A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2005 Planting Fall Bulbs

Once fall bulbs are planted squirrels can be a problem in digging them up and either eating them or storing them elsewhere. Here's a couple of hints that I have discovered over the years and they really work: After planting spread a little "Bloodmeal" over the top of the ground, the squirrels dislike the smell and they will avoid the area. Bloodmeal is a fertilizer, main ingredient is nitrogen, be carefull not to add too much or else you will get all green in the spring and no flowers. You will also have to repeat the process following a rain. Once the snow is on the ground there's no worry.....

Another trick to deter squirrels is to plant fritillaria, they are not only a beautifull flowering bulb but they have a distink odour all their own. A kinda skunkish smell, however the squirrles won't dig in the areas they are planted.....Wayne

Thanks for the tips. I usually have moles/voles problems. The squirrels seem to stay away from my garden. I do not know why.

I found it helpful to plant Allium around any bulb I want to be safe.

another way to discourage critters is to put them in a chicken wire "cage". the critters can't dig through it, but the plants grow through the holes just fine.

That's good information...
The only tid~bit of info I'd add to that
is about the Bloodmeal...
I'd scratch it into the dirt just wee~bit,
cause you'll get a few critters investing
that DO like bloodmeal, like a dog or cat,
one that would eat meat actuall type of animal..
so, if you cover it a bit, it doesn't attrack
those and if the others dig in, they'll then smell it and leave..