So far, I don't have a major vole problem, so my bulbs do fine in the ground. However, I would be a little concerned about moisture using plastic pots - either too much or too little, since the sides of the pot wouldn't let moisture in or out, so the only avenues for moisture to move would be the top or the holes in the bottom. I have also seen roots get slightly strangled in pot-bound plants I have purchased, as they grew out the holes. As well, the voles can dig down into the pots from the top, unless you cover the tops with wire.

I would think wire cages would be better. While the price has gone up from what it used to be - and what hasn't!!?? - a roll of quarter-inch-mesh hardware cloth isn't exorbitant, and it will make a lot of cages that will allow for free water and root penetration. You could make a cardboard template, to get the size/shape to make 4 sides with top and bottom, and either use wire, or the j-hooks people use to make rabbit cages. Sorry, but I don't know a source for those, maybe your local farm supply store? Come to think of it, you might want to make the tops out of wide-mesh chicken wire, so the stems have room to grow up. And, it may be that tops aren't needed after all, since, as I said, I have no vole experience.

Ooops, I left off a bit. Just to make sense, the sentence should end as follows - "and either use wire, or the j-hooks people use to make rabbit cages" to attach the edges together.

I've often wished that they would offer the hardware cloth cages premade for sale along with the above ground versions for rabbit control around young trees. I need them but don't want to have to make them myself.

I have had problems with voles eating hosta roots. I found that surrounding the root system with coarse gravel deters the little critters. They don't like chewing their way through it. I've heard that this works for bulbs as well, and does not interfere with drainage. Good luck.

You can get a 50lb bag of turkey grit, and put that around the bulbs - chicken grit would do, I think, but the turkey grit is coarser. I THINK I got my last bag at Lowe's, but it might have been at a local feed store. Since this was 2 years ago, and I need to replace it soon, I can't suggest a price - my recollection is that it was around $7 then. Otherwise, quarter-inch or so gravel should do, if you can get it - the 'pea gravel' for paths, not the smooth, decorative stones.

Thanks, everyone!

Sally