According to the Farmer’s Almanac, this winter will bring us “biting cold and snowy” weather. Yikes. If we choose though, to look at this forecast as an opportunity, we can find the silver lining. Colder winters can mean less disease and fewer insect pests. They also tend to make us more grateful for spring when it finally arrives. One way to celebrate those warmer temperatures and sunnier days is to fill our gardens with spring flowering bulbs. Tulips and daffodils will not grant you instant-gratification, but good things come to those who wait. And planting bulbs is really fast and easy. You can plant bulbs just about anywhere in your garden. As a rule, they do best in areas with at least 4 or 5 hours of sun and good drainage. Bulbs do not like wet feet. If you are starting a new bed, work in plenty of organic matter. Peat moss, compost or old bark mulch will do the job. You’ll want the soil to be loose and workable. In an established bed, be sure to add some bulb boosting fertilizer. We like to use Bulb-Tone by Espoma Organics. You can also apply fertilizer to any parts of your garden where existing bulbs are located. The two questions we hear every year are how to decide which end goes up and how deep the hole should be. Most bulbs have a definite pointy end, like tulips and daffodils. The point should face the top of the hole. With others, Allium being an example, it’s a bit harder to determine. When in doubt, plant the bulb sideways. We plant bulbs at a depth of 2 times the diameter of the bulb. Once the soil is filled back in to cover the bulb, be sure to water the area well to ensure establishment. Newly planted bulbs will continue to develop roots until the ground freezes. Timing is an important factor, too. Most bulbs should be planted after a good hard frost. We like to wait until mid-October. There are several exceptions though. Plant any softer bulbs now. Daffodils, Fritillaria and Iris can all go into the ground right away. And of course planting any of the fall blooming bulbs now should give you blossoms by the end of the month. And finally, plant lots and plant them in groups. Bulbs look best when they are massed together in drifts or clumps. Our favorite planting method is to toss a handful onto an area and dig them in wherever they land. We also like to plant the small bulbs with grass-like leaves into the lawn. In the end though, let your imagination go and spend a few hours on a brisk autumn Saturday. Your colorful spring garden, and your neighbors, will thank you.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 12:46:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015