What's eating my tulip?

Tulips are targeted by aphids (which spread tulip virus), bulb-eating squirrels and voles, and the tulip fire fungus (Botrytis tulipae). In the garden, deer and rabbits will eat emerging shoots and flowers. Squirrels and voles digging up and eating bulbs in autumn and winter are the most commonly reported problem for gardeners.

Squirrels dig up and eat newly planted bulbs in autumn; voles tunnel underground and gnaw bulbs in winter, leaving hollow shells with no shoots appearing in spring. Plant bulbs under wire mesh cloches or line planting holes with chicken wire; apply a layer of sharp grit over bulbs; use hardware cloth bulb cages in raised beds.

Colonies shelter in dried bulb scales in storage and on emerging shoots outdoors, distorting leaves and — more critically — transmitting tulip breaking virus that causes distorted, streaked flowers. Inspect bulbs at lifting; destroy infested bulbs; store in cool, dry, ventilated conditions; apply insecticidal soap to emerging shoots if colonies appear.

Leaves emerge with scorched tips and brownish spots with dark borders; in humid conditions the whole shoot collapses with a grey mould; bulbs develop sunken, dark lesions. Remove and bin (do not compost) infected plant material immediately; avoid overhead watering; plant in well-drained soil with good air circulation; dust bulbs with sulphur before planting.

Deer nip off flower buds and upper stems in early spring; rabbits eat tender new shoots at ground level, leaving ragged stumps. Use wire netting (at least 60 cm high, buried 15 cm) around beds; apply proprietary deer repellent spray; plant in raised beds or containers where access is harder.