A list of bulb-planting tips

Published May 3, 2012 | By Jane

Freesia bulbs offer colorful flowers with a delightful perfume when in bloom.

Bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers are nature’s clever little storage packages that contain all the ingredients for new plant life. They come in hand-sized, easy-to-handle forms that make planting clean and easy. And when they come into bloom, they can be as showy as the fussiest of glamorous tropical bloomers.

As the summer cools, early spring bulbous plants can be planted where soils don’t freeze hard. The end of winter and early springtime is a good time to plant summer and autumn bloomers in warm climates or to plant all bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers in cold winter areas. Here are some tips to help guide you with planting these handy little dormant packages.

Plant the right kinds of bulbs for your soil and climate.
Set them in place during the right season for blooming in respect to how cold your winters are likely to be.
Follow the directions on the packaging.
If there are no directions, make sure bulbs are set down at a depth of at least twice their size. Rhizomes need to be close to the surface of the soil.
Plant shade-lovers in the shade and sun-lovers where they will get adequate sun.
Surround bulbs with wire basket s to protect them from gophers and other munching, tunnel dwellers.
Add a pinch of bone meal at the bottom of the hole before setting the bulb in place.
Plant smaller bulbs in groups for a mass effect.
Naturalize small, early-blooming bulbs at the edge of lawns for an informal look.
Set bulbs where the dying foliage will be hidden by other surrounding plants or rocks.
Always let the foliage die down to yellow or brown before removing it.
Consider forcing bulbs like Amaryllis, Cyclamen, Narcissus and Freesia indoors in the winter to bring colorful flowers inside during the months of winter.

Bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers can give the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to flowering. They may put on a very short-lived display, but it will be a colorful one! And if you treat them right, they’ll come back again with an even bigger and bolder show for next year.

Originally posted 2011-11-07 05:31:44. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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