How to Grow Fall Bulbs
Armed with a bulb planter, your favorite bulbs, and some bulb fertilizer,
planting bulbs is easy and fun. The only problem is you have to wait all
winter long to see the flowers that you cherish so much each spring. The
wait is well worth it, as they cause your spirits to soar once the snow melts.
And, they bring a profusion of color back to nature.
In general, planting should be done four to six weeks before the first frost
in your area. But, if you missed this window, don't worry. Go ahead and plant
them.
Step by step:
1. Prepare the flower bed- Pull all the weeds from the area.
Then, turn the soil over, breaking up clumps of soil and loosening the soil
well. If this is a new flower bed, it is a great time to add peat moss,
especially if the soil is a hard clay. If you are working in a low or wet
area, bring in a little extra soil to slightly elevate the flowerbed to improve
drainage.
2. Select a planting pattern for your bulbs- Assuming you have
selected the bulbs you want to plant, you need to decide how you want to
arrange them. You can mix and match, and overall display your creativity
here. Before you dig, you may want to mark the position of each bulb.
Using a sticks as markers works well to assure proper spacing and design.
3. Dig the hole- If you have a bulb planter or loose soil, this job
is a snap. Each type of bulb has a desired depth range. Plant them too deep,
and they can't break through to the surface in the spring. Plant them too
shallow, and they freeze and die. In general, plant bulbs to a depth that
is twice the diameter of the bulb.
4. Place the bulb in the hole- For new growers, the root side goes
down, and the pointed side up. You can't imagine how many new growers ask
this question, so you are in good company.
5. Slightly cover the bulb with soil. Then add fertilizer. Fertilizer
specifically formulated for bulbs is best. Follow the directions on the box
for the proper amount to use. Then, cover the bulb the rest of the way with
more garden soil.
6. Add a thin layer of mulch, if desired. Do not use heavy bark. If
you apply mulch thickly, you may need to remove some in the spring, to allow
the bulbs to pop through. We do not recommend mulch for more delicate bulbs,
like crocuses.
7. Wait and wait and wait- Now the winter long wait begins. There
is nothing you need to do between now and spring. So, grab a cup of hot
chocolate, and curl up on an easy chair by the fireside.
Tip: If your area is experiencing a long and cold winter, you may
need to add mulch or some type of covering ,to keep the ground from freezing
too deeply. Almost anything will do. While it is best to do this before the
snow flies, you can do it anytime. Even in the midst of winter and in the
middle of a cold snap.
Important: After your flowers have died in the spring, it is important
that you do not immediately pull them up or cut off the leaves. For a few
weeks after flowering, the leaves are sending food to the bulb for storage
and use next spring. There is not a lot of excess food storage. So, the leaves
need as much time as possible to be productive.
More Information:
Flower Gallery lots of pictures.
Flower
Bulbs - Buy all of your favorite spring and fall bulbs
now.
Buy Flower, Vegetable and Herb Seeds Finest quality
Ferry Morse Seed, America's oldest seed company with their famous "guarantee
to grow".
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