A little effort now will pay off big next spring with bold, beautiful blooms that will keep giving you enjoyment for many years with just a little TLC and proper maintenance.
Spring flowering bulbs come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and blooming times, just make sure you have the time and energy to get them in the ground now.
Tulips and daffodils are the most common spring bulbs, but there’s nothing common about them when their blooms start adorning your flower beds.
For proper growth, spring bulbs need to be planted now and in the next several weeks before the ground freezes. You’ll want to select a spot that gets plenty of spring sunlight. The angle of the sun will be about the same as it is now if that’s a consideration as to where to plant.
When planning on where to plant your spring bulbs, think about next year and what the garden will look like after they bloom. Bulbs store up energy in their bulbs after they bloom for the following year. That means the leaves need to remain in place long after they bloom until they begin to yellow. Depending on your location, that may not look so good unless you take a few careful steps before planting now.
Most gardeners like to have successive plantings so there is color in the garden throughout the season. To accomplish that plant the earliest blooming bulbs as far back as possible in the chosen area. Then plant later blooming bulbs in front and so on. In the very front of the planting leave room for a few annuals that can be planted next spring to help cover up the fading leaves of the bulbs.
The soil should be well-drained and not prone to standing water. How deep to plant the bulbs depend almost entire on the size of the bulbs. This isn’t rocket science, but on average a large bulb should be about 6 – 8″ deep with about that much distance between the bulbs. Smaller bulbs can go about 4 – 6″ deep and again, about the same distance between plants.
Mix a little organic compost and some bone meal or commercially prepared bulb fertilizer. Read directions.
Remember where you planted the bulbs and next fall, long after the blooms and leaves have disappeared, put down some additional fertilizer. This will help maintain their size and health for years to come.
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