Garden Pests!

I have many garden pests.  So many that I think I need to have individual blogs entries about each of them as the growing season begins.

While it is still early in the year and I have not planted anything yet, the most recent pest that is on my manure list is either a squirrel or a skunk.  Why?

In late September I can sometimes tolerate the squirrel's stealing a tomato or two in preparation for the winter.  But I am quite annoyed at them right now for digging up my tulips and eating the bulbs.

Background on why we like Tulips 

A few years ago, I created two flower garden spaces for my daughters to plant and experiment with getting their hands dirty.  Together with them, we planted a series of Dutch Tulip Bulbs.


I can't recall the exact names of them, but they were Dutch and both Pink and Orange in color similar to the ones you see here.

My oldest daughter Gemma was born in April in Portland Oregon and at that time of the year the tulip fields are exploding with flowers.  Right before my wife gave birth to Gemma, I had purchased a bunch of tulips that we took with us to the hospital when she went in labor.  They were used as a focal point for my wife while pushing and since then have been very special to us and our daughter.  So you can see why I'm not too pleased about my garden pest eating my tulip bulbs.

My approach for keeping the squirrel or skunk away.

This may not be the most elaborate method, but since employing, I've not had any more damage done to my tulips.  On the side of my house I also have a few rose bushes.  What I've done is prune back the rose bushes and then taken the the thorn branches and laid them next to the line of tulips as to prevent the squirrel or skunk in the positioning themselves to dig up the bulbs.

Here is a picture of what I've done

So far, so good.  No issues to report.  If you do have an organic means of deterring these critters go for it.  Also Please comment on how you keep these animals away.