Garden Bulbs

A list of bulb-planting tips

Published November 7, 2011 | By Jane

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.

Posted in Articles on Gardening | Tagged corms, flower bulbs, garden bulbs, plant bulbs, rhizomes, tubers | Leave a comment

Spring bulbs in the garden

Published March 8, 2010 | By Jane

Spring bulbs in the garden

Here’s a little video showing you some of the smaller, early spring bulbs blooming in the garden. These bulbs were planted in the autumn to bloom in late winter or early spring. The ones shown here are Iphion, Oxalis, and Narcissus (Daffodils). There are hundreds more you can plant depending on the color, height and habit of growth you want.

Design with bulbs in masses to make a bold statement, spot them between other plants for color and texture, or naturalize the smaller varieties in lawns where they can create an informal look. Although bulbs tend to bloom for a relatively short time, you can find so many different varieties that you can keep them blooming throughout the growing season. As these early bulbs come into flower, you can start planting bulbs to bloom later in the growing season.

In areas where moles and gophers are a problem, plant your bulbs in wire baskets for protection. If squirrels tend to dig up your bulbs, lay some metal hardware cloth or chicken wire over the top as a flat piece until the new growth starts to grow through the holes. You can then lift the protection off. Most squirrels and other diggers (including cats) will be discouraged by the wire.

Bulbs give some of the showiest displays of flower in the plant kingdom. They are easy to plant and grow. If clumps become over-crowded, simply pull some of them up with a fork and plant the divisions elsewhere.