Seeds & Bulbs
Spring-flowering bulbs bloom in March, April, May & June and must be planted in the fall. They are popular because they are the first harbingers of spring time, and provide the spring garden with color and variety. There are so many different bulbs with as many colors and heights that combinations are endless. Due to the large variation in blossoming periods, one can enjoy flowering bulbs for many months.
Soil Requirements
All soil types are suitable for planting flower bulbs. Only very wet soil presents problems. Before planting loosen the soil thoroughly. Heavy clay soil is improved by mixing gypsum, peat, or compost into topsoil
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Fertilizing
Flower bulbs don’t require extra fertilizer since bulbous plants have storage food of their own. If the flower bulbs are to remain in the soil for many years, application of a slow release fertilizer in fall is recommended. A balanced complete fertilizer (such as bone meal) is suitable for bulbs. Additional nourishment provides sufficient strength for flowering the following spring. Fertilizing must be repeated every year.
When to Plant
Spring flowering bulbs are planted from September till November, provided the soil is not frozen and can be worked easily. Planting before it becomes too cold provides more time for root growth.
Where to Plant
Spring flowering bulbs can be planted everywhere in the garden depending on their light requirement: in sunlight, shade or part-shade; in borders, around a fence or tree. Low-growing flower bulbs look their best in an area where they are clearly visible. Tall varieties are best planted in the back of borders.
How Deep to Plant
The general rule of thumb for spring bulbs is that they should be planted three times as deep as they are high. More specifically, the underside of the bulb (the flat side), should be 8 inches deep for large bulbs such as the tulip, hyacinth and daffodil; and 4 inches deep for smaller bulbs such as the anemone, scilla, and muscari.
Watering After Planting
If nature itself does not provide sufficient water after planting, the plants should be watered by hand. The plants form roots quicker in moist soil, and this is important for their further development.
Covering Layer
Flower bulbs benefit from a mulch of leaves or straw. If the winters are extremely severe and particularly if we do not have adequate snow cover, a protective mulch of about 4 inches will prevent alternate freezing and thawing which can prevent flowering.
Good Combinations
Best results are obtained by taking into consideration heights, color combinations and flowering periods. It is preferable to plant the bulbs in small groups, but to avoid circles or squares, in order to obtain as natural an effect as possible. Gardens may be provided with long periods of color by planting different bulbs together which have varying flowering times. Examples to try are combinations of low-growing crocuses with late flowering tulips, scilla with early flowering tulips, or saffodils with Darwin tulips.
Naturalizing
Many spring bulbs are ideally suited for naturalizing, and they provide the garden with a "natural" look when planted in the grass, around trees or under shrubs. Species tulips, low-growing daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops, and scillas are very suitable for naturalizing. Taller-growing bulbous plants (ie. Trumpet daffodils) can best be combined with others. When planting near trees or among rocks, always use at least six bulbs. If planting bulbs in grass consideration should be given to the fact that mowing should not be done until the flowers and leaves have withered.
Among Ground Covers
Flower bulbs are well suited for planting among ground covers. The roots of flower bulbs sit deeper and therefore don't rob the ground cover of food. Moreover, once the flowers have finished blooming, the ground cover ensures an attractive garden.
Indoors
Many kinds of spring bulbs are suitable for indoor forcing, enabling them to blossom in the winter. There are special bulbs such as the amaryllis and the paperwhite (Narcissus spp.) perfect for providing fragrance and color during the long winter days. Species such as hyacinth, tulip, daffodil and crocus will require a cold period to bloom. Please refer to our Indoor Forcing of Flower Bulbs section.
Perennial Flowering
By leaving the flower bulbs in the ground after they blossom, most spring bulbs will bloom again the following year. It is important to cut the flowers off after they have finished blooming, but leave as many leaves as possible on the stem. The plant will receive sufficient storage food to recharge the bulb underground. It will then bloom again the following spring.
After the Flowering Period
After the flowering period, the choice is leaving the bulbs in the ground or digging them up. By leaving them in the ground a sort of naturalizing takes place. Planting some additional bulbs in the area will create a splendid effect. You can also dig up the flower bulbs and plant something different the following season. To be able to use these bulbs another time, they should be dug up only when the leaves have completely died. Remove the soil from the bulbs and save them until fall in a dry, well ventilated place.
Cold Climate
In a very cold climate, sprouting bulbs can be damaged by extreme weather and by sudden Chinooks. If the bulbs are starting to sprout in December or January, it's wise to cover them with a layer of soil, peat or leaves. Mulching bulbs in the fall with straw or dry leaves helps prevent them from sprouting too early. If it starts to get warmer more quickly than normal, the bulbs' flowering time may also begin earlier; so you should be prepared to cover them with sheets or burlap if a frost is forecast.
Problems
Bulb Dust is helpful in preventing either soil insects or disease from damaging bulbs. Gopher or squirrel problems ( they use garden bulbs as a food source) can be deterred by sprinkling blood meal on top of the soil where bulbs are planted.
