Whether the spring bulbs you meant to plant last fall never got into the ground, or they were feasted upon by squirrels, there's still time to put on a show. Follow these easy tips from the Netherlands Bulb Information Center for growing an instant spring garden with readily available nursery potted tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and more.
Instant blooms
• Buy potted bulbs when the stems are short and the buds are formed but not open.
• When ready to bed your potted bulbs, water well and let soil drain. To remove bulbs from their pot, tip the nursery pot, gently remove the contents and plant in a group or cluster.
• To replant various mixed-flora nursery pots into different configurations, tap the plants out of the nursery pot and gently separate them, being careful not to damage the roots. Plant as you would annuals, into well-drained soil, then water well.
• For best success when planting nursery-grown potted bulbs outdoors, wait until nighttime temperatures stay above 2 C (35 F). Though not as tough as fall-planted bulbs (which can generally handle whatever Mother Nature dishes out), spring-planted, nursery-grown bulbs can generally adapt to life outdoors under cold, but not deep freeze, growing conditions.
• If temperatures in your area are still dropping close to freezing, take precautions. Plant nursery-grown bulbs in protected areas shielded against exposure to wind.
Planning your fall plantings
A breathtaking bulb garden comes as the result of careful planning and understanding the differences between bulb types, when they bloom and for how long. Although we think of bulbs as spring bloomers, each has its own bloom time, from very early in the season (tulips, crocuses and hyacinths), to mid-spring (tulips, grape hyacinths, daffodils, irises and alliums), through summer (gladioli, canna, begonias and dahlias).
To help you plan a bulb garden that will bloom beautifully for months on end, bulb catalogues include an estimated flowering time for each variety they sell. Figure out when the bulbs should bloom in your garden according to your climate zone at www.bulb.com, the site of the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center.
Although you don't need to plant next year's bulb garden until fall, plan it out now. Take a snapshot or draw a sketch of your spring beds while they're in full bloom. Make notes identifying the location, type, colour and approximate height of each bulb. Note where perennials or other spring flowers are growing, then use your notes when planting your spring bulb garden this fall. More tips:
• Plant bulbs among leafy perennials. After flowering, bulbs need to be left alone for about six weeks, until their leaves are brown and withered, so that the bulbs can "recharge" for the next season's bloom. Perennial foliage (lady's mantle, coral bells, hostas, bleeding hearts and daylilies) helps hide bulbs' fading foliage.
• Plant bulbs in clusters. Don't plant one bulb alone or make a long thin line along the walk. Clusters give a concentration of colour for greatest impact.
• Plant low bulbs in front of high-growing ones, especially for bulbs that bloom at the same time. The label will give you the height of the plant and its approximate flowering time.
• Stagger the bloom times. Plant mid- and late-season bloomers together, creating a spring display that blooms in succession for a whole season of colour.
• Mix it up. Although planting out a single type or colour can look dramatic, try mixing and matching different colours and types of bulbs that either bloom together or in succession -- orange tulips, blue muscari and yellow daffodils make a striking combination.
• Where to plant? You can plant bulbs just about anywhere in your garden. Ensure they get plenty of sun and avoid areas where water collects, such as the bottom of hills. Get creative!
Don't garden without warming up first. Click here for some great stretches that will get you limbered up.
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