels, who are often the actual culprit.
Wish me luck and good luck to you too! At least I don't have deer here and bears and coyotes don't crave bulbs.
2006-11-02 07:11:59 · answer #5 · answered by Liligirl 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In order to stop critters of any kind, make a wire cage and plant your bulbs in them. Animals can`t get to them, the holes are big enough for roots to grow through, etc. and in the fall (if they are the kind you take up and store), you just lift the entire cage out of the ground. Saves time, and having to buy repellents.
2016-05-23 17:25:26 · answer #6 · answered by Michelle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plant Narcissus (daffodil) bulbs along with your tulips. They are toxic to squirrels, gophers and deer. Once they learn that that area has toxic items, they will not eat there again.
2006-11-02 06:23:09 · answer #7 · answered by makawao_kane 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Fox urine will detour them but if you want to make sure, they have little grates you can plant bulbs in that they can't get into at the hardware store.
2006-11-02 04:32:39 · answer #8 · answered by mommy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put a rock very near your bulb after you plant it. I find this works very well for seeds. Might work! ;) arum
2006-11-02 04:36:43 · answer #9 · answered by arum 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the easiest way is put electricity wire around it and also u can take andantage..u can take the squirells leather and sell it =)
2006-11-02 04:53:40 · answer #10 · answered by ^Daphne^ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋