Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to keep your bulbs where they belong—in the ground. The following techniques can help prevent squirrels and chipmunks from raiding your treasured bulbs, from practical ingredient swaps that will draw attention away from your garden to physical obstacles meant to keep animals at bay.
Cover Your Bulbs
Covering the planting area with chicken wire or hardware cloth is one of the most reliable ways to keep hungry squirrels and chipmunks away from your bulbs (hardware cloth is a metal mesh much like chicken wire except that it has a smaller grid pattern).
To safeguard your bulbs, there are two ways to utilize hardware cloth or chicken wire. A piece of the material that is big enough to cover the entire planting area can be cut. After you have planted the bulbs, set it on top of the dirt and hold it in place with stakes or by weighing it down with rocks or bricks. To conceal the wire, cover the material with a mulch made of finely chopped bark or leaves. The chicken wire or hardware cloth’s holes will allow bulb stems to grow, but the bulbs themselves will be protected from digging animals. The greatest places for using this method are wide open spaces without perennials or other plants in the way.
Alternatively, you may construct straightforward cages out of chicken wire or hardware cloth, put the bulbs inside, and then bury the whole thing in the ground. These enclosures are particularly successful in keeping out creatures that like to burrow, such voles, who also eat bulbs.
Avoid Smelly Fertilizers
The smell of several natural fertilizers, like bone meal, fish emulsion, blood meal, and others, may entice squirrels and chipmunks in addition to digging dogs, cats, and other animals. If your garden has a history of problems with digging animals, stay away from these natural fertilizers and choose instead for synthetic fertilizers that have no odor.
Plant Your Bulbs Among Other Plants
Squirrels have a tougher time finding and digging up spring bulbs when they are planted among established groundcovers or other perennials, such as pachysandra or creeping vinca. The early color your spring bulbs will add to bare spots before the summer perennials start to grow in is another benefit of this method.
Use Natural Repellents
There are a number of natural repellents available that could be quite effective at keeping pests out of your garden. You don’t have to stick to buying organic deer repellents if you want to keep rodents and squirrels away. Red pepper flakes are another successful all-natural squirrel deterrent. Spread liberally over planted bulbs to effectively deter hungry squirrels from digging.
Add Sharp Gravel
When planting bulbs in a garden bed that has already been developed, think about amending the soil with sharp gravel. Squirrels frequently flee an area where they are scavenging when they come across jagged objects. Sharp gravel is available from landscape supply yards or home improvement stores; it is frequently used to provide drainage beneath paved surfaces. Additionally, the unpleasant grit of crushed oyster shells may deter squirrels from digging.
Provide Alternate Food Sources
The idea behind placing a feeding station for squirrels close to your garden is that if the squirrels have easy access to grains and nuts, they won’t try to dig up your bulbs. This approach is debatable; some experts think that providing food only serves to increase the number of squirrels in your yard; they will still destroy your bulbs regardless. However, keep in mind that feeding squirrels and other wild creatures can be against the law in places with especially dense squirrel populations.
Clean Up Your Planting Areas
After you’ve completed planting your bulbs, clean up any plant debris, damaged bulbs you opted not to plant, or outer papery layers that may have come loose from the bulbs. These items can attract squirrels, who will start digging to find other treats you may have left out for them.
Plant Bulbs That Squirrels Don’t Prefer
Some spring-blooming bulbs, like tulips and crocuses, are particularly beloved by squirrels, yet they do not typically consume these plants. Replace your tulips and crocus with less-attractive to squirrels bulbs if you have a serious critter problem, or simply mix them in with your existing bulbs as a deterrent (a few bites of something bitter might keep the squirrels away from your yard). Daffodils, alliums (which also include onions and garlic), scilla, hyacinth, muscari (grape hyacinth), fritillaria, and snowdrops are among the bulbs that squirrels dislike.
Delay Planting Time
Early fall is usually when the squirrel and chipmunk eating frenzy peaks, and by late October, when the rodents have already stockpiled most of their winter food supply, things start to calm down. Plant your spring-blooming bulbs as late in the season as you can, when the squirrels aren’t frantically stocking up for the winter.
How do I prevent squirrels from consuming my tulips?
Use a pestle or hammer to lightly crush the garlic cloves. In a big glass or plastic jar, combine all the ingredients. Store the mixture somewhere warm for a week. Return to the covered jar after filtering through cheesecloth or a coffee filter. To use, combine 3 drops of dishwashing liquid, 1 pint water, and 1/2 cup of the pepper combination in a pump spray container.
If this method of preventing squirrels from eating your tulip flowers works for you, please let us know!
Why do squirrels eat the blossoms of tulips?
It might be acceptable for squirrels to consume a few bulbs and a few strawberries. But they must never, ever touch tulip blooms!
These bizarre humans start digging holes and dumping fat, juicy bulbs into them as the animals try to store up fat for the winter. Well, that’s definitely provoking! Why else would you pursue them, I mean?
I believe that we tempted squirrels at a particularly vulnerable time in their lives, and we could have to pay a price for our actions. Thus, it’s up to us as intelligent beings to outwit them.
Are tulips destroyed by squirrels?
A: It can be challenging to prevent squirrels from eating tulips since they view them as a delectable treat. Consider planting your tulips 12 inches deep if your drainage is good. The bulbs are unlikely to be reached by squirrels because they rarely burrow very far.
Why do squirrels trample tulip gardens?
Have a problem with squirrels in the garden, attic, or yard? Although we like these fuzzy creatures and find them fun to watch, it may be very annoying if they continually taking your spring bulbs and tomatoes. What then should a gardener do? You can live together! Use these effective natural methods to deter squirrels.
Why Worry About Squirrels in the Garden?
The common squirrel has long been a source of frustration for home gardeners because of their penchant for eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. From Maine to Montana, these crafty creatures shred apple trees like professional pickers, tug geraniums from window boxes, and nab tomatoes that are almost ripe off the vine. Even though squirrels can go on foraging expeditions at any time of the year, a raid in the late summer or early fall can drive a gardener crazy.
When they are storing up for the winter in the late summer and early fall, squirrels are very active. They do not hibernate, therefore their underground pantries serve as essential winter storage facilities (although they may “lay low” during cold periods). They have a strong survival instinct that drives them to hoard food. Gray squirrels hide food by burying it sporadically throughout their range.
Although there are various kinds of squirrel in North America, Sciurus carolinensis, the suburban-savvy gray squirrel, causes the most trouble for gardeners and bird feeders. How exactly did those cunning creatures discover those flower bulbs? Why do they raid some borders while ignoring others?
The typical squirrel forages for acorns, pinecones, nuts, bark, fruit, berries, fungus, and insects, but they are also known to steal bird eggs and bulbs. Sometimes they even intentionally destroy your flowers for fun! Try some of our advice below and keep an eye out for these bothersome guests.
Is That A Squirrel I See?
The typical gray squirrel, which weighs 16 to 24 ounces on average, is the species most likely inflicting harm in your garden. Its hues range from light brown and gray to dark brown and black. It has a pale, white to gray belly. Its tail is 8 to 10 inches long, while its body is between 8 and 11 inches long. It makes a quick CRRKCRRK or QUACKQUACK call that sounds like a duck. The bushy tail of the gray squirrel, a plush puff of fur utilized for warmth, communication, and balance, is the species’ most recognizable characteristic.
The majority of gardeners attribute squirrels’ ability to smell well as the cause of their bulb-stealing. These skilled foragers use their noses, a little but potent instrument, to find fruit and nuts that are hidden. Whether or not squirrels intentionally look for the spring bulbs is unknown to gardeners, but the issue of bulb snatching is present and pervasive.
How to Identify Squirrel Damage in the Garden
- Spring bulbs used as snacks? Most likely, you’re dealing with groundhogs, chipmunks, or squirrels. During their autumn foraging, squirrels adore digging up spring bulbs, both to consume the bulbs and to use the ready-made burrows to store their foraged nuts.
- Another telltale sign of squirrel activity in the garden is missing or damaged crops. Squirrels frequently take advantage of maturing fruits and vegetables, especially soft and juicy foods like squash, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and melons, to satisfy their snacking needs. Unfortunately, they frequently don’t even finish it!
- You might also see digging in the soil of the container if you’re planting flowers or veggies in containers. In their search for insects or other treats in containers, squirrels and chipmunks are known to uproot plants. Additionally, if the weather has been particularly dry, they can be digging to reach the damp soil.
- Your bird feeders will also be attacked by squirrels, in addition to your gardens. You might have a squirrel problem if you see your bird food disappearing too quickly or building up beneath your feeder.
Preventing Squirrel Damage
- Try to steer clear of initially luring squirrels to your property. Make sure your garbage cans are tightly fitting, and never leave food or compost scraps out in the open. Keep bird seed indoors or in a chew-proof container in a protected area because it is a large one as well.
- Don’t waste your time capturing and moving squirrels. Since squirrels are fairly common in most locations, fighting them will only result in the spread of more squirrels. Additionally, there is a good chance that you will take the animal’s mother away from any young that depend on her for survival if it is a female. Additionally, it’s possible that it’s against the law to relocate wildlife in your area, including squirrels.
- Squirrels may grab tomatoes, cucumbers, or other juicy produce from the vine if the weather has been extremely hot and dry because they are thirsty. According to several readers, placing a bowl of water (or bird bath) close to widely consumed crops can deter munching.
- Sadly, growing additional vegetables to “feed the squirrels” rarely works; the rodents will only consume your harvest and invite their pals!
- Are there acorns and tree nuts all over your lawn? If so, you live in a squirrel’s paradise! Simply accept that your yard will be the center of parties, or that you’ll need to pick up and shift the nuts to another area of the yard, or that you’ll need to cultivate or choose various kinds of trees.
Fencing, Netting, and Covers
It is advisable to employ physical barriers, which, provided the material is suitable, can frequently accomplish the task. Given their ability to squeeze through incredibly small openings, squirrels and other rodents, holes in the fencing or netting must be exceedingly small. Look for netting or fencing that is particularly rated for rats or squirrels.
- Consider installing a wire fence around your vegetable garden to keep animals out. Make sure the barrier is at least 6 inches deep in the ground. It can be done with materials like 1/4-inch hardware cloth. (A determined squirrel can fit through the gaps in regular chicken wire.)
- Like you would buy bird netting for berry bushes, you could also want to spend money on some chew-proof netting to cover your plants. Depending on the season, row coverings made of heavier materials may also be utilized.
- Pots can also be easily protected by placing a layer of hardware cloth or netting across the top of the pot. Digging can also be deterred by a covering of gravel or stones.
- Alternatively, consider this pricey pantry fix: Vegetable pots should have aluminum foil on top with holes drilled into it to allow for water exchange. The sparkling reflection irritates the squirrels.
Dogs are Natural Squirrel Deterrents!
- If you have a backyard where you can chase squirrels, a dog is a terrific option! Squirrels detest those annoying dogs! When you brush or groom your dog, save the hair and use it as mulch around your flower beds. Squirrels won’t approach it, either!
- One reader writes, “I used to have a problem with squirrels digging up my bulbs. Human hair helped a lot. I currently ask my hairdresser to save a large bag of hair for me once in the spring and once in the fall. This is gently buried in the ground. Squirrels avoid gardens because they can’t bear the smell of people.
Natural Squirrel Repellents
The market is flooded with natural repellents as well:
- sprinkling your garden with predator urine. Repellants manufactured using the urine of squirrels’ predators, like foxes or coyotes, can be found in garden nurseries. These should be sprayed about gardens to deter squirrels, although they probably need to be used again frequently.
- When your plants are prepared to blossom, try applying cayenne pepper, ground chili peppers, pepper flakes, and/or garlic pepper on and around them. Squirrels won’t touch anything containing cayenne, which you can frequently buy in bulk, after giving it a taste.
- Add some cayenne pepper to those bird feeders to keep squirrels away as birds cannot taste capsaicin.
- According to one reader, scattering blood meal around the garden soil keeps squirrels away.
- Create a fragrant border around your vegetable garden by planting nasturtiums, marigolds, and mustard.
- If squirrels are truly driving you nuts, consider placing an owl box or raptor perch to attract predatory birds that will eat squirrels.
- Moving a fake owl about the garden on a frequent basis will prevent the squirrels from figuring out the ruse. This method may also scare them away.
Protecting Bulbs from Squirrels
- Daffodils, fritillaria, snowdrops (Galanthus), grape hyacinths (Muscari), and decorative alliums are among the bulbs that squirrels (and other rodents) dislike. Because of their flavorless taste and aromatic scent, these blossoms are also unappealing to rabbits and deer. These flowers can also be planted in pots, planters, and other containers. See our list of rodent-resistant bulbs.
- Put wire mesh within the planting hole itself for added protection (“hardware cloth). Some gardeners have discovered that squirrels are deterred by placing the bulbs in a handful of sharp, broken pebbles. Additionally, this might contribute to better drainage.
- If a gardener is planting a lot of bulbs, they lay down chicken wire. Locate one-inch mesh, then lay it beneath and atop the bulbs. Although the wires are permeable to plants, squirrels cannot access the bulbs.
- Cover the bed’s surface with black plastic netting, which is both undetectable and reasonably priced, to add an additional layer of security.
- Don’t leave papery bulb debris in the soil or on it to advertise your freshly dug bulbs. As you dig the holes to plant your bulbs, tidy up your appearance or, better yet, try to avoid doing so. Squirrels will scent their favorite and will run over.
Keeping Squirrels Off Bird Feeders
- Squirrels are attracted to bird food because they enjoy berries, seeds, and nuts. Keep your bird feeder’s base as spotless as you can.
- Remember that squirrels can jump; even if they can’t get a foothold on the feeder, they might be able to do it from any neighboring perches.
- Place birdfeeders on solitary poles, at least 5 to 6 feet off the ground and 8 to 10 feet away from your house, trees, or other structures (do not hang them from eaves or trees). (Squirrels are capable of leaping considerably further.) A pulley system is employed by some.
- Attach a special squirrel-deterring dish with a 15-inch diameter to the feeder pole, a 13-inch-diameter inverted cone, a 6-inch-diameter PVC pipe, or an 18-inch-long stovepipe.
- Thread old records, CDs, or plastic soda bottles on the wire on either side to shield feeders strung from a horizontal wire.
- Try rubbing Crisco on the poles of your bird feeders (not the squirrels) if they are being climbed by squirrels. The birds are unaffected, and the squirrels can’t get a hold of it.
- Use safflower seeds if you can. These seeds are delicious to birds, but bitter to squirrels.
- Think about the kind of bird feeder as well. If you use a standard tube feeder, metal apertures surrounding the seed dispensers will keep house sparrows and squirrels from nipping at the feeder.
- The most effective feeder to purchase is one made entirely of metal with movable springs controlling a counter-weighted door. The door stays open when birds land lightly on the platform, but it lowers to cover the food source when a squirrel weighs more than that. Although they are more expensive, you won’t need to repair them because of squirrel damage. Simply make sure they are hung safely and cannot be tipped over.
Reader Suggestions
Here are two more recommendations from readers for squirrel deterrents:
- To help scare away squirrels in tiny yards or at corners of front yards where damage is most likely to occur, try motion-activated sprinklers, which are primarily used to keep cats and rabbits out of gardens. However, if they repeatedly activate this device, the presence of many squirrels, stray animals, or kids may lead to overwatering and expensive water bills.
- Purchase some mousetraps. In the vicinity of the squirrels’ digging, firmly anchor them to the ground. They should be covered in newspaper and dusted with dirt. The traps will go off when a squirrel arrives to dig. The mechanism will snap, startling the squirrel and hurling dirt in its direction. It will locate another burrowing place after being startled enough times. In case the wind knocks the newspaper off of the traps, be sure to secure them with anchors. The squirrel won’t be injured if the trap is properly anchored.
Dealing with Squirrels Inside the Home
Many squirrels search for shelter in the autumn and may enter your house. By cutting back branches that hang close to your roof and installing a mesh protection on your chimney, you can make it harder for them to accomplish this. Fix all entry points into your house.
You don’t want a squirrel to perish if it gets stuck in your chimney or attic. Make certain that it has a way to escape. Hang a rope through your chimney so that it can return to the roof by climbing up. Or, to get the squirrel out of your house, purchase a live trap.
If you’re in a pinch, contact an expert in animal management. After a squirrel spends a few weeks living in your home, they and all of their relatives will be drawn to your attic for at least a few years.