Planting Bulbs For Spring Blooms

Once you know how easy it is to grow bulbs, you’ll realize they can provide a dazzling display all year long. Spring-bloomers are planted in the autumn because they need winter or an extended cool period to establish roots and develop flowers. But they're more than worth the effort and wait; it's a joy to see them appear after a long winter. Here’s how:

SELECT YOUR FLOWERS

Start by choosing plants that can thrive in your zone. (If you’re unsure of your zone, check the USDA plant hardiness zone map here https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov).

Growing flowers is a relatively low-cost project and so you may want to experiment with multiple varieties. Order your bulbs from a reputable supplier and save the tags for planting instructions.

Plant the bulbs as soon after buying as possible to keep them from withering or growing moldy. If you must wait, keep them in a cool place away from direct sunlight, such as in a potting shed, garage, or basement.

Fall is the best time to plant spring blooms, such as tulips and hyacinth, allowing them ample time to get established over the winter.

Most bulbs prefer full sun, though some varieties will thrive in the dappled light of overhead trees. Regardless of whether planting is formal or random, bulbs look best planted en masse versus in straight lines.

PLANTING YOUR BULBS

1. Check bulbs as soon as they arrive. They should be firm, with no soft spots, rot, or cracking. Don't worry if you see some mold, just remove it with a damp cloth. Store bulbs in a dark, cool, dry, and airy space until you can plant them.

2. Before the ground freezes and after night temperatures have been consistently cool, it's time to plant. Find a location that receives at least six hours of sun and has well-draining soil. Note: Tulips hate "wet feet”, which can cause the bulbs to rot.

3. Plant bulbs on a cool day when the earth is slightly damp but still friable (just moist enough to clump together but still be workable). Bulbs need soil that drains well; don't try to plant in mud or ultra-dry earth. To ensure a unified look, try to plant all bulbs in an area at the same time.

4. Before digging, arrange the bulbs on the ground as desired, or simply scatter the bulbs on the planting area, for a more natural look.

5. A general rule for planting bulbs is to dig down three times the height of the bulb. For tulips, that means six to eight inches. Place them in the ground pointy side up (or flat or root side down depending on bulb) and backfill with soil. This is a good opportunity to enhance the hole with a good quality organic product such as Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil. Mulch after the ground freezes with an organic mulch. Miracle-Gro Organic™ All Natural Mulch is a good option.

6. In the spring, loosen or remove the mulch you've applied, after the first shoots start to appear. Top dress with an organic fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro Organic™ All Purpose Plant Food, or compost to feed the bulbs, and water lightly if needed.

Another option is to plant bulbs directly into your lawn. A lawn filled with bulb flowers is an eye-catching treat. Here’s how:

PLANTING BULBS DIRECTLY IN YOUR LAWN

STEP BY STEP LAWN PLANTING

1. DIG THE HOLE AND PEEL BACK THE SOD

With a spade (for larger bulbs) or a trowel (for smaller bulbs), make an arc-shaped series of three or so cuts to create a half-moon, slicing through the sod to the proper depth. Most bulbs should be planted three times as deep as the height of the bulb but check the package. Fold back the grass with its root layer like a flap, leaving one edge attached. Remove the soil underneath to the proper depth and place it next to the hole. Mix into the soil an organic time release fertilizer like Miracle-Gro Organic™ All Purpose Plant Food and a layer of sand if the soil is clayey and not free draining.

2. PUT IN THE BULBS

Position them in random groups a few inches away from one another. You want the flowers to look as though they sprang naturally, so make sure the bulbs aren’t too perfectly aligned. I usually restrict the plants to one kind per hole. Place bulbs root side down (roots will be evident on most bulbs), and don’t let them touch one another or they’ll rot.

3. REPLACE THE TURF

Conceal the hole by replacing the soil loosely over the bulbs and pulling the grass flap back over. Lightly stamp the sod down to make sure it’s level. Repeat these steps as many times as your bulb budget and energy will allow.

NOTE: It’s a good practice to work assembly-line style: Dig all the holes at once, place the bulbs, and then replace the sod.

MARTHA’S TIP: A FRESH TOSS

To achieve a natural look when planting small bulbs like snowdrops, scilla, and hyacinth, Martha tosses them into large beds and then digs holes with a dibber and plants them where they land.