How to Keep Ground Hogs Away From Tulip Bulbs

Dig up the entire garden bed using a shovel, removing 6 inches worth of soil in the area where the tulip bulbs will be planted. You should end up with a deep flower bed that resembles a gaping hole in the ground.

Spread a sheet of chicken wire over the bottom of the hole, folding it up all the way around so it reaches up the sides as well.

Plant tulip bulbs as you normally would and backfill the garden bed with soil.

Lay a second sheet of chicken wire over the top of the flower bed after tulip bulbs have been planted.

Cover the garden bed and wire overlay with a 1/2- to 1-inch layer of mulch. A single bag of 5 to 10 lbs. should provide enough mulch to cover a single flower bed. Groundhogs cannot burrow through the small links of the wire, but shoots can bloom between them.

Add 10 percent gravel to the tulip planting soil to discourage the tunneling behavior ground hogs often exhibit.

Clean the flower bed and surrounding area after planting tulip bulbs. The paperlike sheaths that surround the bulbs, for instance, should be completely cleared away to prevent groundhogs from being drawn to the smell of flowers.

Plant daffodils, fritillaria and alliums near tulips to keep ground hogs away. The rodents dislike these flowers and will be more likely to leave your tulips alone.

Spray commercial groundhog and garden pest repellents around flower beds to prevent groundhog damage.

Add natural repellents to garden beds as an alternative or a supplement to manufactured chemicals. Human hair, ammonia-soaked sponges and raw, rotten eggs give off scents that help keep ground hogs away from tulip bulbs.

Build a fence around the entire perimeter of the tulip bed to discourage persistent groundhogs. The fence should go 3 feet into the ground.