I have been leaving sunflower hearts in a ground feeder under the conifer and the one field mouse and squirrels are using that as I was getting a lot of damage from them wanting to dig up our bulbs as we have quite a few round the garden. Was reading an article saying the gardeners at the white house reduced damage to there bulbs from squirrels by feeding them, it is working at our house and hope they move on in spring when more food is around not sure if we will get hassle trying to wean them off.
We did try that, but all that happened was that they ate what they had then started on anything else. We do have alot of squirrels, and anything that woks for anyone is good. I find chicken wire and holly cuttings over pots useful, this year laid alot of very prickly hedge cuttings on the ground over areas of newly ground planted bulbs which seems to have reduced the digging. Will know more in a couple of months I guess.
Planting crocuses under turf works for me . I just lift one or two small rectangles with the spade, loosen slightly, toss on a handful or two of corms and then tread down the turf (not too hard). The mice don't get them, but as soon as they show their flower heads above ground, the rabbits do!
Last year I was blaming the mice for all the damaged crocuses, then found that my goose had got onto the rockery and was pulling them all up by the spikes to eat the corms. He had more or less finished the crocuses, but at least I managed to save some of the irises and most of the tulips that were also on the menu. The trials of country living!
The mice can get into my greenhouse and were merrily making a start on all my potted bulbs, obviously put there for their delectation and delight, so I had to brimg in all the vulnerable ones and hide them under the sideboard. I have used traps on occasion, but don't like doing it as they are pretty little field mice and they have to live too. But I do know that if you want to bait a trap the very best thing to use is a tulip bulb!
Don't know any of their names but have 2 clumps of singles flowering for a few days but another 2 clumps of doubles have not shown through the soil yet, but this is usual as the singles usually finish flowering before the doubles bother their heads!
Here's one for the global warming/climate change brigade, my Grans sister was born on the 19th January 1940, there was a large clump of snowdrops flowering in the garden, so her mum said that she was her little snowdrop, the name stuck and when she was a child her pet name was Snowdrop!
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Away on holiday at the moment, returning Monday, my first task, even before unpacking will be to walk around the garden looking for snowdrops.
Cant wait.
I have been leaving sunflower hearts in a ground feeder under the conifer and the one field mouse and squirrels are using that as I was getting a lot of damage from them wanting to dig up our bulbs as we have quite a few round the garden. Was reading an article saying the gardeners at the white house reduced damage to there bulbs from squirrels by feeding them, it is working at our house and hope they move on in spring when more food is around not sure if we will get hassle trying to wean them off.
We did try that, but all that happened was that they ate what they had then started on anything else. We do have alot of squirrels, and anything that woks for anyone is good. I find chicken wire and holly cuttings over pots useful, this year laid alot of very prickly hedge cuttings on the ground over areas of newly ground planted bulbs which seems to have reduced the digging. Will know more in a couple of months I guess.
Planting crocuses under turf works for me . I just lift one or two small rectangles with the spade, loosen slightly, toss on a handful or two of corms and then tread down the turf (not too hard). The mice don't get them, but as soon as they show their flower heads above ground, the rabbits do!
Last year I was blaming the mice for all the damaged crocuses, then found that my goose had got onto the rockery and was pulling them all up by the spikes to eat the corms. He had more or less finished the crocuses, but at least I managed to save some of the irises and most of the tulips that were also on the menu. The trials of country living!
The mice can get into my greenhouse and were merrily making a start on all my potted bulbs, obviously put there for their delectation and delight, so I had to brimg in all the vulnerable ones and hide them under the sideboard. I have used traps on occasion, but don't like doing it as they are pretty little field mice and they have to live too. But I do know that if you want to bait a trap the very best thing to use is a tulip bulb!
.
Don't know any of their names but have 2 clumps of singles flowering for a few days but another 2 clumps of doubles have not shown through the soil yet, but this is usual as the singles usually finish flowering before the doubles bother their heads!
Here's one for the global warming/climate change brigade, my Grans sister was born on the 19th January 1940, there was a large clump of snowdrops flowering in the garden, so her mum said that she was her little snowdrop, the name stuck and when she was a child her pet name was Snowdrop!
Sitting in Orlando airport waiting for the flight home.
back at Gatwick 7.30am, home 10.30am.
in garden at 10.31am searching for snowdrops, will post photos if any found
Have a good journey home AWB
. Hope you find snowdrops on your return - might need your brolly though
Just checked the weather forecast - might need a snorkel too
Noticed 3 buds this weekend, 2 nearly open
Also realised I'd put a stepping stone over some of the emerging 'drops
they're a bit yellow but I reckon they'll be okay
Despite the weather still want to get back