Re: Animals digging up bulbs

Daffodils have another advantage over tulips:  they increase and multiply.  Most of the hybrid tulips dwindle over time; in fact the large displays in public gardens are almost always a planting of new bulbs--after bloom they dig them and throw them away.  Species tulips are more likely to increase over time or at least not decline in strength; however, in my garden I find they rarely get a chance to bloom because the deer or groundhogs eat them off in bud; likewise the hyacinths.  Most of the "minor" bulbs do well for me too, although the crocus must be especially tasty.  Alliums and fritillaria are left alone.

Another cause of bulb death can be moles.  We all know that moles do not eat plants; however, the voles that use their tunnels do.  In addition, if a mole tunnel leaves the roots of a bulb hanging in air in the tunnels, the roots will die and the bulb will die over time as well.
Bill Lee

South Western Ohio Daffodil Society (SWODS)
(hosts of the 2002 ADS Convention)
"Fun Knights and Daffodil Daze in the Queen City"
April 18-20 2002, Drawbridge Inn, Fort Mitchell, KY
www.swods.net - info, schedule, and registration!!
BE THERE
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