Squirrel ate three of my tulips!

[MorningGlow]

Damned rodent. Nipped three of 'em before they even had a chance to blossom. Left a few petals scattered on the ground to show me "what might have been."

The little stinker. This has gotta be the same one that took up residence in my mailbox for half a day (till I opened it and gave him a little furry heart attack) and leaves his walnut shells on the front steps. Ingrate. Squatter.

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[MorningGlow]

1. No, wait, I tell a lie

Now it's FIVE tulips. :grr: :grr: :grr:

Also...one rec, no responses? Gasp! I've been visited by the recommend fairy!

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Squirrels love tulips.

I'm usually okay with coexistence with the yard critters but that's one of two offenses that rile me. The other is when the blue jays poke holes in the plums and squirrels take one bite out of plum before picking up another.

[MorningGlow]

3. I didn't know that till yesterday!

And I am piiiiissed! I spent a ton of money on bulbs (oh yeah, a month ago he ate two that popped up out of the ground because I didn't plant them deep enough) and he's working his way through the flowers that are front and center in the bed under the front windows. Our house and yard look like shit on a good day, and then this evil little rodent has to sabotage what little good I've done!

Good thing they're cute, and I've taken a vow of Harm None, that's all I've got to say. :banghead:

[Gormy Cuss]

9. csziggy's right about narcissus--they're pretty much squirrel proof.

I learned that trick the hard way too. :hi:

[siligut]

4. I am sorry, that is disappointing.

I know. The squirrels ate most of my crocus bulbs. I planted about 100 of them and each day would find their little sprouts snipped off and the bulb gone, eaten. However, they didn’t touch the tulips or irises. I have a soft spot for the little guys, but I am glad they left me some spring bulbs.

[MorningGlow]

7. I wonder about my crocuses

One came up in front and then promptly--er, croaked (they can survive snow, but I think our last pounding was too much for this little guy). And honestly I can't remember if I planted more of them in the front bed as well. I put some in the back, in a little triangular spot by the sidestreet, and I did notice that some came up, but now I wonder if the squirrel got any of those...hm...

[csziggy]

5. Plant narcissus/daffodils around your other bulbs.

Squirrels hate them - it might actually be poisonous to them - and will not dig around them. Here (North Florida) narcissus bloom in winter to early spring so they will bloom when nothing else is yet.

Here are other suggestions: http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/AAMG/wildlife/squirrels.html
http://www.canadiangardening.com/how-to/pests-and-diseases/how-to-deter-freeloading-squirrels/a/1915

[MorningGlow]

6. Nice tip--thanks!

I put all the daffodil bulbs in the back, with the hyacinths. But for next year I'll get a batch of daffodil bulbs for the front bed. :hi:

[csziggy]

8. The squirrels are also not eating my Louisiana or African Irises

So if you can grow those, they might be worth checking out. But narcissus were the first bulbs I had good success with so they came to mind first.