"Janice" wrote in message
...
Are there any bulbs in particular that squirrels will dig up? I believe
they're particularly fond of crocus? What about daffs, muscari, hyacinth,
snowdrops and the like? Will they dig up everything?

Is there anything that will discourage them from digging bulbs out of the
border?

Thanks


In the spirit of passing on information, my bl**dy cat ate a grey squirrel
yesterday, so that's some sort of deterrent.......

Nature red in tooth and claw and all that...

Chris S

On Thu, 6 Nov 2003 23:29:12 -0000, "Chris Stewart"
wrote:

Is there anything that will discourage them from digging bulbs out of the
border?

A friend who has squirrel trouble has acquired holly and stuck pieces
into the soil of her potted bulbs. Presumably it would work as well
in borders.


Pam in Bristol

On Thu, 6 Nov 2003 23:29:12 -0000, "Chris Stewart"
wrote:

~
~
~"Janice" wrote in message
...
~ Are there any bulbs in particular that squirrels will dig up? I believe
~ they're particularly fond of crocus? What about daffs, muscari, hyacinth,
~ snowdrops and the like? Will they dig up everything?
~
~ Is there anything that will discourage them from digging bulbs out of the
~ border?
~
~ Thanks
~
~
~In the spirit of passing on information, my bl**dy cat ate a grey squirrel
~yesterday, so that's some sort of deterrent.......

Three or so weeks ago we were getting out the car and saw one of the
neighbours' cats (the boss tom) trotting down some steps with a grey
squirrel in his jaws. We applauded him. Wish he'd do it more often - I
spend a small fortune on inch-size welded mesh for my pots... though
I've learned to buy pots which are just smaller than a 12" hanging
basket which I upturn onto them. They can't bite through those easily!


They will dig up preferentially crocuses and tulips. Never leave a bag
of tulips where they can find them or you'll get left with just the
papery wrappers. And they bite off the flower heads just when they are
open. Narcissi are safe - poisonous to just about everything
(including us). Snowdrops are too I believe. So far I've never lost a
hyacinth, though not sure about their toxicity. And I don't think
anything eats muscari though I know there are a few folk around here
who wish there was... :-)

Mesh (1-2") laid over the bed will stop them (and cats digging there
too) as will lots of twigs stuck upright in the bed (and ditto) though
the latter is time consuming!

--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 07:32:07 +0000, Pam Moore
wrote:

On Thu, 6 Nov 2003 23:29:12 -0000, "Chris Stewart"
wrote:

Is there anything that will discourage them from digging bulbs out of =
the
border?

A friend who has squirrel trouble has acquired holly and stuck pieces
into the soil of her potted bulbs. Presumably it would work as well
in borders.

We had a nutty near neighbour, who covered the whole of her small
front garden with inverted plant pots with sharpened bamboo canes
stuck in the holes=20
It made our cats smile.=20
--=20
Martin