So you dream of a garden of spring flowering bulbs?

You can have it!

I have had a front yard garden for years now.  In 2006, my front yard was a finalist for WGN's City in a Garden contest.  My spring scene got me to the finals.

Squirrels have been the enemy.

Oh, you, too?

Let's share some tips to beat the enemy.

First, plant in mass.  The furry creatures cannot eat them all.  (I have over 4500 in a  25 X 40 front yard garden, including the cutting garden I maintain for the neighborhood...in my front yard.)

Think strategy.  If they can't reach them, they can't eat them.

My number one defense has been chicken wire.  It is inexpensive stuff that you buy at any hardware or garden store.

When you plant your bulbs, in mass of course, you may choose to lay the chicken wire over the top of the soil or bury it an inch or two under the soil.  Plant your bulbs THEN place the chicken wire over the flower bed.  MAKE SURE YOU FOLD THE SIDES UNDER FOR YOUR PROTECTION AND TO KEEP SQUIRRELS AWAY.  YOU DO NOT WANT TO STUB YOUR TOES ON THE CHICKEN WIRE. OUCH.

Second hot tip:

LAYER your bulbs.

Dig your hole to the depth needed for your largest bulb, place the bulb in hole.  Add just enough soil to make the hole the proper depth for the next bulb.  Plant then repeat.

I have used from the bottom up patterns:

Daffodil, tulip, crocus, muscari

Allium large sized next to layered hole NOT layered.

Hyacinth, crocus

Daffodil, crocus and scilla

Daffodil and species tulips

Tulips, crocus, small allium.

Good luck

Remember your best defense, other than a cat or dog, is TO PLANT IN MASS QUANTITIES.

One last tip my father uses:

Feed the squirrels their own food. 

Enjoy your garden!

Jeanne