How And When To Plant Spring Bulbs

Spring Bulbs Add Brilliant Color To Any Garden

Nothing quite says spring tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus and alliums blooming in all their glory. Because they are planted in the fall but do not bloom until spring, bulbs provide delayed gratification for gardeners who cultivate them. The array of colors covers just about every color in the rainbow.

When To Plant Spring Bulbs

It is best to wait for the temperatures to really cool off before planting bulbs. Too early and too warm, they may sprout and never produce blooms. Generally, anytime from mid-October until Thanksgiving is safe. Depending on the weather, some years it is even safe to plant bulbs until Christmas.

How To Plant Spring Bulbs

1. Chooses a site that has good drainage. Bulbs will rot if the soil is too wet.
2. Dig individual bulb holes or one wide hole to plant groups of bulbs. Digging up the whole bed makes bulb spacing, layering, and soil amending easier. The depth of the hole should equal three to four times the bulb height. For example, dig a 6- to 8-inch-deep hole for a 2-inch-high bulb.
3. Set the bulbs in a planting bed or in separate planting holes with their roots or basal plate downward. Space bulbs according to supplier’s recommendations. In general, smaller bulbs are planted closer together than larger bulbs. Fill the planting hole with soil.
4. Water the bulbs right after planting to help initiate growth. In mild-winter areas, mulch right after planting to help keep soil cool and moist.
5. Each autumn, maintain existing tulip and hyacinth plantings by sprinkling 1/2 cup of 9-9-6 fertilizer per 10 square feet. Daffodils and snowdrops thrive on a 5-10-20 mixture. Three-fourths cup of 5-10-12 mix per 10 square feet works on any type of bulb. First-year bulbs don’t need fertilizer.

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