Tips for Planting
Garden Bulbs
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Easy Tips For Planting Garden Bulbs
Lee Dobbins
Garden bulbs are a great way to get color in your garden year after
year without having to replant. But many people are intimidated by
planting and caring for bulbs, and never get to experience these great
flowering plants. These easy tips for planting garden bulbs will show
you there is nothing to fear and have you planting your first bulb
garden in no time!
Most bulb plants are actually rather hardy and planting them is quite
easy. All it takes is a bit of planning and being able to follow the
directions on the bulb package. As is the way of nature, your bulbs
will really put in an effort to bloom so you really have to screw up to
get them to fail.
The most important thing to do to ensure good blooming plants is to
read the package. On there you will find the depth that the bulb needs
to be planted. This is important because each type of flower likes to
be put in at a different depth. As a general rule of thumb, the bigger
the bulb the deeper the hole. Usually you will find the directions
telling you to plant 3 times as deep as the bulb or 4 times as deep.
Each bulb is different so follow the directions for best results.
Another important thing is not to skimp when digging the hole. Be
prepared to dig out anywhere from 5 to 10”. It helps to have a good
digging tool and to pick a spot where the soil is loose and not full of
roots. Loosen up some of the oil around the bulb and plant it with the
pointy part up. Of course, it’s not obvious in all bulbs which part is
the pointy part but don’t panic if you can’t tell. Just do your best
and nature will take over and usually get the flower growing in the
right direction.
If you buy bulbs ahead of time, store them in a cool dry place and keep
them in the package until you are actually digging the hole for them.
This way you will be able to tell which bulbs you are planting. If you
take them out, you might get confused as to which is the tulip and
which is the daffodil as many bulbs can look amazingly similar.
Most bulbs like to be planted in full sun and always in soil with good
drainage. It’s a good idea to decide on where you will be planting the
bulbs before you buy them so you know how many to get. You don’t want
them to be overcrowded at fist as they will multiply over time. Be sure
to read the package to determine how far apart they should be planted
and the optimum conditions for the type of flower you are planting.
Preparing the soil is another important step in planting bulbs. You
want to loosen the soil in the bulb hole and mix in some compost or
organic matter. Don’t put fertilizer in the hole as this can damage the
young roots and it is not necessary - your plant has all the nutrients
it needs right inside the bulb!
Place the bulb in the hole and cover loosely with dirt. Dig a shallow
moat around the bulb and water thoroughly so that the moat is full. Let
the moat drain then fill in the rest of the soil and pack lightly. Give
it a final thorough watering and you’re done!
Planning your bulb garden is important for antithetic purposes. Put the
taller bulbs in back and the shorter ones in front. If you have a
garden that can be viewed from all sides then put the taller bulbs in
the middle. Since most bulbs only bloom for a few weeks, you need to
include bulbs with all different bloom times in your garden. Buy bulbs
that bloom in early spring, late spring, early summer and late summer
and plant them all in the same area for color all season long. You can
plant them next to each other or even in the same hole. If you time
things perfectly, you will have one plant starting to bloom as another
is ending.
Keeping your bulbs healthy and vibrant is easy. Remember to water them
per instructions and fertilize them yearly. When your flower is done
blooming, do not remove the leaves until they have turned brown - the
green leaves are gathering nutrients to be stored in the bulb for next
years flower!
Lee Dobbins writes for
http://www.backyard-garden-and-patio.com where
you can learn more about gardens and outdoor living. Visit
http://www.backyard-garden-and-patio.com/aarch0606/gardeningtips.html
for more great gardening tips.
See Also:
Index of Gardens & Gardening
All About Organic Gardening
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