HOW & WHEN TO PLANT BULBS!
Bulbs are precious little bundles of flower power that make us wait weeks, sometimes months, for results — but boy, are they worth it!! The term “bulb” refers not only to true bulbs, but also plants with tuberous roots, tubers, corms, and rhizomes. The information here can be applied to all of these! With a little basic knowledge, anyone can grow beautiful bulbs! Here’s how:
-PLANTING BULBS-
-WHEN TO PLANT BULBS-
In our area, Spring-flowering bulbs can be planted as soon as the ground is cool, evening temperatures average 40° to 50°F, and ideally 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes. Come shop for bulbs now for the best availability! Bulbs can be stored in a dry cool place until planting if needed. Summer-flowering bulbs should be planted in mid to late spring.
-WHERE TO PLANT BULBS-
Here’s a cool thing: As long as you make sure that your bulbs have good drainage and sunlight, you can plant them just about anywhere!! Drainage is critical to keep bulbs from rotting. They like loamy or slightly sandy soil because it provides the drainage and nutrients they need to survive & thrive! Another cool thing: Early-spring bloomers can be planted under deciduous trees where they’ll get enough sun to bloom before the tree’s leaves block out the light!
-PLAN BEFORE YOU PLANT-
Bulbs can be grown in many ways — formal gardens, meadow gardens, under trees, or strategically planted throughout beds and borders. Many bulbs will multiply, coming back year after year, so if you take this into consideration & plan carefully, you can have years of enjoyment from one planting. Once your bulbs have established & multiplied, you can split them & plant more in other areas! Planting in clusters provides greater visual impact, drawing your eye to a larger mass of foliage & color! There’s nothing prettier than seeing large areas full of flowering tulips!!
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Take into account bloom time — plant a combination of early, mid & late-season bloomers to enjoy your bulbs for an extended season! It’s a good idea to plant your early spring bloomers in back & your later season bloomers in front… this way your later season bulbs will hide the dying foliage of your early spring bulbs!
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Layer plant heights from front to back when planting varieties that will bloom at the same time so you can see all of your beautiful blooms!
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Many bulbs are actually perfect for container planting! Bring them into view when they’re blooming and move them out of the way when foliage is wilting and when dormant. You can leave them in their container & winter them over in a cool, dark place like your basement or garage! When you plant them in a container, you can snug them right up next to each other and fill your pot full!
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Bulbs provide bright, vibrant color — think about how those colors will blend with their surroundings! Choose colors that will accent the rest of your plants!
-HOW TO PLANT BULBS-
Bulbs can be planted in layers by digging up an entire area down to the proper depth, placing the bulbs and covering; or in individual holes dug for each bulb. Figure out the planting depth for the type of bulb you’re planting. If planted too deep, flowers will bloom late or not at all. If planted too shallow, new growth may become exposed too soon and risk damage by cold temperatures. If you are unsure of the exact planting depth, a good general rule of thumb is to plant the bulb 2 to 3 times as deep as the bulb is tall!
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Prepare the soil by loosening it and mixing in good compost if needed for added nutrients. Special bulb fertilizer or blood meal can be added to help your bulbs thrive, which we carry here in our garden center!
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Place the bulbs with the pointy-end up and with the roots down. If you’re not sure of the top or bottom of the bulb, plant it on its side and it will find its way to the surface! Smart little fellas.
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Cover with soil and a light layer of mulch.
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Newly planted bulbs should be watered well to get settled in.
-AFTER-CARE-
For all bulbs, after blooming, cut only the flower stem back. Leave foliage intact until it turns yellow and wilts to the ground… the bulb sucks the energy & nutrients out of the leaves and back into the bulb to store until next year! How cool is that? If the foliage is cut back too soon, bulbs might not perform very well the following season.