Plant Bulbs For Spring and Summer Color

At this time of the year when we are enjoying our gardens, we may also be thinking of what flowers we would like to add for next year. I invite you to think about planting scilla, grape hyacinth, hyacinth, crocus, snow drops and other bulbs. September and October are good times to plant spring flowering bulbs. Many summer flowering bulbs may also be planted now, such as allium, Asiatic and oriental lilies. However other bulbs such as gladiolus and dahlia should not be planted until spring.

Plant spring blooming bulbs where they will receive some light and rain, but remember that they bloom before most trees are fully leafed out, so locations that may seem to be too shady in the summer and fall may be a good growing locations in the spring.

Add some bone meal to the soil when you plant the bulbs, mixing it well into the soil around the bulb instead of just pouring it into the bottom of the planting hole. Bulbs should be planted about four times as deep as the size of the bulb. For example a crocus bulb which measures about an inch high, should be planted three or four inches deep, measuring from the bottom of the planting hole. A two inch high tulip bulb should be planted six to eight inches below the surface of the ground. Place all bulbs in the ground with the pointed end pointing up. The opposite end of the bulb may show evidence of roots and will help you determine the top and the bottom of the bulb. Bulbs planted upside down will not grow. Smooth the surface of the soil after refilling the hole and mulch the area for the winter.

Squirrels or other animals may dig up newly planted bulbs for food, so it is a good idea to disguise the newly planted area with a layer of leaves or protect it with netting held down with earth staples or rocks. Gophers may also eat bulbs after tunneling down to them. To prevent this, bulbs may be planted in wire baskets with covers. The bulbs can grow between the wires of the basket in the spring but the burrowing animal is prevented from reaching the bulb itself. Generally the tasty part of the plant is the bulb itself and not the growing leaves. However while deer will leave blooming daffodils alone in the spring, they love to eat tulip blooms. Tulips must be protected with a deer repellant spray, fence or other barrier while they are in bloom. Bulbs should be left undisturbed in the ground even when their leaves die back after blooming. During this period of time the bulb is gathering food for next years growth. When the spring bulbs are finishing their blooming, it is the perfect time to plant annuals between them which will also disguise the dying bulb leaves.

And while you are purchasing your bulbs for spring color, also consider buying extras for forcing indoors or an amaryllis bulb to grow indoors for winter color.