Stop Squirrels Digging Up Bulbs: What Works

Squirrels dig up bulbs because freshly planted soil is perfect for burying nuts. The fix is to stop them getting into the soil, not to make it smell bad. Pegged wire mesh does that, and choosing bulbs they dislike does the rest.

This guide covers which bulbs squirrels eat, how to fit mesh properly, how deep to plant, how to protect pots, and the popular deterrents that don’t really work.

Why do squirrels dig up bulbs?

They are burying food, not hunting your bulbs. In autumn, grey squirrels bury nuts one at a time in small, shallow holes all over their patch. They pick the softest, easiest soil they can find. A bed you dug over last weekend is ideal.

When a bulb turns up in the hole, the squirrel tries it. A tulip or crocus is tasty, so it gets eaten. A daffodil tastes nasty, so it gets dropped on the surface. That is why you often find chewed daffodil bulbs lying about.

It also explains why smelly deterrents disappoint. The squirrel is drawn to the soft soil, and a sprinkle of something on top doesn’t change that. The Wildlife Trusts grey squirrel profile explains more about how they bury and find food.

Squirrel damage looks like this: a wide, shallow hole, soil flung about and a bulb tried and left.

Which bulbs do squirrels eat and which do they leave?

Tulips and crocus are the ones squirrels eat. Crocus corms are taken even more readily than tulips. Lily bulbs are at risk too.

Daffodils are usually ignored, because the bulbs are poisonous and taste foul. Alliums taste of onion, which squirrels dislike. Snowdrops, fritillaries, muscari, scilla and camassia are rarely bothered. The crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) has a strong musky smell, and it is easy to grow if you follow the crown imperial growing guide.

So don’t plant tulips in one solid block. Ring them with daffodils and alliums, or mix them in. A squirrel that digs up a few nasty bulbs often moves on. The bulb planting density guide shows how closely to plant so a mixed bed still looks full.

Daffodil bulbs (left) are usually ignored, while tulip bulbs (right) are a squirrel favourite.

Which squirrel deterrents actually work?

Wire mesh pegged over the bed is the one that really works. Choosing the right bulbs comes next. Most other ideas help a little or not at all.

Warning: Skip blood, fish and bone at planting time. The smell can tempt foxes and dogs to dig in the bed too.

How to fit wire mesh over bulb beds

Use galvanised wire mesh with square holes about 2.5cm across. That is small enough to stop a squirrel’s paw but big enough for most shoots to find their way out. Wider chicken wire is better than nothing, but squirrels can reach through it.

Here’s how to fit it:

1. Lay the mesh flat over the planted bed, with about 10cm spare on every side.
2. Fold that spare edge down into the soil. This stops squirrels lifting the edge, and it’s the step most people skip.
3. Pin it with galvanised ground staples every 60cm or so. Bricks alone aren’t enough.
4. Scatter a thin layer of bark or leaf mould over the top to hide it.
5. Lift it in February, before the shoots get thick and tangled in the mesh.

Galvanised mesh lasts for many years, so you can roll it up and use it again each autumn.

Pegging mesh flat with ground staples. Fold the edges into the soil so squirrels can’t lever them up.

Smaller mesh, around 1.3cm, works well over crocus and muscari. It can catch thicker tulip and hyacinth shoots, though, so lift it earlier.

Square mesh (left) leaves no gap for a paw. The bigger holes in chicken wire (right) let squirrels reach through.

How deep should you plant bulbs to stop squirrels?

Planting tulips about 20cm deep helps, but it is not a fix on its own. Most squirrel digging is shallow, so deeper bulbs are less likely to turn up. Squirrels will still dig the bed, though, so use mesh as well. On heavy clay, add grit under deep bulbs so they don’t sit wet.

Timing matters too. Tulips are best planted in November, once the soil is cold, as the when to plant tulip bulbs guide explains. That lands in the busiest digging weeks, so mesh tulip beds the same day you plant them. Daffodils and most other bulbs go in from September, so the soil has settled before squirrels get busy. The spring bulb planting guide has the full timetable.

How to protect bulbs in pots from squirrels

Pots are the easiest to protect. Cut a disc of mesh to fit just inside the rim and press it onto the compost. Then top it with a layer of grit or bark. Grit is unpleasant to dig through and helps the compost drain.

For window boxes, fold a strip of mesh over the top and tie it to the rims with garden wire.

Layered bulb lasagne pots need extra care. The top layer is usually crocus or muscari, planted shallow, right where squirrels dig. Mesh the top and the whole pot is safe.

Mesh and a layer of grit on top of each pot keep squirrels out of the compost all winter.

What doesn’t work against squirrels

A few ideas come up again and again. Save your money.

• Ultrasonic gadgets. Squirrels get used to the noise within days.
• Chilli and cayenne powder. Rain washes it off quickly, and spreading it to repel animals isn’t an approved use.
• Human hair and mothballs. They make no real difference, and mothballs are not for garden use.
• Relying on the cat. A cat may cut down daytime visits but does little about dawn raids.

Moving the bird feeder can help a little. But if a squirrel is burying acorns from a neighbour’s oak, it doesn’t care what’s in your feeder. The squirrel-proof bird feeders guide covers stopping them raiding feeders.

A cat keeps squirrels on their toes in the day, but it won’t guard your bulbs at dawn.

Common mistakes when protecting bulbs

• Using wide chicken wire. Squirrels reach through the holes. Choose mesh with square holes about 2.5cm across.
• Weighing mesh down with bricks. Squirrels dig round them. Peg it and fold the edges into the soil.
• Leaving mesh on too long. Shoots grow through and get trapped. Lift it in February.
• Planting tulips in one solid block. Mix them in among daffodils and alliums.
• Leaving bulb skins on the surface. Loose papery skins show exactly where the bulbs are. Clear them and firm the soil.

Bulb protection month by month

Frequently asked questions

How do I stop squirrels digging up bulbs?

Peg wire mesh with 2.5cm holes flat over the bed until February. Fold the edges down into the soil so squirrels can’t lift them, hide the mesh under a little bark, and lift it before the shoots thicken. Planting daffodils and alliums around your tulips helps too.

Why do squirrels dig up bulbs but not eat them?

They are usually burying nuts, not hunting for bulbs. Freshly planted ground is loose and easy to dig. A bulb that turns up gets a nibble, and if it tastes bad, like a daffodil, it gets left on the surface.

Which bulbs do squirrels not eat?

Daffodils, alliums, snowdrops and fritillaries are usually left alone. Muscari, scilla and camassia are rarely bothered either. Tulips and crocus are the ones squirrels go for, so plant those among the bulbs they dislike.

Does planting bulbs deeper stop squirrels?

It helps, but it won’t stop them on its own. Planting tulips about 20cm deep puts them below where most digging happens. Squirrels still dig the bed, so use deeper planting alongside mesh, not instead of it.

Does chilli powder keep squirrels away from bulbs?

Not reliably, and it isn’t worth trying. Rain washes it off within days in a British autumn. Pegged mesh does the job far better and lasts for years.

When do squirrels dig up bulbs in the UK?

Mostly from mid-October to early December, when they bury nuts for winter. There is often a smaller wave in February and March as they dig for their stores. Newly planted beds are at most risk.

Do ultrasonic squirrel repellents work?

No, they are not worth buying. Squirrels soon get used to the sound and carry on digging. Spend the money on a roll of wire mesh instead.

Planting bulbs in a lawn instead? The naturalising bulbs in grass guide covers that approach, and the problems hub has more garden pest fixes. Once your bulbs are safe, read our guide on how to grow tulips in the UK for the best spring display.