Some of home gardeners’ favorite flowers come in the form of bulbs, which are planted in the fall for spring blossoms, or in the spring for summer blooms. Autumn-planted bulbs, for example, are often among the final tasks to complete in your garden as you get ready for next year. Unfortunately, whether you plant them…
If you’re tired of investing time and money into filling your beds (or pots) with blooms, only to see them excavated and eaten, we have good news. There’s a very effective way to keep the little beasts away from your bulbs, and it’s inexpensive, environmentally sound, and cruelty-free. Here’s how it works.
Chicken Wire Is Your Bulbs’ Best Friend
The secret weapon here is wire mesh. It’s nearly invisible once it’s in place, yet it effectively stops burrowing critters from digging or chewing through it. There are two kinds you can use: chicken wire or a large-mesh hardware cloth (usually sold in 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch square mesh, though 1-inch is also available). Chicken wire works well because its openings are big enough to accommodate most flowers’ leaves or stems. If you opt for the sturdier hardware cloth, use the 1/2-inch size for smaller flower bulbs and the 1-inch size for larger ones.
The standard planting depth for bulbs is three times their height, meaning a 1-inch bulb should go 3 inches into the ground. First, cut a piece of wire mesh to fit the shape and size of your bed, leaving a generous allowance around the edges to deter clever critters. Next, plant your bulbs and cover them with soil up to, in this example, a 2-inch depth. tLay the mesh over the soil, then cover it and the bulbs with the remaining inch of soil, adding mulch if desired. That’s all there is to it, although if you have landscaping staples on hand, you can use them to pin down the wire’s edges for extra security.
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Protecting Flower Bulbs in Pots
You can use this hack to protect flower bulbs in pots, too. Start by cutting a piece of mesh sized just large enough to cover the entire soil surface of the pot. Once you’ve tested it for size, remove the mesh and plant your bulbs normally. Cover them with two-thirds of the necessary soil, lay the mesh on top, and then add the remaining soil. The mesh will keep your bulbs safe until spring, and you’ll get to enjoy all the blooms you paid for.
