Protect Bulbs from Animal Damage

Here are some suggestions for how to prevent wild animals such as mice, voles, moles, woodchucks, chipmunks, skunks, and deer from digging up or eating or replanting or otherwise destroying your newly planted bulbs. Every fall, gardeners eagerly plant their newly purchased, expensive spring blooming bulbs in anticipation of a beautiful showing and display, but unfortunately many would be flower gardeners become discouraged, exasperated, or infuriated by the assorted problem wild animals that eat, dig up, move, rearrange, ruin or otherwise damage bulbs costing not only time and money but even worse, ruining the bulb planting and wrecking the much anticipated spring display.

Enclose Bulbs in a Wire Cage

Protect your bulbs by surrounding them with chicken wire or smaller meshed metal wire cloth. Some garden suppliers offer so-called bulb baskets for this purpose.

Surround with Sharp Stones to Deter Digging or Tunneling

Razor edged stones, broken shells, or similar material can deter digging and tunneling. If you use these, wear heavy duty gloves as the sharp cutting edges could hurt your hands or slice through light weight garden gloves

Dip Bulb in Rodent Repellent before Planting

Rodent repellents such as Ropel or castor oil can be effective. Quickly dip the bulbs in the liquid repellent just prior to planting.

Spray Surface with Animal Repellent after Planting

Select a product labeled for the animal causing you trouble with the bulbs. Read and follow label directions for applying and reapplying. Some must be reapplied after every rain. You should be able to stop spraying once the ground freezes hard. Some animal repellents are also available in powder form.

Cover Planting Spot with Wire Mesh

After planting, spread wire mesh such as chicken wire flat over the soil surface. This prevents animals from digging down to the bulbs. Recycle old window screens, or use chicken wire or wire cloth. If you use a small mesh, be sure to remove in the spring when the foliage begins to emerge.

Plant Deep, Mulch and Water Thoroughly

A freshly dug, loosely refilled planting hole is an open invitation to digging. Sometimes a simple deep watering will settle and compact the soil enough to discourage varmints. Be sure to plant the bulbs at the deeper end of their preferred planting depth to make reaching them more difficult. Topping with a few inches of organic mulch can also help.

Plant in Containers, Store Indoors

This solution takes exclusion to the extreme. Pot up your bulbs and provide the needed chilling by storing them in a critter-proof, unheated shed or garage. Double check and seal any possible points of entry. This is a good general maintenance tip even if you aren’t storing bulbs indoors.

Insert Pointy Sticks

Insert pointy or thorny clippings in the ground surrounding and over top of the planting area to deter wildlife from digging or munching.

Scare Rodents Away with Inflatable Snakes and Owls

This might be worth a try, especially if you already have the scarers on hand for use in the summer vegetable garden.

The Best Way to Prevent Damage: Plant Daffodils Instead

Daffodils (also called Narcissus or Jonquils) are toxic and are thus naturally unattractive to animals. For this reason, daffodils and narcissus are virtually critter proof. Animals – including deer– avoid the bulbs as well as the growing foliage and flowers. Many gardeners grow tired of the ongoing need to protect their spring bulb plantings and simply plant daffodils instead. This is wise advice if you live in a rural area, experience frequent animal damage to your bulbs, or wish to naturalize bulbs in an area that is home to a variety of wild critters. ( Great Daffodil Planting Tips and Tricks. Daffodil Narcissus Jonquil Planting Basics.)

The above precautions, remedies and preventives should help stop wild animals from eating, digging, damaging or otherwise ruining your bulb plantings. If you have additional methods that have worked well for you to save your bulbs from hungry and destructive animals, please pass them along. Your fellow flower gardeners welcome your help!

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