Squirrels 2 Tulips 0

[zingiber_fleur]

I woke up this morning to find that squirrels had bitten the blooms off two of my unopened tulips. I have a feeling there isn't a damn thing I can do about this, but if anyone has tried anything that worked (short of getting a dog), I'd love to know.

Comments

[ambobuddha]

Well, Mom had a problem with rabbits eating her plants down to the ground (especially the lilies), so last fall I gave her some crown imperials.

The crown imperials are blooming, and kind of stinky (last weekend they were real stinky), but nobody's seen a rabbit at all. And the lilies are huge.

It also seems to be repelling the voles, too. I don't know about squirrels, though.

That's one suggestion. They can get tall, and they can get, um, pungent (think skunk-like), but it seems to be when they bloom. I don't know if the rodents will return once the flowers die back or what, but it might work if you plant one or two amongst the tulips, it should protect the blooms.

[romani123]

Well you can live trap them and take them way out in the country.

[jiggercat]

And why is it you think that we out in the country want your pests?

[romani123]

Its either that or eat them.

[jiggercat]

They are good eating

[selkie_b]

*GRIN* I've found something they really don't like! On the web I found a recipe to spray on them - water, a huge load of chili sauce (like Tobasco), a little oil (so it'll stick - and in my case I had hot chili oil to use as well), and a couple drops of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray on.

They'll eat part of one - but that will be it. If it doesn't work the first time, put in a bit more hot stuff.

Squirrels' Revenge

[wr1tem0re]

I am also having problems with squirrels eatting my tulips. I must have planted a good 50 of 'em and the heads of 20 blossoms were left on driveway.
A friend of mine ended up having squirrels running across her screens (especially the one right behind her kitchen sink) so she squirted them with her water spray spout only to get peed on. . . the point being . . . be careful how you treat your squirrels. Revenge is nasty!
Can you spray the plants instead of the nasty critters?

Re: Squirrels' Revenge

[selkie_b]

*shakes head* You spray the tulips, silly - not the squirrels! :)

[zingiber_fleur]

Well, last night I put pails over my best tulips. I won't be doing that every night, but I did want to see if it worked.

I might try the oil spray too. I'd hate to hurt the blooms, but I've got about a week before they bloom fully, and do not want to lose more.

Next year I'll try the Crown Imperial (Fritillaria something, right?).

I won't be eating squirrels or trapping them though. More would just move in.

Thanks for your help!

[lapis_lunamoth]

Get yourself a pellet air rifle and shoot the (*&$##)(!@ squirrels.