How do I stop squirrels digging up my bulbs?

Physical barriers that work, the bulbs squirrels leave alone, and why every scent-based deterrent stops working within a fortnight.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 45 min
Read: 3 min

Short answer

Squirrels dig for freshly disturbed soil, not for the bulbs themselves. Cover newly planted areas with chicken wire pegged down until the ground settles, plant deeper than the packet says, and use daffodils and alliums, which they do not eat.

The trigger is the smell of freshly turned earth. That is why a bed planted in October is dug over the following week and then ignored for the rest of the winter, and why hiding the bulbs matters less than hiding the digging.

What you'll need

Chicken wire or mesh
Pegs
Holly or prunings (optional)
Bulbs

Step by step

Plant the bulbs they do not want.Daffodils, alliums, snowdrops, fritillaria, muscari, scilla and hyacinth are all left alone. Crocus and tulip are the ones that get taken.
Plant deeper.Roughly three times the bulb's own height, and slightly deeper for tulips and crocus. Deeper bulbs are harder to reach and the soil above settles faster.
Firm the soil and remove all traces of digging.Rake the surface level, firm it, and clear away loose soil and papery bulb skins. The scent and sight of disturbance is the actual attractant.
Cover with wire mesh.Chicken wire or weld mesh laid over the planted area and pegged down. Shoots grow through it in spring, and it can be lifted once the ground has settled and growth is up.
Use prunings as a physical deterrent.Holly, berberis or rose prunings laid over the surface makes digging unpleasant. It works and it is free, and it can be cleared in spring.
Protect pots specifically.Pots are the worst affected because the compost is soft and obvious. Mesh across the top, or a layer of gravel or slate, both work.
Plant in wire baskets for valuable bulbs.Aquatic planting baskets or homemade wire cages let roots and shoots through and stop digging entirely. Worth it for expensive tulips or lily bulbs.
Do not rely on chilli, blood and bone or predator scent.All of these work for a few days at best and then wash off or lose novelty. Physical barriers are the only durable answer.
Plant later in the season.Tulips are best planted in November anyway, and by then squirrels are less actively caching. It reduces the window of exposure.
Reduce what draws them in.A bird feeder full of peanuts on the lawn is a squirrel attractant. Squirrel-resistant feeders reduce the population that lives in your garden.

Tips

They are attracted by disturbed soil, not by the bulbs. Hide the digging, not the bulbs.
Daffodils and alliums are ignored completely. Crocus and tulips are the targets.
Wire mesh over the surface, pegged down, is the only thing that reliably works.

Common mistakes

Sprinkling chilli powder or blood and bone over the bed — Both wash off in the first rain and both stop deterring within days. They also attract other animals, including foxes and cats, to dig.
Leaving loose soil and bulb skins on the surface after planting — It advertises exactly where you have been. Rake the surface level and clear the debris and much less digging follows.

If it doesn't work

Bulbs dug up within days of planting

Cause: Fresh soil disturbance — Fix: Replant, firm and level the surface, and peg wire mesh over the area.

Pots emptied repeatedly

Cause: Soft, obvious compost at an accessible height — Fix: Mesh across the pot surface or a layer of gravel or slate.

Tulips gone, daffodils untouched

Cause: Normal preference — Fix: Use daffodils and alliums where digging is a problem and protect tulips in baskets.

Digging in spring after growth appears

Cause: Usually not squirrels — often birds or foxes — Fix: Identify the animal first. Blackbirds flick mulch about and cause similar damage.

Questions people ask

Which bulbs do squirrels not eat?

Daffodils, alliums, snowdrops, fritillaria, muscari, scilla and hyacinth. Crocus and tulips are the ones taken most often.

Do chilli or coffee grounds work?

Not durably. Both lose effect within days and wash off in rain. Physical barriers — wire mesh or prickly prunings — are the only reliable approach.

Can I lift the mesh in spring?

Yes, once the shoots are up and the soil has settled. Many people simply leave it and let the shoots grow through, then remove it after flowering.