Planting bulbs is a kind of magic that optimistic gardeners practice every fall.   It takes a special kind of faith to put a rock-like object covered in a tissue membrane in the ground and expect a beautiful tulip or daffodil to emerge in April.  If you practice this magic by following a few simple steps, you too will be rewarded in the spring. The steps are not mysterious at all.

1.      Choose the bulbs you like the best.  Try to choose bulbs with different blooming times to cover March through late May.  See the September article for suggestions. 

2.      Decide where to plant the bulbs.  Sun is important but most bulbs bloom before the trees leaf out so you can place them in woodland settings with impunity. Place early bloomers and small bulbs like galanthus nivalis (snowdrops) and crocus near doors or walkways so they can be seen.  Plant them in shaped groups by the hundreds for the best effect.  Group daffodils and tulips in threes or fives or more so they don’t look like soldiers lined up for inspection.   This way you will make a significant color statement.  Pay attention to bloom times and group colors for the effect you wish.

3.      Gather planting materials.  It is a good idea to use some kind of bulb fertilizer and bone meal. Some companies like Espoma have these combined in one product.  You will also need a trowel and a small shovel or bulb digger that you use with your foot.  Hand bulb diggers are not very useful and put a lot of stress on wrists.  As a carpel tunnel sufferer, I’ve learned that it pays to be careful with your joints when you garden.  You will also need some markers to label where you have planted so that when spring comes you stay away from the areas you have planted.  Inexpensive venetian blinds cut into strips and labeled with pencil last a long time, according to Colette Mealy-Wampole, President of the Herb Association of Long Island   Another suggestion is to have moth balls ready to repel squirrels.

4.      Follow directions on the packages for bulbs.  Teardrop-shaped bulbs such as daffodils and hyacinths should be planted with their tips facing up.  If their tips face down, they waste their energy trying to grow in the opposite direction.  As a rule of thumb, most spring flowering bulbs are planted at a depth of approximately three times their size. 

5.      Procedure:

1.Use a kneeling mat or knee pads and a plastic sheet for soil removed. Dig a hole deep enough to measure three times the size of the bulb. The hole should be big enough to place the number of bulbs desired in the hole without them touching.

2. Place the fertilizer in the bottom of the hole.  If you are planting crocus and tulips, the favorite snack food for squirrels, Paul Halstead, a grower, suggests planting a moth ball near the surface to deter furry friends.

3. Replace the soil, being careful not to disturb the positioning of the bulbs.  Firm the soil once all the bulbs are covered.

4. Water thoroughly if the soil is dry and then add a layer of mulch to keep bulbs moist.

5. Label with the name and number of bulbs planted and mark off the boundaries of the planting area.

            Note:  Bulbs can be planted until the ground freezes.  If planting is delayed for some reason, cover the area to be planted with mulch or branches to keep the ground from freezing until you can plant.

Gardens by Judy,
e-mail: gardensbyjudy@townedigest.com
Garden and landscape evaluations, personalized garden services, creative garden plans, containers planted on site to your specifications.

About the author: Judy is a certified Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension who loves sharing the joys of gardening with others. She helps garden hobbyists solve their problems and is happy to provide information and suggestions about garden planning and maintenance.

Gardens by Judy prides itself in helping the home owner and garden enthusiast plan and maintain that special garden. Judy works cooperatively with the gardener. She evaluates each garden visited and consults with the gardener about his/her goals. She helps in the design of new gardens and in the re-creation and improvement of present gardens. Judy also creates beautiful container gardens to enhance decks, porches and landscapes.