They come in so many dazzling colors and interesting shapes, including petal-packed forms thatlook almost like peonies.
Unfortunately, that happy feeling can be cut short unless you take a few precautions to protect your bulbs.
Use these tips to ensure you get the best tulip display, no matter what nature throws at you.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Install a Tall Fence
Tulips in a landscape provide a salad bar for deer.
The mosteffective protection from deeris a fence.
Install one that’s at least 8 feet tall or two fences 4 feet tall and 4 feet apart.
Credit: David Goldberg
Deer can jump high or wide, but they can’t do both at once.
Use Mesh
Squirrels and mice seem to take special pleasure in finding, digging, and nibblingtulip bulbs.
you’re free to alsoplant tulip bulbsin wire cages for tulip squirrel protection.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Some gardeners place an old window screen on top of the ground to deter squirrels.
Always remove all evidence of bulb planting, including any dried bulb casings, from the area, too.
Apply Mulch Properly
Mulching bulbsis a great idea to conserve soil moisture and maintain a cool soil temperature.
Credit: Mike Jensen
Just don’t apply it too soon.
Wait until the ground is cold or frozen.
Mulch helps keep soil temperatures consistently cool and will minimize damage from frost heaving.
Credit: Doug Stremel
Use a freeze-proof pot at least the size of a half-whiskey barrel to provide enough protection.
you could also group large pots in a protected area and wrap them with burlap or other insulating material.
Wet soil also promotes fungus and diseases.
Use Plant Deterrents
One way tofoil bulb-eating animalsis to interplant tulips withcrown imperial(Fritillaria imperialis).
This tall, dramaticplant emits an odor that repels critters.
Critters also avoidalliumsand daffodils, sointerplanting with those bulbsmay help protect tulips among them.
Some might work in your yard, for a while.
Many are scent-based products that wear off after rain so they must be reapplied frequently.
And remember, what works in one garden doesn’t always work in another.
Again, the success of these remedies might vary.
Offer an Alternative Diet
Talk about a government handout!
The gardeners also acknowledged that the peanuts might have attracted more squirrels to the grounds.
