|
Dig, Drop, Done!
You've always admired your neighbor's tulips. You'd like to be the first one in the neighborhood to have crocus in the spring. You love the bright yellow of the first daffodils. You want something that the deer won't eat. Then you need to plant some spring bulbs!
I love planting bulbs because they are so easy. Time seems to be something that everyone is in short supply of these days, so bulbs fit the bill for me. I especially like the fact that I can plant them now, forget about them over the winter, then in the spring when we are busy at the garden center, I have colorful beds already in bloom!
Spring flowering bulbs are planted in the fall before deep frost makes the ground unworkable. Planting time in our area generally runs from September through October, or whenever air temperatures cool and the ground is still workable to dig holes. I've even been known to plant bulbs into early November.
Bulbs are happiest in soil that drains well to prevent rotting. Add compost or peat moss to a depth of approximately 6 inches. When doing this, it's also a good time to add bulb fertilizer. Follow label instructions for best results.
When selecting a site for planting, keep several things in mind. Stagger sizes and blooming periods so that your beds will always be full of color. Weather conditions and planting locations will affect the blooming dates. South facing beds will warm up more quickly in the spring and bloom sooner than those on the north side.
Cluster your bulbs in groups of ten or more for a dramatic display. If you are trying to naturalize, such as with daffodils, then space them out a bit. Some bulbs are produced specifically for naturalizing, so check before you purchase. Be creative! Mix your bulbs in with later blooming perennials or other companion plants for color in that area throughout the summer.
The good news is that it really can be as simple as "dig, drop, done." A general rule of thumb is to plant the larger bulbs 8-10" deep and at least 4" apart. Smaller bulbs such as crocus can be planted 4-5" deep and 2-4" apart. Deeper planting keeps bulbs from freezing in cold weather and keeps them cooler in the summer. Space them close enough so that the bed or area you wish to cover looks full, but far enough apart so that they have some space. Dig your holes, add fertilizer if you wish, drop the bulbs, cover over, water thoroughly and you're done!
In most cases rain water along with a winter watering schedule will be sufficient to provide the bulbs with all of the moisture they need. Since bulbs grow at the depth at which they are planted, be sure that any watering that you do is enough to penetrate the soil to that level. In Colorado it is a good idea to cover the bed with mulch for the winter. This helps to keep them from heaving up through the soil due to uneven temperatures, helps to retain moisture, and helps to keep them from freezing. Remove mulch before spring flowering time which is generally before the shoots develop more than an inch or so.
I'd encourage you to try a variety of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, etc for a burst of spring color. If you have deer issues in your yard, you should know that the deer won't eat anything in the narcissus family, which means that daffodils are custom made for you! A suggestion from one of our staff members is to plant grape hyacinths along with your other bulbs. Their foliage comes up late in the summer and will serve as a marker for where your other bulbs are planted.
So dig, drop and be done with your spring color now, while the days are warm and sunny and the evenings are pleasantly cool!
| 
