The annual ritual of planting spring bulbs often leads to conflict between a gardener’s desire for early color and the foraging habits of local wildlife. Many gardeners discover their freshly planted treasures have been excavated and discarded by squirrels. This common scenario raises a practical question for those looking to protect their investment and enjoy a vibrant season of blooms.
The Relationship Between Squirrels and Hyacinth Bulbs
Squirrels are generally not interested in eating hyacinth bulbs, as they are not a preferred food source. Hyacinth bulbs contain toxic compounds that make them unpalatable to most rodents. These bulbs, particularly the Dutch hyacinth variety, are naturally protected by an unpleasant taste that deters animals from consumption.
The primary reason a squirrel would disturb a hyacinth bulb is not to eat it, but rather to investigate the disturbed soil. Unlike starchy bulbs such as tulips or crocuses, which squirrels find delicious, hyacinths are typically left alone after a test bite. This natural defense mechanism means that while they may be dug up, they are rarely consumed in their entirety.
Distinguishing Eating from Caching Behavior
The digging activity that frustrates gardeners is often a byproduct of the squirrel’s natural caching behavior. Squirrels are highly motivated to bury nuts and seeds in the fall to prepare for winter, and they are acutely aware of freshly disturbed soil. They perceive the area around a newly planted bulb as a potential cache site, either to hide their own food or to steal a competitor’s stash.
A squirrel will dig up a hyacinth bulb because the scent of the new planting material attracts its attention. The act of digging is exploratory, and the animal is searching for the buried food it expects to find. If the squirrel takes a bite of the hyacinth, the bitter and toxic compounds quickly lead it to discard the bulb and move on to an easier target. Therefore, the problem is usually misplacement and vandalism rather than actual consumption.
Proven Strategies for Bulb Protection
Protecting bulbs involves creating both physical and sensory barriers that encourage the squirrel to forage elsewhere. One of the most reliable methods is to use a physical barrier like hardware cloth or chicken wire placed over the planting area. The mesh should be secured with stakes or weighted down to prevent the animals from lifting it, and bulbs will easily grow through the holes in the spring. For individual bulbs, you can create a simple cage by folding hardware cloth around the bulb and burying the entire structure.
Incorporating sharp materials into the soil can also discourage digging. Mixing a layer of sharp sand, chicken grit, or fine gravel into the soil directly above the newly planted bulbs creates an abrasive texture that rodents dislike. This amendment makes the digging effort unpleasant and encourages the squirrel to seek softer ground for its caching activities.
A third strategy utilizes deterrents that appeal to the squirrel’s strong sense of smell. Spraying the bulbs with a capsaicin-based repellent or sprinkling cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes directly into the planting hole can be effective. It is also helpful to avoid using bone meal or fish emulsion as fertilizer, as the strong, meaty smell of these products can actively attract squirrels and other rodents to the planting site. Finally, always clean up any papery bulb casings or debris that might be left on the soil surface, which can signal the location of buried food.
Common Bulbs Squirrels Ignore
Gardeners can reliably select other spring-flowering bulbs that squirrels consistently avoid due to taste or toxicity. Daffodils, which contain the toxic compound lycorine, are almost always ignored. Snowdrops are also toxic and reliably left alone, often blooming very early in the season. Ornamental onions, known as Alliums, release a pungent, onion-like odor that most rodents find highly repulsive, making them an excellent deterrent choice.