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 Planting
Bulbs
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bulbs
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perennial plants
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> Sources
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Spring flowering bulbs can be planted
or divided from mid-September through October and early November.
Some bulbs, like Snowdrops, Winter Aconites and Anemones do
best when planted in early fall. Daffodils, Lilies, Hyacinth
and Crocus should be planted during September and October,
while Tulips can go in the ground as late as November.
Although hardy bulbs don't need a lot
of attention once planted, they do require cold temperatures
in order to flower in the spring. A general rule is to complete
your plantings before the first hard frost is expected in
your gardening region.
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What
you need to plant bulbs |
- Garden Tools: Spading
fork, mini-shovel, garden rake, hand trowel
or bulb planter and garden hose.
- Bulbs: Select firm, disease-free
bulbs from a reputable garden supply store.
Look for bulbs with smooth, unblemished surfaces.
Plant immediately or store in a cool location
until you are ready to put them in the ground.
- Organic Material: Use
Peat moss or compost made with fallen leaves,
lawn clippings and kitchen scraps.
- Bulb Fertilizer: Select
bone meal or a slow acting formula like 5-10-5
and apply according to the label.
- Mulch and Water: Cover
finished plantings with 3 or 4 inches of chopped
leaves or other organic mulch to protect bulbs.
Water thoroughly.
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Just follow these steps for planting
bulbs:
- Select a sunny, well-drained location
to plant your spring blooming bulbs.
- Prepare the planting area by digging
down about 12 inches to loosen soil. If necessary, you can
loosen dense or compact soil with sand or pre-moistened
peat moss.
- After soil is loosened, mix in some
organic material - such as compost or peat moss to enrich
the planting area and improve its ability to hold moisture.
Mix in bone meal or a slow acting special bulb fertilizer
before you set in the bulbs.
- Create a natural-looking area by
planting bulbs all at once rather than one bulb at a time.
The best planting distance between bulbs depends on the
size of the flower and effect you want to achieve. The depth
of the planting hole also depends on bulb size, but digging
a hole two or three times the height of the bulb is usually
just right.
- You can plant bulbs in groups by
removing the top several inches of soil or by using a bulb
auger to dig individual holes.
- Place bulbs in the hole with pointed
end up and blunt end down. Replace the soil, water thoroughly
and cover with mulch.
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