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Re: [SHADEGARDENS] Tulips & voles

In a message dated 98-03-11 02:06:08 EST, you write:

<< If you are concerned, try interplanting with narcissus as no critters will
 eat them.  I have found that encircling lily bulbs with narcissus of any
 kind protects them from hungry critters below ground. >>

Another trick is to surround each bulb (somewhat tedious planting style) with
turkey grit.  Grit must be on top, bottom and sides.  The turkey grit will not
prevent rooting of the bulb and will allow some of the bulbs to survive.

Tulips being a somewhat annual plant why not spend your efforts on the many
bulbs that like us better?

A few years ago I planted 100 pink tulips in several large patches. I found
them on sale at Walmart and thought "what a bargain".  I never saw one of
those tulips and I increased the vole population I am sure with such a
generous food supply.

A member of another group who lost an entire lily breeding collection informed
me that I had practiced monoculture and actually encouraged these voles.  I
now plant bulbs 3 or 4 to a group widely dispersed in the garden.

Another mistake was clearing the gardens entirely of snakes.  I have taught
myself to like snakes and allow them to live in their favorite spots.  The
balance has somewhat returned as the resident snake population is growing.
Cats, we had five of them here once, do not deal effectively with voles.  Cats
do not hunt in the gardens when easy open fields are available to them.  A
smaller city garden would be better served, I suppose.

I have had voles destroy lilies, all bulbs except daffoldils and fritillaria,
hostas, and randomly chosen plants with fleshy roots.

Claire Peplowski
East Nassau, NY
zone 4
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