OK to transplant tulips this late? (Deer munched on them)

This is the first year I've had tulips in a deer-filled area. Needless to say, I really don't have tulips this year. Most had sprouted leaves (no buds) anywhere from 3-8 inches. Within the last few days, all have been crunched away down to the dirt. Keeping the deer out isn't a realistic option, so what I'd like to do is transplant the poor tulips to my mom's deer-free garden. At this point I've got nothing to lose, so will probably give it a shot anyway, but I wondered if anyone else has had any success with transplanting them at this late date - any blooms or am I destined to wait yet another year?

Thanks!

smilla--sounds like you have a challenge, there!

Whether the tulips come back or not depends a lot on whether the tulips you chose to plant are at all perennial in your area. (Usually (even in the best garden conditions) tulips don't return year after year very successfully).

Then I suppose for this year, the question is whether the deer ate the buds or not. If they did, then I suppose there is no chance they will bloom at all this year (or next year, really). If the plants can still make their buds, then maybe a quick transplant to your mom's garden would work. Good luck with the idea and let us know how it goes!

A tulip garden is like a desert buffet for deer and rabbits. Daffodils, on the other hand, are toxic and distasteful and usually survive animal attentions.

Since we have a lot of critters, the daffs do better here, but I have experimented this year with Tulips bulbs planted into containers and placed on the porch (out of reach). We'll see how it goes...

Just my 2 cents, unless you are a glutton for punishment I would start with new tulips at your mother's house. Reason being since most tulips (hybrids, modern ones) only flower the first year may be the second year in a limited fashion even if the leaves are allowed to yellow etc. and under perfect conditions. Since yours will already be starting with a lack of leaves to build up next years bulbs' blooms it is doubtful they will bloom. Why go through the aggravation when the chance is less than 10% you get some blooms? Personally I would only do it if the bulbs had some sentimental value or are species or heirlooms that are more likely to rebloom in subsequent years.

I feel for you though! We have lots of deer so I only force tulips for inside enjoyment and grow daffodils outside where the deer don't bother them.

Sue

Thanks for the input Tabasco & Sue! I ended up with extra time and a mostly beautiful weekend, so figured transplanting them is worth a shot -- the bulbs were gifts and I'd feel guilty leaving the poor things out there for further abuse. About 1/3 of them had the buds or part of the buds bitten away, but in most cases, buds hadn't yet emerged, so we'll see how it goes. I did pot about a dozen of my favorite Greenland tulips to bring inside. Either they'll survive it or I'll have to get new ones to force inside next year.

Given the number of deer we have, I usually plant only things I think the deer are less likely to want, so have lots of daffodils and irises as far as bulbs go. I knew deer liked tulips, but until I'd put these in, didn't realize quite how much! Of course our deer also love to eat the English Ivy growing up the trees at the back of our lot, up as far as they can reach, and I never thought deer liked ivy, either.

Well, I'll follow up again in a few weeks when I see how the poor tulips have fared. Thanks again!

I live in an area with lots of deer too and had the same frustating experience with deer munching off my tulips in the past. Since then I have been using deer repellents such as Deer Off or any of the ones with the putrid egg and cayenne pepper base. There are recipes for making your own although I haven't tried them.
Key is spraying before the deer start to munch and spraying several feet around
the planting then repeating when had heavy rain and as new growth emerges.
I have also used the same approach with lilies and irises with good success too.
If you miss having your tulips, have the time and willing to go through the expense of the repellent might try this with future plantings.

Well, the bulbs that came indoors didn't fare so well, but the transplanted ones seem to be doing well, though obviously they won't bloom this year at all. We'll see what happens next year...

With most of our other plants and shrubs relatively less interesting to the deer (knock on wood!) everything else seems to be thriving. Nice to see everything turning green again and a few things (wild columbine, trilliums, bloodroot, pussy toes, lilacs, and some dianthus blooming now).