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Posted by Steve Bender, October 28, 2008 in Annuals and Perennials , You Ask, I Answer

Bulbplanters

Q: Grumpy Gardener,
I live in north Texas and am new to gardening in Texas. Last fall, I planted over 200 tulip bulbs. Daily when I would go out to my garden, bulbs would be dug up by squirrels. It was a constant battle, they would dig, I would replant. Any ideas how I can deter them?
Thanks.
Connie Cleveland
Granbury Texas

A: Maybe you should try putting down a layer of chicken wire over your bulb bed after you plant it. Anchor the wire so the squirrels can't get under it. The flowers and foliage should be able to go up through the wire.

Oh, I had another thought which is so logical and so Texan. Shoot the little X%^&*#+s!
Grumpy

Comments

Or you could have Grumpy's long-suffering cat, perhaps?

Posted by:Lianne | October 28, 2008 at 11:30 AM

My cat is afraid of squirrels, the little wimp. I think this is because my wife had him fixed. Not surprisingly, I am afraid of squirrels too.

Posted by:Grumpy | October 28, 2008 at 07:09 PM

Heh, heh, heh!
I got tired of planting snacks for the little critters. I'll buy some from the florist.

Posted by:Mother Nature's Garden | October 29, 2008 at 02:59 AM

Squirrels don't dig my plants up so much, they just dig dozens of holes in all my borders, planters, even the smallest pots! I can testify that the oily spray that is supposed to deter them only leaves sticky oil all over everything, and nearly killed my small potted rose bush (thankfully, it recovered). Stupidly, I sprayed my patio furniture, because I got tired of the squirrels running across it and leaving tracks. Now I wish I had the tracks back & not the oily, sticky film! Also, the fox urine didn't work, either. In fact, the suirrels dug holes in the planter right beside the container of fox urine. And my neighbor puts out corn ears and other food for them!

Posted by:Linda Yates | December 02, 2008 at 07:48 PM

Maybe squirrel urine chases away foxes. I haven't seen any around lately. Does anyone know what kind of urine chases off the guy who reads my power meter? I'd like to load up on him!

Posted by:Grumpy Gardener | December 03, 2008 at 10:02 AM

I had alot of problems with squirrls digging up and taking the bulbs of my tulips. Someone told me to make a round or square box of chicken wire (round is easier to make) and plant the bulbs in there and put dirt on top of them before you secure the top to the chicken wire box. Never had a problem after that.

Posted by:Mary Spallacci | April 07, 2009 at 12:16 PM

I've done the same thing. It works!

Posted by:Grumpy Gardener | April 07, 2009 at 01:56 PM
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