Planting a perennial flower garden can be both fun and rewarding. You only need to follow a few simple steps.
Planting perennial flower bulbs can be fun and relaxing. When it comes to bulbs you will find some that bloom in spring, summer and fall. The most common bulbs you find are for spring and summer flowers.
Most bulbs are teardrop shaped and have a pointed top and round bottom. Knowing this is important for when you are planting your bulbs.
Caring for your perennial bulbs once they are in the ground is one of the easiest things you will do in your flower garden. Besides water, they need very little from you. Of course, the more you nurture them the prettier your flowers will be. So it is up to you. You can plant, water and enjoy what pops up or you can provide a little extra care and have a beautiful display of flowers.
Common bulbs that bloom in the spring are tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, crocus, and alliums. These bulbs should be planted three to four weeks before your first frost. They need the winter to start growing. You can plant spring flower bulbs if you get them in the spring but they probably will not bloom until the next year. If you are in a warmer climate and they do bloom it will most likely be in late summer.
Just like any other flower, bulbs have certain areas where they like to be planted. The amount of sun or shade your planting area has will determine the type of bulb you can plant.
Spring bulbs that like full sun.
Anemones, Freesias, Alliums, Hyacinths, Brodiaea, Ranunculi, Dutch Iris, Daffodils, Lachenalias, Spring Star Flowers, Ixias, Grape Hyacinths, Sparaxis, and Species Gladioli.
Spring bulbs that like a shady area.
Anemones, Crocus, Tulips, Daffodils, Lachenalias, Bluebells, Cuban Lilies, Hyacinths, Lachenalias, Grape Hyacinths
In order for your bulbs to receive the food and nourishment they need to bloom again during their next season you have a little work to do. When the flower dies, although it may not look pretty, you need to leave the foliage until the entire plant dies and turns yellow. During the time it takes for the plant to yellow the starch and sugar it needs to bloom again next year is being replenished..
If you have had the same plant for a few years you may want to divide it. Each spring baby bulbs are produced and attach themselves closely to the parent bulb. If you do not divide these bulbs the size of the blooms and plant will become smaller. Dividing a plant is also done after the foliage has died off. The easiest way to divide a plant is to dig up the bulbs. Once you have found the root ball you will see many bulbs grown together. Try to divide the bulbs into one or two even clumps. To do this, simply pull the bulbs apart. After you have divided the bulbs replant.
Most bulbs are planted twice as deep as the bulb is tall and the same distance apart. The pointed end of the bulb should be upwards.
