BULB CARE

Spring blooming bulbs brighten the spring landscape from March until May. First the early crocus, snowdrops, and early daffodils bloom, followed by later blooming daffodils, then tulips and hyacinths.

In addition to these more common bulbs, there are many other spring flowering bulbs that are a delightful addition to the garden.

BULBS IN THE LANDSCAPE

Your setting should determine whether you do mass planting or naturalize. Daffodils and minor bulbs, such as muscari, snowdrops, eranthus, and scilla lend themselves to natural settings, while tulips show better in mass plantings.

In choosing your bulbs, keep in mind the blooming time. Naturalized plantings profit from bulbs which bloom at different times so that you have a longer blooming season.

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS

Bulbs can grow in most garden soil provided there is good drainage. Bulbs cannot tolerate wet feet, so be sure not to plant in a wet spot or in heavy day. If the soil is clay or mostly day, add organic matter and sand to the soil to a depth of about 18 - 20 inches.

When planting your bulbs, you can either dig a bed or dig a hole for each bulb or dump of bulbs. Be sure to dig a hole twice the depth of your planting.

A good rule of thumb for determining planting depth is: Depth should be 3 x the diameter of the bulb. The minor bulbs such as crocus and grape hyacinths are then planted about four inches deep. Hyacinths and daffodils should be planted 6 inches deep. Recommended planting depth for tulips is 6- 8 inches. However, tulips should be planted deeper in this climate (up to 8 - 10). The pointed part of the bulb is the top, and the more rounded part is the bottom.

 

 

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