General Chat

If I put slate chippings on top of pots with bulbs in will they come through, something keeps scrabbling top compost off and exposing bulbs.

Amatuer gardener 100%.

Thanks you.

Thanks Debs it's possible the squirrels although not seen any about just lately they do visit, in semi rural area.

Sometimes blackbirds throw compost out when looking for bugs. But bulbs will grow through smallish slate chippings or gravel.

I'm at the bulb setting stage, but I know I have squirrels. So, in an attempts to thwart them, cheekey little devils that they are, I am setting my bulbs in large pots and transfering them where I want them to grow, once they have started to sprut. Yesterday there was a squirrel in my window box, outside the kitchen window, so I knew I needed to devise a plan. I'll have to set something else, perhaps cyclamen or primroses in the window box for colour until the bulbs are ready.
Julia in Derbyshire

A simple device for keeping grey tree rats off of your spring bulbs - a cheap air pistol. And you can cook and eat it after you've shot it.

That sounds most humane, Eddie. Any recipes for said dead tree rat? BC

Tree rats and chips anyone?

You could put one of these little windmill things in the pot.birghten it up too lol

I love the tree rats, they're a lot more entertaining than their town cousins. At least they live in the trees instead of the drains which surround the fast food shops. Perhaps if the rats in the town came out during the day and paraded in front of the burger shops it might help to cut down the number of people who eat fast food and in turn get rid of the obesity problem.

I'm told it can be prepared as and used as an alternative to Rabbit.
The game butcher in town usually has them for sale.
I understand it is quite popular up Yorkshire way too?

Ive heard of them being eaten. Think I'll give it a miss....yuck