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PLANT BULBS NOW FOR A SPECTACULAR SPRING SHOW!!
Contact Blue Iris for a spring bulb design or consultation on how to get the biggest bang for your bulb buck!
There is something magical about bulbs. Planted in the fall, they give hope and delight for the coming spring. Almost every time I look outside in the winter, after having planted many spring bulbs, I imagine the spring color to come. Anyone who knows me, knows that spring is my favorite season. Spring is the season of rebirth, rejuvenation. Watching the new growth of carefully planted shrubs, perennials, and bulbs brings excitement and joy for the coming season. I pass that excitement on to my clients.
Fall is the time to plan for spring.
Bulb tips
Purchasing Bulbs
- Anything in the box of bulbs (or bag) that looks like sawdust an indicator of poor quality bulbs. (The sawdust effect is due to an insect that feeds on tulip bulbs)
- Bulbs should be firm
- Choose bulbs with good roots and little new growth. You want your bulbs to produce roots in the fall; stem growth should take place in the spring.
When to Plant
- Plant bulbs around the end of October through the end of November. (Halloween to Thanksgiving is a good rule of thumb) The bulbs need at least 10 weeks of cold in the ground to energize and get established for spring.
How to Plant
- Follow the directions on the packets when you buy the bulbs to plant at the correct depth. However, a good rule of thumb is to plant about three times deeper than the widest part of the bulb.
- Dig a hole, either with a trowel or with a bulb planter. In difficult soil, try digging a trench or larger area and place a group of bulbs together instead of in individual holes. Space them a few inches apart. Add a handful of organic fertilizer or bulb food to each hole.
- Place the bulb roots down in the hole and cover with soil. Lightly water and water occasionally during winter months if there is no snow.
Designing with Bulbs**
For continuous blooms throughout the spring, keep in mind the bloom time of your bulbs—early, middle or late spring.
Early bloomers
- Grecian Wind Flower
- Crocus
- Snow Drop
- Grape Hyacinth
- Persian Pearl
- Daffodils (some varieties)
Mid-spring bloomers
- Hyacinth (early to mid-spring)
- Daffodils, regular and miniature
- Tulips (some varieties)
Late spring bloomers
- Wood Hyacinth
- Daffodils (some varieties)
- Wildflower
- Iris
- Tulips (some varieties)
- Some Large Alliums (late spring to early summer)
**Bulbs look best when planted in groups of 5 or 7. If you want to make a real statement, plant your bulbs in large groups for waves of beautiful spring color!
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