Bulbs in planters.

Hi All,

I have 8 wooden planters, 4 I bought to put annuals in on the patio and 4 I bought to grow cut and come salad and radish etc in, but never did. The 4 I have on the patio I usually plant up with spring bulbs, however the squirrels/birds usually dig them up and I have a poor show. I am now thinking that I want to plant the 4 up with bulbs and move them after flowering each year, and move the annuals planters back. I want to cover them with chicken wire to stop the them getting dug up, as I have seen in this months Gardeners World magazine. My question is do I need to take the chicken wire off when the plants get big enough that they won't get dug up or can I make it a permanent fixture? Does anyone else do this? I want daffs and tulips in them and would like to get them sorted this week.

Rusty

 

If you get the wider chicken wire could you plant the bulbs directly under the gaps so they grow through without much restraint?

 

Yep i do this and just take the chicken wire off when the bulbs have grown and are big enough. I rarely have squirrels though...it's just the birds that have a good dig plus neighbourhood cats.

 

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies. I will make some removable ones,with timber and chicken wire I think. As the bulbs are staying in the planters permanently, any suggestions on which compost to use? I was thinking multipurpose with a bit of grit through it to open it up a little. Then after they have finished flowering adding a bit of fertiliser and a dressing of possibly leaf mould. Do you think this would be ok?

Rusty

 

I think you need a small-mesh wire, otherwise the mice will get through it, and thus the mesh will probably be too small for the bulbs to grow up through.

Having said that Mice (or whatever) were digging up, and eating, my Tulips well into the spring this year, and long after they were well sprouted above ground :(