I have 2 big beds that have the best soil a gardener could ask for, deep organic sandy loam. But the moles and voles love it too, they can practically do back stroke in it, lol! Lately I've been planting the bulbs in large pots with extra drainage holes and sinking the whole pot in the ground, but I'm wondering if there is a better or easier method. Would using some course gravel under and around the bulbs help?
How do you protect lily bulbs from voles?
There was a forum on this a while back with some info. I really don't have much add to it. Here is the link
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/635135/
Maybe there is some help for you in here, something you haven't tried. Critters can be a nightmare.
Ummm, I've heard of planting your bulbs in bulb baskets to keep critters from getting them. I've also heard of planting them in the mesh bags that onions come in. Or you can build yourself a really large cage out of chicken wire and bury it and plant your bulbs in that. And I've heard of wrapping the bulb in steel wool to deter the critters. There are ways to get around the critters, but if the critters are really determined, well.... Good luck. :)
Diann
the steel wool wrapping is most interesting...I am going to try that one with my giant bulb from BuggyCrazy's sale.
I recently read (LOL -- another one of my 'ideas') to dig a big lily bed, then lay down some 1/2 inch or so hardware cloth type material over the bottom of the bed with the edges coming up on the side , then lay out your bulbs, fill with your planting mix and amendments, then place a lid of hardware cloth to cover, then cover the whole thing with your favorite mulch. I think this would work pretty well when making a new big bed.
Last year when I planted my lilies I made custom sized wire "baskets" and sewed them shut with wire. That was a lot of work. Of course, the lilies came up, then the deer got 'em!
When I make any new (perennial) beds, though, (like any more deep lasagna beds), I'm going to try the king size wire basket approach and hope it saves all my plants from early death by critters.
I put my martagon lilies in hardware cloth boxes.
Then cover the entire bed with chicken wire under the manure and mulch. This to save them from squirrels. And cats.
Hosta bed is also covered in same small six sided chicken wire all winter from first heavy frost till they are well sprouted in the spring.
inanda
Thanks for the suggestions! The steel wool idea is interesting, hmmm...I wonder how long it would last till it rusts away. The wire baskets may be my best bet.
t, how discouraging after all that work! I heard an interesting idea to deter deer recently from a lady who has a little greenhouse and nursery operation here. She strings fishing line on narrow stakes at about 4' around her veggie garden. It's invisible and when the deer walk into it they're startled away. She lives in a high deer population area and said she's had no problems since.
I had voles this summer also. Vossner told me that you can get rid of them by spraying your beds with castor oil and water. A friend had a really nasty problem and tried everything. During his research he discovered that the real problem was grubs. That's what attracted the voles. He did find a product, I can't remember the name, that got rid of them really quick. They were artificial worms that come 8 to a package. You drop one down a hole and no more voles. I'll have to ask him again what it was (for the third time, LOL). He did tell me he treated his lawn for grubs, but it didn't help. The voles just kept on partying away.
I have tried castor oil and it did work till the next rain, so it was hard to keep up with. It makes sense though, castor beans are also known as mole beans because of their mole detering properties. Hmmm....I wonder if at season's end mulching up the castor beans and using them on the bed would help. Suppose it could'nt hurt...may just experiment with that!
voles terrorize my gardens - I've tried about everything: cages, red pepper/garlic coating on bulbs, mole repellants, grub treatments, a terrier....but I haven't tried steel wool. I have some marine grade brass wool I think I'll try - it's less likely to deteriorate so maybe a good wad in each planting hole would do the trick?
Catherine
I'd probably wrap the bulb with it... not tightly, but just enough to give it a suit of armour...
I haven't done this, since I haven't needed to yet. (knock on wood) but I might try it on some of the more expensive bulbs I'm getting from Buggy Crazy. Can't have someone biting my Godzilla!
Diann
Why would any critter want to mess with "Godzilla"? Perhaps if you label it, they will be scared off
:0). If only fear was an option.
Oh I can't wait for my Godzilla to arrive too!
Mags, LOL, everytime I think about Godzilla I keep humming "go go go Godzilla." Weird, I know. :) I wonder if there is a King Kong? :)
Diann
Ticker, how could you have missed King Kong?? Oh and Lisa says that one has a sturdy stem.
You guys are just trying to get me into trouble, aren't you..... :) I like that one called Touch, too... ;) I'm not going to order anymore, I'm not going to order anymore, I'm not going to order, I'm not going to, I'm not going, I'm not, I'm..... ARGH...
There is always next year... right?
Diann
Diann, just when you've convinced yourself, a heck of a deal presents itself. That's when my self restraint goes out the window!
I love my kitty, Trouble. When I moved here I was told by my neighbor (and saw evidence everywhere) that we had mole and vole problems galore. It's been a year July 1st, and there's nary a mole or vole sign anywhere! (She's been really busy, never wants to stay inside when the weather's decent.)