Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs

Taking break from fall chores. Leaves me some time for planning for next spring. I would love to buy outdoor wooden furniture or a new decorative birdhouses. But before I get to spending money on that I must get some bulbs in the ground.

Some after doing some research on the web I found some helpful information from Better Homes and Gardens and Do it Yourself websites.

1) Select Quality Bulbs

• Look for those that are plump and firm and avoid bulbs that are soft and mushy or have mold growing on them.
• Also look for big bulbs; the bigger they are, the more they apt they are to bloom compared to smaller bulbs of the same variety
  
  

Keep in mind smaller bulbs varieties produce flowers that bloom earlier in the spring, and the flowers are small, like snow-on-the-mountain or crocus. The larger bulbs, such as tulips, bloom later and produce larger blooms. Make sure the bulbs are firm, clean, and free of mold.

2) Pick the Right Spot
Even healthy bulbs will not bloom if they're planted in the wrong spot.

• Most bulbs do best in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun a day) and well-drained soil.
• In choosing the spot for planting bulbs, take into account the spring sun; in spring, the sun won't be obscured by the leaves of your trees, but it will be weaker than in the summer and lower to the horizon.
• Also consider the proximity to buildings and plant the bulbs at least 5 feet from foundations, as heat from the buildings can damage bulbs.

Check out Better Homes and Garden’s Plant Encyclopedia for more specific conditions on bulbs your planting.

3) Get the Timing Right

Spring-blooming bulbs-are best planted in the Fall, when the soil temperatures have cooled.

• The best time to plant is after the first frost, so the bulbs will stay cool throughout the fall and winter.
• What this means in terms of the calendar depends in large part on where you live. Go here for frost chart by state

Summer-blooming bulbs- are best planted in the spring, after danger of frost has passed.

4)Plant in groups

Most bulbs look best when planted in big, irregular groupings (the more bulbs, the bigger the impact) instead of straight rows.

5) Plant Them Deep Enough

• Generally, dig a hole two to three times deeper than the bulb is tall. So if you have a 3-inch-tall bulb, dig a hole 6 to 9 inches deep.
• There are always exceptions, so check the planting directions that come with the bulbs for more information.

6) Place Them Pointy Side up

If bulb has a pointed end, that's usually the side that faces up. If you don't see a pointy side, look for where the roots come out -- that end goes down.

7) Give Them Good Soil

• bulbs appreciate well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
• mix compost into your bulbs' planting holes to ensure good blooming. Especially important if you have heavy clay soil or ground that stays wet
• add fertilizer before replacing soil

8) Water Well

• Bulbs are plants, too, so they need a good watering after you plant them. This will encourage them to send out roots and become established.
• A good watering will eliminate air pockets in the soil that could cause your bulbs to dry out.

9)Protect your bulbs from squirrels

• Spread mulch over your newly planted bulbs to discourage critters from digging them up
• If that doesn't help, weigh down a piece of mesh or chicken wire over the soil

10)Design idea: Try them in containers

• Create pots of spring joy with your favorite tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths by sinking them in the ground so they get winter cold
• or storing the containers in a cold garage or storage shed.

Bulbs that do better in containers are:

Anemone blanda (windflower): whites, pinks, purples, magentas 

Chionodoxa (glory of the snow): blues, pinks 

Crocus (all species and Dutch crocus cultivars): purples, blues, whites, yellows, two tones

Galanthus (snowdrop): white 

Hyacinthus (hyacinth): whites, purples, blues, pinks, salmon, yellows 

Iris danfordiae , Iris reticulata (miniature irises): purples, blues
Muscari (grape hyacinth): purples, blues, whites, two-tones

Narcissus (daffodil): whites, yellows, salmon, orange, as well as combinations of these

Puschkinia (puschkinia): whites, light blue 

Tulipa (tulip): endless color choices – from white to nearly black

More info here on planting in containers

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Some other postings that may be of interest:
Overseeding in the Fall for a better lawn
Great Plants for your Fall Containers & Planters
Why you Need to Plant a Tree this Fall