Blooming squirrels!

[sp54]

For years we have had a problem with squirrels digging up our bulbs. I plant hundreds, and only get a few flowers. If bulbs are so poisonous to people, how come squirrels aren't affected? They do actually eat them, we watch them. I have tried all the usual things - moth balls, curry powder, and holly covering the bulbs, but nothing seems to work for long. Failing sitting in the garden 24/7 and chasing them away myself, does anyone have a foolproof answer? {Or should that be squirrel proof? ;) ] Also, whatever we do, they still manage to break through so -called 'squirrel proof' bird feeders. :lara:

[goosegirl]

Hi sp54,

Rescue a dog you would be helping a animal, and a animal would be helping you by chasing the squirrel off your patch ;) We have a squirrel eat that nuts we leave out for him, but he uses ours has a stop off store when passing through.

GG.

[Domestic Goddess]

Hi, I googled your question and found these:

From The Times online:
Do you know of any way to stop squirrels eating bulbs? I want to get some tulips planted, mainly in containers, but I can already see the squirrels queuing up to get at them? Janet Redman, Worthing



If I knew a sure-fire deterrent I would be very rich indeed. Squirrels are a notorious and cunning pests and, when I lived in London, they used to eat my prize bulbs and then come into my house to gloat. I could never move fast enough to catch any of them. Infuriating. Chicken wire over the top of the containers will stop the pests so long as it is securely attached to the pot. As the bulbs grow you may have to coax their leaves around the chicken wire or even cut it a little so that the flowers are not distorted.

Another method that some people swear by is cayenne pepper. I am not convinced but if it keeps your squirrels at bay, good luck to you - just remember to keep applying the stuff around your most vulnerable plants. As you will probably have noticed squirrels always leave common bulbs, like daffs, well alone and only go for rare and expensive ones.
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Tip King says to get your husband to urinate around the bulbs!! I suppose you could get him to go in a jam jar and pour it around if he's shy!! This works for rabbits and deer too!!
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Dave's Garden.com says to buy a Jack Russell, they LIVE to chase squirrels
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crocus.co.uk says:
Squirrels

Symptoms
Squirrels, though lovely to watch, are a real nusiance. They dig up and eat bulbs, especially crocus and tulips, eat flower buds and shoot tips, steal nuts and strawberries, strip the bark from trees and eat food put out for the birds.

Treatment
Squirrels are energetic animals and not easy to deter in the garden. Most deterrents aren't that effective or long lasting. A ferious smelling chemical called Renardine is probably the best one. Soak small bits of cloth in it and then wrap them around sticks placed in the garden. You will need to replace them after heavy rain to keep them away. Netting over plants, such as magnolias, will give some protection when squirrels are eating the buds and shoots. Permanent structures, such as fruit cages, are better made from wire as squirrels will bite through plastic. Netting can also be placed over areas where bulb and corms are planted to stop them digging in that area.
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UKTVStyle.com suggests sprinkling chilli powder around your bulbs
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Hope this helps!!

[Eeyore]

I'll lend you my greyhounds sp54 - they patrol the garden, not a creature dare come near while they're out and about :rolleyes: They've never caught anything (thankfully, I'd cry I'm too much of an animal lover) but they run really fast!

[Annabel]

Hmm...so thats what the squirrels were doing in my garden yesterday...there were two of them scrabbling around in the beds ...I thought they had maybe stashed some cobnuts there (i have a cobnut tree in the garden)

I dont worry about them eating bird food, all the birds i ever see in my garden are great big fatsos anyway!!! :lol: :lol:

[sp54]

Originally posted by Domestic Goddess@17th April 2005 - 7:17 PM

Hi, I googled your question and found these.

Tip King says to get your husband to urinate around the bulbs!!** I suppose you could get him to go in a jam jar and pour it around if he's shy!!** This works for rabbits and deer too!


:bigeyes: :toilet: :lol: Thanks for looking them up DG. I'll let you know if mrsp does the business and it works :thumbs: ;)


Thanks everyone else, too. At least I am not suffering alone :sad: