Protecting Bulbs from Animals and Cold Weather
2024-11-06
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1It would not be autumn without planting advice from Associated Press gardening expert Jessica Damiano.
2Damiano recently wrote about her experience planting garlic cloves.
3She was concerned not just about protecting them from low winter temperatures.
4She was worried that animals would dig up her bulbs and eat them.
5Tulips, daffodils and garlic, for example, produce bulbs that bloom in the spring in places that have four seasons and cold winters.
6To keep away animals, Damiano put netting over the soil and covered it with straw to a thickness of 10 centimeters.
7She said this is good to do with any bulbs, especially ones like garlic, tulips and crocuses.
8That is because animals like to eat the bulbs of these plants.
9Netting or a kind of fencing called chicken wire can serve as a physical barrier that prevents animals from digging up plants.
10Such barriers do not block sunlight and water from reaching the soil.
11Damiano said they can be secured to the ground with pieces of wood or rocks.
12They can be removed in the spring.
13Straw is a good mulch material that helps keep the temperature of the soil from changing too much.
14That can help avoid damage to plants caused by freezing and thawing conditions.
15It also keeps the soil from drying out.
16Protecting soil is important during the winter when cold dry weather can damage even the strongest plants.
17Straw, hay, what is the difference?
18Damiano said it is important to use straw, not hay, in your garden.
19Hay is animal feed.
20It contains tall grass, alfalfa, clover and other seeds that will cause problems in your garden.
21She said straw is leftover material from crop harvesting.
22It is better because it has fewer seeds.
23Damiano also said straw is less likely to contain chemicals used for insect control on crops.
24Straw is also good for other purposes around your house, the gardening expert noted.
25Damiano does not like to use some popular fertilizers such as bone meal, blood meal or fish fertilizers.
26She said hungry animals might find such fertilizers appealing.
27She also advises not to leave parts of bulbs on the ground in your garden because they might be a sign to animals that there is food nearby.
28There are many products meant to keep away animals that eat bulbs, which include squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks and others.
29Damiano does not use repellants because they must be must be replaced often.
30She said she does not like doing garden work when it is cold outside.
31Some repellants can be used to treat bulbs before planting.
32But, she said, they wear off over time. Damiano considered a physical barrier like netting or chicken wire to be the best defense.
33But, she added, the repellants and other methods can be effective so long as you are diligent.
34I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1It would not be autumn without planting advice from Associated Press gardening expert Jessica Damiano. 2Damiano recently wrote about her experience planting garlic cloves. She was concerned not just about protecting them from low winter temperatures. She was worried that animals would dig up her bulbs and eat them. 3Tulips, daffodils and garlic, for example, produce bulbs that bloom in the spring in places that have four seasons and cold winters. 4To keep away animals, Damiano put netting over the soil and covered it with straw to a thickness of 10 centimeters. 5She said this is good to do with any bulbs, especially ones like garlic, tulips and crocuses. That is because animals like to eat the bulbs of these plants. 6Protecting bulbs 7Netting or a kind of fencing called chicken wire can serve as a physical barrier that prevents animals from digging up plants. Such barriers do not block sunlight and water from reaching the soil. Damiano said they can be secured to the ground with pieces of wood or rocks. They can be removed in the spring. 8Straw is a good mulch material that helps keep the temperature of the soil from changing too much. That can help avoid damage to plants caused by freezing and thawing conditions. It also keeps the soil from drying out. Protecting soil is important during the winter when cold dry weather can damage even the strongest plants. 9Straw, hay, what is the difference? 10Damiano said it is important to use straw, not hay, in your garden. Hay is animal feed. It contains tall grass, alfalfa, clover and other seeds that will cause problems in your garden. 11She said straw is leftover material from crop harvesting. It is better because it has fewer seeds. 12Damiano also said straw is less likely to contain chemicals used for insect control on crops. Straw is also good for other purposes around your house, the gardening expert noted. 13Fertilizers and repellants 14Damiano does not like to use some popular fertilizers such as bone meal, blood meal or fish fertilizers. She said hungry animals might find such fertilizers appealing. 15She also advises not to leave parts of bulbs on the ground in your garden because they might be a sign to animals that there is food nearby. 16There are many products meant to keep away animals that eat bulbs, which include squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks and others. Damiano does not use repellants because they must be must be replaced often. She said she does not like doing garden work when it is cold outside. 17Some repellants can be used to treat bulbs before planting. But, she said, they wear off over time. Damiano considered a physical barrier like netting or chicken wire to be the best defense. 18But, she added, the repellants and other methods can be effective so long as you are diligent. 19I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 20Jessica Damiano reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. 21______________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23clove -n. a segment, or part, of a plant bulb 24bulb -n. the underground part of certain plants that produces leaves and flowers 25bloom -v. to produce a fully developed flower 26thaw -v. to melt from a frozen state 27repellant -n. a substance that keep an animal such as an insect or a larger animal away because of some chemical property 28diligent -adj. showing care, hard work and continuous effort 29We want to hear from you. 30Our comment policy is here