Snowdrop /squirrel food ?
Firstly, a belated Happy New Year to everyone on here.
I wondered if you could help, last spring I planted 100 snowdrops in the green.
There is no sight of them yet, is it still too early or did I just provide food for the numerous squirrels we have in the garden?
It is a slight woody area, with 6 scots pines, sycamore, and two oaks, laurel. I have snowdrops in another part of this area, so also split some of those and put them in. Trying to spread them around a bit.
Maybe I'm just too impatient and it is too early for them. It is quite dry in summer once the leaves are back on, I'm hoping it wasn't too dry for them.
Any thoughts ? thank you.
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Squirrels here do not eat snowdrops, but do seem to move them around while they are digging for acorns from the autumn. They will eat crocus and camassia. (every last one)
nothing eats my snowdrops and we have squirrels. Some have emerged but nothing much to see yet. Much later than last year, I had a few flowers out on NYD last year.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Noting really eats snowdrops as far as I'm aware. I've never known squirrels to eat them. It's also one of the few things rabbits don't even touch.
My snowdrops are only just showing above soil level now, although some of the crocus are further ahead. I think we often assume snowdrops come out first, but they're always a bit slower here anyway
They might struggle a bit under the Scots pines unless you get a lot of rainfall to penetrate them. They like it damper rather than drier - in fact, they can cope with a lot of wet ground.
Perhaps you simply need a little patience, although we're always in a hurry for things to appear at this time of year, aren't we!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
okay that's fine, thank you. I knew they ate crocus, and they ate them all out of pots a few years back so assumed it would be any small bulb.
patience it is then.
Thank you again. x
Quote from Suttons
Although snowdrop bulbs are poisonous to humans it seems that squirrels are immune and can often be spotted rummaging for snowdrops in woodland.
Have they eaten yours Berghill?
In the sticks near Peterborough
Up to a few weeks ago we have not had squirrels in the garden. Now we have one and so I shall keep a close eye on our 'drops.
Must admit that I have always thought that Snow drops are toxic to all mammals.
I wonder if it's fine once they're established and perhaps a bit deeper than they want to dig down, whereas nice, new plantings will be near the surface and slightly less 'firm' until they get their roots in properly....
I suppose those planted in the green would mean they would be firmer in the ground too, and also going in (usually) at a time of year when there's plenty of other food around.
Just my thoughts on it.
Maybe we should do a Beechgrove style trial
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Squirrels have dug my snowdrop bulbs up when burying chestnuts but have never eaten them.
suttons might have made an error. Lots of misinformation on the internet
In the sticks near Peterborough