I totally sympathise Bookertoo, and you're right, they can squeeze through tiny gaps. For me it's starlings and the dreaded felines that I'm waging war on. Usually squirrels don't dig too deep so tulips and other bigger bulbs should be ok. In previous gardens I've used fine plastic mesh (the kind for protecting fruit crops) on pots or areas where I have lots of crocus and they seem to be ok. The squirrels left those and looked for easier pickings. I've not fed peanuts here at all to try and lessen the attraction too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I don't have much of a squirrel problem where I live but my mother has always suffered from having her tulip bulbs dug up from her containers until last year. She bought a rigid black plastic mesh which you install with pegs just below the surface of the soil and it worked a treat.
I agree Madpenguin I bought a squirrel feeder and nailed it to a tree a good distance from my bird feeding area. It does work if kept topped up and it's very amusing to watch the squirrels chasing each other around the garden as they await their turn!
I once put up what I thought was a squirrel proof feeder for the birds but one of them must have unscrewed the nut at the bottom. All the seeds then fell out.
Feeding the squirrels is fine, till they empty their feeder, when they come back to the bird feeder and empty that as well! If I let them, they could cost me a small fortune, but I will go on as I really want to feed the birds, especially in this colder weather.
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I totally sympathise Bookertoo, and you're right, they can squeeze through tiny gaps. For me it's starlings and the dreaded felines that I'm waging war on. Usually squirrels don't dig too deep so tulips and other bigger bulbs should be ok. In previous gardens I've used fine plastic mesh (the kind for protecting fruit crops) on pots or areas where I have lots of crocus and they seem to be ok. The squirrels left those and looked for easier pickings. I've not fed peanuts here at all to try and lessen the attraction too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I don't have much of a squirrel problem where I live but my mother has always suffered from having her tulip bulbs dug up from her containers until last year. She bought a rigid black plastic mesh which you install with pegs just below the surface of the soil and it worked a treat.
I agree Madpenguin I bought a squirrel feeder and nailed it to a tree a good distance from my bird feeding area. It does work if kept topped up and it's very amusing to watch the squirrels chasing each other around the garden as they await their turn!
I once put up what I thought was a squirrel proof feeder for the birds but one of them must have unscrewed the nut at the bottom. All the seeds then fell out.
Feeding the squirrels is fine, till they empty their feeder, when they come back to the bird feeder and empty that as well! If I let them, they could cost me a small fortune, but I will go on as I really want to feed the birds, especially in this colder weather.