Hi Paul,

I have not done this myself, but others have written about it and were successful. Maybe use lawn staples to keep it in place.

Have you searched this forum with "chicken wire" as a keyword? I am certain there are more than a few discussions.

Well when I did a search through chicken wire, I get a lot of hits on making craft projects with chicken wire. I did see a few post about surrounding the bulbs in a cage to prevent attacks from voles and moles.

On my in-law's house, I planted a few package of bulbs and then place a mat of chicken wire on top followed by some mulch. It's been a few days, it doesn't look like anyone has dug through or remove the chicken wire.

On a different part of their yard, I planted some bulbs within an area covered by Lilies of the Valley. I don't notice any of those bulb being dug out, but probably because the squirrels can't see that the dirt has been disturbed.

Paul

I also used chicken wire covered by mulch this year as squirrels dug up 80% of my tulips last year. I have noticed some digging around the wire mat, but it seems to have deterred them enough where they move on to something else. We'll see how desperate they get as the season goes on.

Paul, there is a selection to search just the bulb forum which has been wonky lately. Sorry I did not say to search the forum.

Here's the search for chicken wire in just the bulbs forum.

Do a search for wire mesh as well. I use that every year. I leave it in place till early spring, when the bulbs show their growing tips. The squirrels "remember" too long for me to remove it in the winter. Not cages: too much work. Just hardware cloth cut to the size of the planting area and pinned down on top with landscape staples.

Proffessional landscaper here. We use 2” chicken wire. Too small and tulip leaves get shredded as they grow. We use sod staples or irrigation hold downs to keep it in place. It’’s time consuming so its easier if you choose to plant a few big drifts ti avoid having to cut multiple squares of wire. Bury wire and leave in ground so you keep bulbs safe for years to come.