The Truth about Tulips, Daffodils and other Bulbs

It's a fact of life: to enjoy the glorious bulb flowers that bloom in spring such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus and others you must plant them in the fall. That's the hard fact. The fun fact is that nothing is easier to grow or more colorfully rewarding than flower bulbs. Even the most unskilled gardener can create a breathtaking and beautiful spring garden with bulbs.

Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall because they require a sustained "dormant" period of cold temperatures to stimulate root development.

As a rule, the colder your climate, the earlier you plant. In colder northern climates, for example, plant in September or October. In warmer climates you may need to plant bulbs in December (or even later). The only universal rule is that, spring-flowering bulbs must be planted before the first hard frost.

It's best to plant bulbs as soon as possible after bringing them home. If you must store them, keep them dry and cool between 50° and 60° (F). For long storage periods, a refrigerator vegetable compartment can be used, but be sure to keep them away from ripening fruit. The gas emitted by fruit's ripening process can destroy bulbs.

Tempting Choices

In addition to tulips and daffodils, you'll also want to plant other exotic Dutch bulbs, such as spring-flowering scilla, puschkinia, muscari, fritillaria, allium, camassia, and eremurus.

Your local climate will affect which bulbs you choose to plant. Not all bulbs have the same cold requirements. Ask your bulb supplier to recommend the flower bulbs that do well in your area. The USDA publishes a climate zone map covering the entire U.S. This can be found reproduced in many gardening books and magazines.

Spring-flowering bulbs offer a wide variety of colors, heights and flowering periods. Let your imagination run wild, easy-to-grow bulbs allow you to concentrate on garden design.

All you really need to learn about planning your garden is written on the package, or available from your bulb supplier. What you need to know is:

• the color of the flower
• what months it will bloom
• how high it will grow
• what months to plant, and
• how deep to plant

By cutting out pictures from mail-order catalogues or booklets picked up at your local garden center, you can plan your dream garden on paper right in your own living room!

There are just three factors to consider:

• color,
• plant height, and
• flowering time

These are the keys to colorful and creative plantings around your home. Here are some professional planting tips:

• Plant low-growing bulbs, such as grape hyacinths, in front taller flowers, such as tulips,
• Always plant bulbs in groups, either in small clusters or large beds, a single flower standing alone is not very dramatic,
• Plant scattered clusters of early-flowering bulbs, such as crocus, throughout your lawn to achieve a "natural" look,
• Plant clusters of daffodils around the woodpile, or in a meadow area that is not mowed often. These will add a colorful accent to your landscape in spring and, if left on their own to wilt away, will return year after year. Well-selected and mature plantings of naturalized bulbs can add value to your home, just as mature trees and shrubs do,
• Experiment. You know better than the experts what flowers you fancy. Pick a flower bulb variety on a whim and try a small planting. If it does well for you, add more next year.

Digging the Dirt on Bulbs

Most spring-flowering Dutch bulbs will thrive in either full or partial sun, but do just fine in almost any location that offers good drainage. Bulbs will rot in standing water so avoid areas prone to flooding, such as the bottom of hills or under drainpipes.

After choosing the site:

1. Dig either a trench for a bed planting, or individual holes for individual bulbs or small cluster of bulbs. (Note that a cluster of flowers is more striking to the eye than a lone bloomer.)

   To determine how deep to plant, consider the caliber or size of the bulb. Large bulbs (2 inches or more) are usually planted about 8 inches deep; smaller-size bulbs (1 inch) are planted 5 inches deep.

2. Loosen the soil with a rake to aerate it and remove any weeds and small stones. Mix in a bit of peat moss to improve soil drainage. Place do not push bulbs firmly in the soil with the pointed side up. Space large bulbs 3-10 inches apart and small bulbs 1-2 inches apart. (If you're not sure which end is right-side-up, don't worry. Upside-down bulbs usually come up anyway!)
3. Cover the bulbs with soil and water generously. Add 2-3 inches of mulch, pine bark is fine, on top of the garden bed. This will provide added protection from the cold and keeps the soil from drying out.

It's as easy as 1-2-3. By following these simple guidelines, your colorful garden is sure to turn the neighbors green with envy. Basically it all boils down to: buy those bulbs, put them in the ground and dream all winter of the glorious spring that awaits you.