Planting Bulbs :

Few plants offer as much spectacular beauty as spring-flowering bulbs. It is wise to choose to buy your bulbs early (before planting time) if buying them from a garden center or plant nursery because the supplies dwindle quickly. So plan first and then go to buy with your plan in mind to make adjustments easier, if necessary. Since bulbs are planted in the fall, you will have to store your bulbs in a cool, dry place beforehand. Garages or dry basements are good. Make sure they won’t deteriorate before getting them into the ground. Generally, they should not be stored for longer than two weeks, otherwise you run the risk of them rotting.

You can also choose your selection from dozens of catalogs online and they store the bulbs for you sending them to you when it is appropriate to be planting the bulbs. They also usually offer more choices from more varieties than the local nurseries can offer you. Once the bulbs arrive, examine them closely. Make sure they are firm and free of any signs of rot or disease. Do not worry too much about the occasional small patch of blue or green surface mold as long as the bulb is firm to the touch. To promote root growth, plant your mail-order bulbs immediately. This is especially important for cold-climate areas. Open the bags and boxes to allow air to circulate around the bulbs if your schedule doesn’t permit you to plant them right away. The sooner you get them in the ground before frost hits, the better. The roots can start making their home in the soil before winter sets in.

A planting location ideal for spring-blooming bulbs receives at least six hours of sunlight a day. Bulbs such as hyacinths or Spanish bluebells are exceptions to this rule preferring the shade. Since some early blooming bulbs such as crocus will flourish beneath deciduous trees, go ahead and plant them there if you like because they bloom long before the trees fill in with leaves.

Once you have a plan in place you can start planting. You will need a mattock or bulb digging tool. Stab it into the ground and manipulate the soil around the hole to place the bulb roots down into the hole with the pointy part of the bulb sticking up. Follow the instructions for planting the bulb that usually come with it. Different bulbs need to be planted at different depths. The general rule is the bulb should be set in the ground three to four times deep as the bulb is tall. To ensure the success of the bulb, use a small ruler to check the proper planting depth.

There are many ways to show your blooming bulbs. To create visual interest, consider following an irregular shaped pattern. You can create a cascading effect by planting the taller bulbs in the back of the flower bed and the shorter flowers in front. For a natural look, group bulbs closer together in the center and gradually space them apart as you move towards the outer edges of the pattern. Whatever your plan, remember if you do not like how you planted when they come up and flower, you can always dig them up and replant them after they have bloomed. Bulbs are forgiving. They also are prolific and you will need to split and replant in around three years. Most importantly, have fun with the patterns you can create.