The pebbles only protect the roots. Stem and leaf need noxious teas. Fruit needs chicken wire or nets. Animals are persistent. I get you though. Go for it!!
I learned this planting bulbs. The squirrels snacked happily on 119 of the120 I planted. I learned the pebble trick. I got all my bulbs that year. Of course, being older, jaded, and moderately cynical about pebbles, I only planted 10 bulbs.
Do you cover the entire bulb with pebbles before they push through the soil? What's your timing. Sorry to be so thick headed on this but I want to get it right, thanks.
Well, when I planted the bulbs in the autumn, I did indeed cover the bulbs with an inch. When I planted bulbs I’d forced, I placed the pebbles around the stalk. But in that case, I dug a wider circle than just the bulb’s planting hole, to make any approach to the plant unsavory to critters. And that wider circle I only dug down half an inch. I used the same pebbles as mulch around my arugula, spinach, basil, tomatoes, marigolds (to discourage other pests), mint, and pumpkins. Any plant like tomatoes and pumpkins generally look after themselves once they have spines or bristles. Except tomato worms which respond to tobacco tea (nicotine) or chili tea.
I used fingertip-sized gravel. I don’t know the official name of the size. It’s very handy though, easily shoveled, picked up by handful, used as mulch or to make French drains.
The pebbles only protect the roots. Stem and leaf need noxious teas. Fruit needs chicken wire or nets. Animals are persistent. I get you though. Go for it!!
You can also spray your plants with noxious stuff like tobacco tea and chili tea.
I learned this planting bulbs. The squirrels snacked happily on 119 of the120 I planted. I learned the pebble trick. I got all my bulbs that year. Of course, being older, jaded, and moderately cynical about pebbles, I only planted 10 bulbs.
Invest in pebbles. Use them in the top inch of planting. The critters hate them.
Do you cover the entire bulb with pebbles before they push through the soil? What's your timing. Sorry to be so thick headed on this but I want to get it right, thanks.
Well, when I planted the bulbs in the autumn, I did indeed cover the bulbs with an inch. When I planted bulbs I’d forced, I placed the pebbles around the stalk. But in that case, I dug a wider circle than just the bulb’s planting hole, to make any approach to the plant unsavory to critters. And that wider circle I only dug down half an inch. I used the same pebbles as mulch around my arugula, spinach, basil, tomatoes, marigolds (to discourage other pests), mint, and pumpkins. Any plant like tomatoes and pumpkins generally look after themselves once they have spines or bristles. Except tomato worms which respond to tobacco tea (nicotine) or chili tea.
But the gravel helps with other things.
Thanks! Will give that it a try.
Wow. Big pebbles like gravel or small ones?
I used fingertip-sized gravel. I don’t know the official name of the size. It’s very handy though, easily shoveled, picked up by handful, used as mulch or to make French drains.