Gardeners’ Forum: “Something's eating my tulip bulbs”
Back to Gardeners’ ForumSomething's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by France Benoit on Saturday, December 23, 2006 2:23 PM ASTWhat else besides Squirrels eat tulip bulbs and is there any way to protect them? This creature leaves a trail in the earth like a little tunnel. thank you
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by A.F.White on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 5:03 PM ASTTry planting garlic with them. OR put a 1/4 inch mest screen over them.
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by pei hobby on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 6:29 PM ASTProbably a mole or mouse.
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by Patricia Jansseune on Thursday, January 4, 2007 5:08 PM ASTHi I think you have the pests called Chipmunks. They like to eat mine too. I put blood meal on the ground. Sometimes that works. Otherwise trap them and take them to a bush.
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by lloyd smith on Saturday, January 6, 2007 7:47 AM ASTYou have mice or voles. Probably mice as they leave the same trails here. Moles eat worms etc. they are not vegatarians. If you have moles, voles will move out. Moles will attack voles. I had a bed that was ruined by mice...they even ate all of the foxglove....they love Siberian Iris...
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by Lois on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 11:25 AM ASTTHis is taken from the Veseys Web site under the BUlb & Perennial Planting guide. It might help!) If wild animals like squirrels, chipmunks and mice are dining on or carrying off your bulbs, try the following: Put sharp gravel around the bulbs when you plant. Improves drainage and deters critters. Cover newly planted bulbs with very small wire mesh. Remove in spring. Interplant daffodils and frittilaria among your tulips and crocus. Squirrels hate them. Clean up bulb debris (Tunics, etc.) after you plant, so pests aren't attracted. Feed the squirrels in fall and winter. The White House puts out six peanut feeders every year to keep the critters away from the new plantings. Mothball flakes, human or pet hair, or pine needles sprinkled on the ground may work. *Cayenne pepper works, but is considered inhumane. The squirrels get it in their eyes, which causes temporary blindness and extreme discomfort. It's better to humanely trap, shoot or poison them. Do not put winter mulch on your planting until after the ground has frozen in December or January. If you put it on earlier you are creating warm, winter nests for rodents looking for winter homes! Try a commercially prepared repellent, such as 'Ropel'. This product leaves a very bitter taste on your bulbs or plants.
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by Wendy on Friday, April 6, 2007 11:33 AM ADTYou could try surrounding and covering the bulbs with crushed egg shells-I save all of mine. The critturs dont like the sharpness of these and they are also good for the ground!
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by Katherine Croxson on Sunday, July 8, 2007 9:44 PM ADTWe live in an area north of Hwy. 17 between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.My biggest problem is people in the area that are feeding the chipmunks.Now they are breeding in my garden area. I have lost almost 100 bulbs to this date and have had to bring tomato seedlings into my screened porch to keep the varmints away. I have used blood meal but with little success. Am going to try Cayenne pepper and hot sauce. Thanks for the comments, Katherine
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by gina mac on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 9:58 PM ADTplease don't use Cayenne pepper or hot sauce...it is so painful for the little critter. They are just hungry.
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by liz woods on Sunday, March 14, 2010 7:44 AM ADTplease cud someone tell me why ,the mice eat tulip bulbs and not my daffodil bulbs when there stored together!!
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by Johnnie on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 10:39 PM ADTI think a worm was eating my fledgling bulb and sprout-seriously
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by Clark on Thursday, April 15, 2010 5:19 PM ADTI would like to hear more about earthworms. My wife says she found worms in her bulbs that didn't bloom (now somewhat rotten). She also dug up ones with them that just finished blooming with no damage. I looked in the planter and only found earthworms and earwigs.
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by paul hale on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 5:59 PM ADTwill human hair stop squirrels from eating my tulip bulbs. and if so how do i use it thanks paul.
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by guccimaneyusweatinsohard on Sunday, April 24, 2011 12:29 AM ADTTulip bulbs are edible on 23% of the earths physical land mass. Except in some parts of the east atlantic the tulip bulb is prized as a "luxury item" among the native aquatic species "fish". Please check your state laws for current information and legislation about the legality of eating the tulip bulb in, on or around your area.
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by Ruthie Bishop on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 4:07 PM ADTI am not sure whats going on in my yard. There are large holes in my tulip and other flower beds. Last year some of my tulips did not come up. I may not have any this time. I have seen moles and I do have squirrels.
re: Something's eating my tulip bulbs
Posted by Pam Gutierrez on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 11:37 AM ADTI planted at least fifty tulip bulbs in the fall and something ate them. I put baby powder around them but that didn't seem to help. Is there anything else that I can do?
