Fall is a great time to plan next year’s spring garden. For stunning flowers and a gorgeous landscape, one important step you can take when cool weather hits is to plant hardy flowering bulbs. Here are a couple important tips for successful planting.
Plant early in the fall to give bulbs a head start. Bulbs that have a good root system in place before freezing weather hits will devote more energy in the spring to produce flowers. Bulbs that don’t have an adequate root system must spend extra time in the spring to develop better roots before flowering.
Prepare the soil. Flowering bulbs need well-draining soil so they don’t rot. This means if your soil is clay, you need to amend it with sand and peat to give it better texture. If your garden soil is low on other organic matter, add in some potting soil or topsoil meant for bulbs.
As you add amendments, work your soil to loosen it to the right depth. Smaller bulbs require at least 5 inches, while larger bulbs require 8. Note that the soil beneath the bulbs should be loose for root penetration.
Plant bulbs with the pointed side up. On many bulbs, it’s easy to determine which side is the stem and which is the root. On others, however, it can be a little tricky. When in doubt, go with your intuition. Most bulbs will still find a way to push the stem up through the soil when it’s time. Don’t forget to water them when planting.
Mark the space. Marking the bulbs will prevent confusion the following spring and help you avoid accidentally planting other things in the bulb bed.
Keep in mind that our skilled crew at Lifescape Colorado can create and maintain beautiful flowering bulb beds for you all year round. Visit our website today to learn more about our garden and landscape maintenance services.