Now that fall is here, it’s time to plant and protect bulbs so you can enjoy bursts of color the moment spring arrives.

Have you ever worked hard to plant tulips and other spring beauties – only to find them dug up and eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, and other varmints? Frustrating, isn’t it?

Thankfully, you’re not at their mercy. Here are several options for protecting your bulbs from those gnawing pests:

Create Wire Barriers

Planting inside an underground “cage” made of wide wire mesh is one way you can prevent animal pests from reaching your bulbs. It can be cumbersome, but it works.

Plant Resistant Varieties

Some varieties of bulbs are less attractive to animal pests than others. Squirrels and chipmunks seem to love tulips every bit as much as deer do. They’re less interested in daffodils, allium, scilla, and some others.

Use an Effective Repellent

One of the best and easiest ways to protect newly planted bulbs is with an effective repellent such as Bobbex-R Rabbit & Small Animal Repellent. This all-natural product repels rabbits, chipmunks and other small herbivores through both smell and taste.

To protect bulbs as you plant them, pour some Bobbex-R into a small container and dip the bulbs in it prior to planting, following these simple instructions. Once the solution dries, it becomes water-insoluble so it won’t wash off.

Come springtime, when your plants emerge, spray them with Bobbex-R to protect bulb flowers and foliage.

As a further deterrent, Bobbex-R can also be sprayed at the mouth of animal burrows.

Protect Bulbs From the Start

Tulips and many other bulbs need protection from the minute they go in the ground. No matter what method you use, take steps to keep small animal pests at bay, and you’ll be rewarded with glorious displays come spring.