Plant Doctor

Product Reviews

World Gardens

Horticulture Jobs

Get Gardening Help!

Fruit Pests

Pruning Guide

Soil pH Guide

Veg Planting Guide

Home > Projects >

How to protect bulbs in the garden

You will need: Aquatic pot, spade or trowel, soap, grater

It can be very annoying when you plant bulbs in the garden ready for spring colour and then they never appear. You may not even see the culprit, but both mice and squirrels love the food value of healthy bulbs and will eat through the lot if they can.

Best time to do it:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Step 1

An aquatic basket pot is a simple way to help protect your bulbs. Part-fill it with garden soil.

Step 2

Place the bulbs inside. The more bulbs you wish to protect, the larger the pot will have to be.

Step 3

Fill the pot to the rim with soil and then sink it into the ground where you have dug the hole for soil. For extra protection, lay a piece of 2-3cm chicken wire across the pot and turn the edges down over the rim.

Step 4

Cover the pot with soil. As an extra deterrent, you can grate scented soap over the top, but this needs replacing every week as the scent wears off. Plastic pots do not biodegrade, so this will need lifting in 2-3 years to divide the clump of bulbs.

< All Projects

Related FAQs

Ask a gardening question:

Powerscourt Gardens
Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Pukekura Park
New Plymouth, New Zealand

Watch a Video!

Growing Geraniums

Removing a Tree

Growing Sunflowers

Why are my pansies and violas wilting?

Will tulips grow in the shade?

Moving House and Taking the Garden with You | Garden Ideas | Val Bradley

Get Gardening Help!

How to protect bulbs in the garden

You will need: Aquatic pot, spade or trowel, soap, grater

Best time to do it:

Step 1

An aquatic basket pot is a simple way to help protect your bulbs. Part-fill it with garden soil.

Step 2

Place the bulbs inside. The more bulbs you wish to protect, the larger the pot will have to be.

Step 3

Fill the pot to the rim with soil and then sink it into the ground where you have dug the hole for soil. For extra protection, lay a piece of 2-3cm chicken wire across the pot and turn the edges down over the rim.

Step 4

Cover the pot with soil. As an extra deterrent, you can grate scented soap over the top, but this needs replacing every week as the scent wears off. Plastic pots do not biodegrade, so this will need lifting in 2-3 years to divide the clump of bulbs.

Related FAQs

How do I protect bulbs in the garden?

My bulbs in the garden have started to emerge - is this a problem?

Are there any bulbs I can plant in a damp spot in my garden?

Some of my bulbs are starting to grow, do I need to protect them?

Do I need to protect my bulbs from the cold, the shoots are showing already?

Ask a gardening question:

Latest Gardening News

Gardening Projects for November

Latest Gardening Videos

Latest Gardening & Horticultural Careers

Explore Gardens from Around the World

Watch a Video!