Add color to your garden next spring with fall planted bulbs!
Autumn is the perfect time to plant fall bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinth, allium, muscari, iris, anemone, lycoris, ranunculus and others.
- Prepare Your Soil – Good soil drainage is essential in raising bulbs. If you have a soil with high clay content, it can be improved by adding compost such as Back to Earth Soil Conditioner to the soil.
- Fertilization – After digging the hole for the bulb apply a bulb fertilizer, such as Bone Meal to the bottom of the hole. Apply Dutch Bulb Food in early spring as soon as new shoots emerge.
- Vermin Prevention – To protect bulbs from birds, squirrels, and chipmunks apply Repels-All in the hole along with the fertilizer.
- Plant in masses – Many bulbs, such as tulips, need to be planted closely together to get dense color. Do not plant in rows like “soldiers”. The larger the grouping, the greater the impact.
- Add annuals – Plant pansies on top of bulbs for longer-lasting, stunning displays.
- Planting – The general rule of thumb for planting spring bulbs is to plant 2-3 times as deep as the bulb is tall. Unsure which side is up? Plant the bulb on its side and gravity will do the rest.
- Planting Dates – It pays to shop early to ensure the best selection. The bulbs will be fine for several weeks if stored in the garage or other cool, dark spot, such as a pantry or closet. Planting is best done in very late October to Thanksgiving. Another suggestion is to wait until overnight temperatures are consistently in the 50’s.
- Water – Water well after planting. This will help settle the soil in the planting bed and will also provide the moisture necessary for the bulbs to start rooting. Avoid over-watering at planting time since this can result in bulb rot.
- Mulching – Apply Western Red Cedar Mulch or Grade A Cypress Mulch to keep the weeds down and to retain moisture. Mulch also acts as an insulator to help minimize temperature fluctuations in the bed.
