The Hortisexual

Finally planted my tulip bulbs. A couple hundred in all.

Planting spring flowering bulbs has to be the greatest act of faith there is in home gardening. Once you bury those bulbs all you can do is believe what you can’t see for the next five months or so: that six inches underground roots are developing (hopefully) to support leaves and stems that will eventually poke through the soil, reach skyward and bust out in blossoms.

My faith isn’t completely blind. I take measures to help my bulbs survive attacks from above and below.

Into the hole with each bulb I toss sharp gravel and castor oil granules to keep voles from snacking all winter on my Darwin Hybrids. (A couple years ago I dug out all the soil and lined the bottom and sides of my tulip beds with chicken wire. That stopped voles from tunneling in; now they just go over the top and down!).

I also sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes on the beds after planting to keep squirrels from digging up the bulbs. Same stuff you put on pizza. Nothing sends a message faster than a snoot full of capsaicin to train rodents not to nose around my flower beds. (NOTE: you’ll need to refresh your red pepper flakes after a rainfall; it only takes two or three applications for squirrels to get the idea).

Those pesky pests haven't got a prayer!