This morning I found that most of the tulips I had planted were eaten at the top. Almost all bulbs gone. I have read about using cayenne pepper to detract squirrels and other rodents from eating plants. Then I saw something else on mesh. How is mesh used to deter them? Most of these had not even opened yet. Thanks.

Amy1022,

Iam so sorry that happened to you. I don't have an answer for you but, welcome!!

Mindi

Do you have deer in the neighborhood?

Thanks so much anyway.

All of my tulips were eaten by the Cottontail bunnies. I planted daffodils.

@Amy1022
Amy. Hi 😀.
If you don't have deer.
You basically build a hoop house, bird cage, or tee-pee over your plants, with wire. You get the idea ? 👍😀 Chicken wire comes in rolls of different hole sizes, and widths.
😎😎😎

Deer love tulips! I have many squirrels but they haven't eaten the tulips, nor have rabbits.

Christine said:Do you have deer in the neighborhood?

We do have deer in my town, they come down from a reservation across a route here. However to see one where I live is somewhat not common. I have come across about 6 since living here, all on the streets (and I am in a suburb). It's just so surprising to see this happening now. I've always had tulips, and this is the first year I've had a problem.

I'm sorry. It was most likely the deer. They can go years without bothering plants and then suddenly they discover them. I had all of my tulips and iris eaten.

Amy, it could be a new dog in the area that has changed their travel path, also food is still a little harder to find and they love tulips & hosta's, so they are hunting for food, most doe's are getting ready to give birth.

So it is not squirrels, you think? We have plenty of them. I love deer ad they are abundant in NJ, but I have not seen that many around my block. We have many dogs is probably why. Wild animals are found more on the reservation near here, but they are coming down. In the last 2 years, a bear cub was found roaming around the area (on the block behind me to be exact).
I tried the cayenne pepper and it seems to be working.

The issue with cayenne pepper, or any type of spray, is keeping up with new growth. As the bloom expands the open portion hasn't been sprayed and is susceptible to attack. It's the same with hosta. As they emerge, they may be safe for a day or two, but as the leaves unfurl the protection is lost. That's why many gardeners no longer "love" deer.

pirl said:The issue with cayenne pepper, or any type of spray, is keeping up with new growth. As the bloom expands the open portion hasn't been sprayed and is susceptible to attack. It's the same with hosta. As they emerge, they may be safe for a day or two, but as the leaves unfurl the protection is lost. That's why many gardeners no longer "love" deer.

Thanks for the info. I don't like using sprays at all, because of the toxicity to the environment and also to people/animals. That's why I liked the idea of cayenne, as it's not poisonous in any way. Honestly, I prefer the deer eating them than harming the environment.

Sprays made with cayenne do not harm the environment at all. Perhaps you're thinking of sprays like Round-Up but they are used to kill plants, not to help them survive the onslaught of deer. RU would kill the tulips so you wouldn't be using it.

pirl said:Sprays made with cayenne do not harm the environment at all. Perhaps you're thinking of sprays like Round-Up but they are used to kill plants, not to help them survive the onslaught of deer. RU would kill the tulips so you wouldn't be using it.

I guess I didnt make myself clear. I am not using any sprays at all, especially Roundup, only cayenne pepper around the tulips themselves. It seems to be working fine as no other bulbs have been eaten.

Are you going to plant new tulips?

I use a product called PlantSkydd, had great luck with the product, supposedly environmentally safe.
Smells pretty bad, just be upwind when you use it, lasts a long time.

MindiHammerstone said:Are you going to plant new tulips?

Actually I already did! I replaced the ones which had no flowers. I took out some, but not all of the bulbs and put them in my garage. I was going to ask, will these bubs be good for next year or should I plant them somewhere else as there is no room for them where they were. Maybe they are better off in the ground to establish roots? Not sure.

I am sorry. I apologize for trying to help you. There are many cayenne based sprays people use to help limit damage.

pirl said:I am sorry. I apologize for trying to help you. There are many cayenne based sprays people use to help limit damage.

No need to. I think you misunderstood what I had said previously. I had no idea there was such a thing as cayenne pepper spray.