How to Stop Squirrels From Eating Bulbs

Use chicken wire to prevent small animals from digging up bulbs.

Squirrels and several other small animals dig up bulbs for food. Even if the squirrel leaves part of the bulb, it will not produce, leaving an empty spot in your garden. Other bulbs near the dug-up area could also be compromised. If a squirrel or other small animal digs up a bulb, but does not re-bury the bulb or eat the bulb, pets could get hold of the bulbs, some of which are poisonous to those pets.

Things You'll Need

• Weedblock (optional)
• Chicken wire (with 1-inch spacing)
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Remove all mulch if the bulbs are already planted, by raking the mulch and discarding or adding it to the compost pile. Clean the area of weeds and other unwanted foliage. If you are starting a new bed, clear the bed and plant the bulbs according to the instructions for the type of bulb you are planting.

2. Lay weedblock down, if desired. Weedblock comes in large rolls. Unroll the weedblock. Cut slits in the weedblock and slide it over smaller plants. For larger plants, cut out the area around the trunks of the plant, so that the weedblock fits around the bottom of the plants. Find weedblock at a nursery or big box home and garden store. Weedblock not only stops weeds, but makes it more difficult for animals to dig in the garden.

3. Unroll the chicken wire over the top of the entire garden bed. If there are other plants that are already exposed, cut the chicken wire so that it fits around the plants. Weigh the ends and sides of the chicken wire down with the garden borders or decorative statues in the garden. Chicken wire is very malleable, so when existing plants continue to grow, they move the chicken wire out of the way. Unexposed plants grow through the spacing in the chicken wire. If an unexposed plant stems grow larger than the spacing in the chicken wire, cut the chicken wire around the base of the plant.

4. Cover the chicken wire with about an inch of compost or pulverized bark. Water the bulbs according to the instructions for the type of bulbs that you are growing. In the event that the bulb package does not give watering instructions, water with at least an inch of water.

Tips & Warnings

• If you tend to work in the garden barefooted, be sure to fold down any exposed edges of the chicken wire. The edges can be folded back under the chicken wire, or folded at a 90-degree angle and pressed into the flowerbed.