Covering pots, beds and borders with chicken wire netting stops squirrels digging up spring bulbs, according to a gardening expert. The simple method protects precious spring-flowering bulbs from being dug up, stored away and eaten by wildlife during autumn.
Why Bulbs Need Protection in Autumn
As autumn arrives, wildlife turns to finding and storing food in readiness for leaner times during the winter season. Squirrels and other wildlife dig in pots, beds and borders in search of food, which includes spring-flowering bulbs.
Protecting spring bulbs is important, otherwise gardens could face a flowerless springtime next year. The risk is mainly during autumn, when squirrels are actively looking for food to store away for winter.
The Chicken Wire Technique
Tom Strowlger, a gardener, uses a simple technique to protect spring bulbs in pots, beds and borders. He cuts out and places squares and rectangles of chicken wire netting over pots and planters, and larger pieces over beds and borders to protect ground-planted spring bulbs.
For pots, place a square of chicken wire netting over the pot, take two corners of the netting and intertwine them together, then do the same with the other two corners. Fold the two flaps down and mould the netting round the pot. This gives the pot adequate protection to stop the spring bulbs being dug up.
For beds and borders, the spring bulbs can be covered and protected with chicken wire netting, using metal or wooden stakes to pin it down.
Overwintering and Removal
The protected pots can be huddled together in a sheltered spot over winter, ready to be relocated onto patios in mid to late February. At that time, the chicken wire netting can be removed to allow the green foliage and flowers to grow.
The effort to protect and preserve spring bulbs is very much worth it, as gardeners want to be delighted by spring flowers. Strowlger notes that the effort to protect and preserve spring bulbs is very much worth it.
