Protect Your Planted Bulbs From Squirrels With A Quick And Easy Trick

One of the most exciting things that gardeners look forward to in spring is the emergence of all those pretty bulbs they so diligently planted in the fall. But planting even a few handfuls of bulbs takes time and effort, and nothing could be worse than finding your corms or rhizomes totally decimated by hungry squirrels overnight. While you don't want to harm the little critters visiting your garden, you're also not that keen on feeding them with the bulbs you've purchased at considerable expense — especially after spending time down on your hands and knees to get them into the ground. 

Although you can deter squirrels from your yard with plants they can't stand, there's a quick and easy trick you can use to protect the planted bulbs from those sneaky critters, and all you need is a bit of chicken wire and some stakes or hooked pegs. This bulb protection method is really easy and doesn't require much time. But it will save you a lot of frustration and ensure you enjoy watching your garden burst into new growth with all the flowers you've waited for all winter. On that note, did you know that layered bulbs are the best way to get gorgeous flowers year round?

To keep squirrels away from your garden once you've planted all your bulbs, just grab enough chicken wire to cover the entire planting area. Lay it flat over the soil and use a few stakes or pegs to hold it down firmly, so it can't be easily dislodged. Then, cover the entire area with either some soil or a good layer of mulch. Don't worry, the tips of the emerging foliage can easily break through this additional barrier — the sprouts will find their way through the holes in the wire.

If the squirrels are really determined, and you fear they may try to dig under the wire, just bend over the ends on each side using a pair of pliers, as if you were making a shallow cage. Insert the pointy ends into the soil around the bulb planting area and, once again, secure the wire, and cover with mulch. You can use a similar tactic if you've planted bulbs in containers — cover the top with a piece of wire and holding it down with something heavy, like a brick. You could even use plastic fence netting to cover your pots. Finally, you might like to find out what common things are attracting squirrels to your yard and garden, so that you can make your property less appealing to these unwanted guests.