Do voles eat bluebells?

[Billabong Karen]

Hi, I have some sort of voles in my garden, that dig tunnels under the grass - they eat tulip bulbs but leave daffodill bulbs alone. Is it worth me trying to plant bluebells, or will they eat them too?

[Dogghound]

Daffodill bulbs are unpalatable as they contain toxins. They will feed on bluebells.

[Billabong Karen]

Aaargh. I feared as much... I guess the bluebell wood is out then...

What wont the little horrors eat, that will grow in a wooded, shady area? How about foxgloves?

[Dogghound]

I doubt they would eat foxglove as that is toxic too. I would try planting bulbs again in the spring, as populations can fluctuate that much that you may hardly have any after the winter, so they will cause less damage.

[Billabong Karen]

Thanks - I'll try planting some this autumn, and save some for the spring.

I think I'll try more wild daffodils and snowdrops too. I dont have anything against the voles - it's just I'd like some spring flowers in the garden too!

[Kayleigh]

I have woodmice and the same thing happens here I was going to plant some bluebells too but feel they would get eaten looks like the wildlife wins I will plant some cyclamen as they seem to stay put..

[Hobjob]

Last time I dug up any of my hybrid/Spanish bluebells, which have been established >30 years, they were a metre deep. They are also a profuse seeders.

So I guess establishing blue bells might be a problem, but once established they would persevere.

[Billabong Karen]

Yes, I thought about all the woods full of bluebells and that they dont get eaten up by mice and voles... I think as you say the key is managing to get them established. I was thinking about perhaps trying to plant the bulbs within some sort of wire cage...

Cyclamen sound like a good idea too.

[King Edward]

You could try planting the bulbs quite deep to deter the voles. If you were going to order some bulbs, check what size the individual bulbs would be since larger bulbs should cope better with greater depth (they naturally use their roots to pull themselves down into the soil as they get bigger, presumably to avoid voles and other threats).

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by King Edward

You could try planting the bulbs quite deep to deter the voles. If you were going to order some bulbs, check what size the individual bulbs would be since larger bulbs should cope better with greater depth (they naturally use their roots to pull themselves down into the soil as they get bigger, presumably to avoid voles and other threats).

Super advice, thanks so much. With all the help and suggestions I have got here, I am hopeful that my bluebell wood (with foxglove glade) will yet become a reality...