A few easy tips for when to plant bulbs to help you achieve maximum results. Bulbs are a great way to brighten your yard.
For both the avid gardener and the rookie planter, bulbs allow you to create glorious gardens that come back year after year. Unlike roses and other more time-consuming flowers, bulbs are a great way for anyone to add color to their yard. There are several different types of bulbs including: corms, such as Crocuses; tubers such as Dahlias and true bulbs, like Tulips and Daffodils.
When you buy a bulb at your local lawn and garden store or order it from a catalog, it is in its dormant state. Weather permitting, you should plant your bulbs as soon as possible, or store them in a cool, dry place until you are able to plant them.
The best time to plant most bulbs is between September and December. An easy trick to remember is to plant your bulbs on Halloween, unless you live in a region where the first frost comes earlier. It is best to plant your bulbs in an area of your yard that receives full or part sun. Save shady areas for other types of flowers. Bulbs such as Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths are considered teardrop-shaped and should be planted with their tips facing up.
Bulbs that have roots should be planted with the root facing down. If you are planning to create a pattern of flowers, you may want to lay the bulbs out on top of the ground, before you start planting, to form the desired design.
Bulbs can be planted one-by-one or in a group. To begin, dig either a single hole or a trench about three times as deep as the width of the bulb. At this point, you can add compost or a slow-release fertilizer to the hole to enhance growing.
Place the bulbs in the hole according to the design or pattern desired. It is important that each bulb have enough space so that it does not touch another bulb.
Cover the bulbs with soil and then firm the soil. Water the bulbs thoroughly. During dry weather, water the bulbs once a month during the winter unless the ground is frozen. Use a thick layer of mulch to help keep moisture locked in and the ground temperature even. By early spring the bulbs should begin to bloom.
After a few years, your bulbs may begin to overcrowd each other. You can dig up the bulbs and divide them to relocate them somewhere else in your yard.
By following these simple tips, you can have a wonderful garden and fresh cutting flowers to enjoy for many, many years.
