the never ending war against those dang squirrels

I know they disturb freshly planted bulbs. Somebody had posted they were attracted by the scent of freshly disturbed earth and older plantings would not be bothered. That has not been my experience. I have bulbs that were planted last fall that are still being yanked out by the squirrels to this date. I saw them do it. There was no "fresh" earth to attract them. grrr.

But what about bulbs that have been inground for 2, 4, ten years. Do they bother those bulbs too? I'm thinking about protecting my new daff bed with chicken wire but I would expect that after a few years the c. wire would rust and disintegrate and the bulbs would no longer be protected. Would the dastardly critters bother the established bulbs?

I tried plastic mesh this year and so far, so good.

I have 2 small well established patches of daffy's that have not been bothered to death and I really don't know why. There are different things growing around both beds, so most likely, smells and compounds are not factors.

Sometimes a thick ring of broken pottery shards helps, other times not. There always seems to be a squirrel into S&M who doesn't mind pain. Perhaps I'll try cotton.
I've heard that sprinkling cinnamon helps, or cayenne, but you have to be careful with the hot stuff so that it doesn't fry your tenders.

This time of year, squirrels are as busy as we are digging in the dirt, so I make sure they have a tray of seeds to eat from. If I don't, they really tear the place up.
Other than a neighborhood squirrel fry, good luck.
I have a morning mantra that I recite as soon as I walk out the door into the yard - "Ahrrggg, you litlte $#*!%@'s". It's as sure as roosters crowing.

I have squirrels digging all over the place but mostly the "holes" are these fairly shallow pits and they look like they're burying acorns in them. I would think deep planting of bulbs would discourage them. I have not yet found a bulb that has been dug up and I have hyacinths, daffodils and lilies in the ground just planted this year as well as all of those from years prior. I am not even seeing evidence that they're digging up last year's tulips either, though this year's aren't in the ground yet. I tend to plant most bulbs 6-7 inches deep at least and big bulbs sometimes even more. The pits are more annoying than anything amd I am constantly running around filling them in.

thanks for your comments p.geek and steve. Steve, I think they just like you better! lol
I was planting them about 5" deep because I had read 1) the didn't need to be as deeply planted in warmer climates and 2) bulbs eventually found their proper depth.

And you're right, is not really that they're yanking out, it's that they're digging and if a bulb happens to pop up, oh well....

having two squirrel-chasing dogs helps, but I've noticed that if we are not looking, the dogs can watch a squirrel zoom by them and they won't make a move. However, if we're outside looking at them, they will put a great hunting show, lol.

Yes Nery, LOL we have two of them also but they're Yorkies and I am always worried they'll get under the fence or a hawk will get them if I leave them out there alone. They also corner squirrels in trees and each one stands on the opposite side of the tree. One is nearly fast enough to catch a squirrel but not sure what would happen if she caught it .....:-)

I am reluctant to feed them, even though it is tempting, because then they'll "expect" it and might develop some dependence on me.....I will try the cinnamon, plantgeek - have never heard of that!

I'm going to try the cinnamon too. I have Japanese iris in pots that get the snot dug out of them no matter how many shards I put in.
This year, I'm planting voodoo lilies. Let's see if they like stinky plants. lol

Yes, I have to say that squirrels do become somewhat dependant on feeders and are downright demanding of being served. They glare inside the front window when the tray is empty and hang off the screen if that doesn't work. So, by setting out feeders, it does counter one problem as well as create another. Sort of like modern medicine.

The only plants that I have found to be a deterrant so far are pricklies. This may not always be compatible with some other plants, but they are effective.

I don't think there is an easy pat answer. Squirrels are always going to do squirrel things, and we are always going to plant bulbs, only to curse the squirrels for digging them up,
then ask each other what in the world can be done about it. I think I'll have a beer now. lol

I'm surprised by this thread. I thought it was common knowledge that squirrels do not like daffodils. So I plant daffoldil in with other bulbs. I usually plant an early variety so they have bloomed out and I can cut off the dead blooms before my tulips start.

The world is full of surprises Woody. So now we are all enlightened to one more of its mysteries. Thank you so much.

Hope it works for you. I have a lot of squirrels here and they leave my tulips alone. Since I try to stick with Darwins so they will last more than one season, it is really important to me to deter the squirrels.