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Something's been eating my bulbs

I was wondering if anyone had any great advice about how to stop something eating my bulbs that are in pots. Something keeps digging holes and the tips of my daffy and tulips etc keep being strewn across the patio. We have a dog and it doesn't appear to be her but any advice as to what to do would be grateful as all the bulbs are starting to appear and keep getting dug up exposed and broken

thanks

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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    Rats, mice, squirrels are the most likely culprits.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307

    Squirrel or mice. They are the usual culprits. Try putting wire mesh across the top of the pots,just below soil level, so you cannot see it.

  • Tessa HTessa H Posts: 5

    Can I still do that if the bulbs are already poking through?

     

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307

    Not easily, no. There are scented compounds sold to water on to keep vermin away, but I have never used them so no recommendations to make.

  • BookertooBookertoo Posts: 1,306

    I've used chicken wire and prickly cuttings to protect mine, and it has worked reasonably well.  I have, reluctantly, come to realise I shall have to share bulbs to some degree with squires and pigeons, as long as we get there better share!   Pyracantha and holly twigs tucked around inside the pots do make the shoots and bulbs rather less accessible, you can still do this if you have some nice prickly plants to get bits to cut off. 

  • Tessa HTessa H Posts: 5

    Thank you for all your advice

  • I'm having the same problem as nearly every day when I go outside something has attacked my pots and strewn plants and soil all over the place , any ideas as to what is doing this as I'm new to gardening and  don't want to keep spending on new plants for this to keep happening

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    See the above suggestions from Bookertoo.   Birds and squirrels are most likely but also badgers and even foxes depending on what fertiliser or compost you've used as they're attracted by certain smells.

     

     

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • sanjy67sanjy67 Posts: 1,007

    foxes do this in my garden all the time 

  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    The blackbirds likes the compost of the blueberries so I put stones around the plants that's stopped them
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