Bulb Guide

Flowering bulbs are great for the garden because they will provide you with colorful blooms year after year. There are all kinds of different types of bulbs that represent every color, size and shape and there should be a bulb to please any gardener.

Due to their hardy nature and easy of care, bulbs are a favorite among many gardeners, but many people aren't aware of the huge variety of bulbs available for planting. We all know about the tulip and the daffodil, but here's a few bulbs you may not be familier with.

Crocus

Crocus bulbs are often the fist blooms we see in early spring or at the end of winter. Their tubular shaped flowers range in size from 1½” to 3” long. Crocuses are planting in almost every garden and have a wide range of colors to suite any taste.. Other types of crocus, such as the saffron crocus, bloom instead in the fall, and the flowers can rise from the bare ground weeks, or even only days, after the bulbs are planted. Crocus bulbs should be planted in the fall. Plant the bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep and space 3 or 4 inches apart. Crocuses require well drained soil, regular watering and will grow in full sun or partial shade.

Dahlia

Dahlias have a long bloom time from summer through fall and like many other bulbs come in a large variety of colors, sizes and shapes. These flowers are so diverse that there are varieties with flower sizes ranging from 2 to 12 inches. They can grow anywhere from under a foot to 7 feet tall! Plant dahlias in spring after threat of frost has passed. Plant between 4 and 6 inches deep with spacing of 1 foot for short varieties and 5 feet for the tall variety's. Dahlias like full sun unless you are planting them in a very hot climate where they might do well with a little shade. As with most flowers, make sure these are watered regularly.

Dahlia bulbs can be left in the ground if the winter temperatures do not go below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but most gardeners prefer instead to dig the dahlia bulbs up at the end of each growing season. To do this, you should wait until the foliage has yellowed, then cut the stalks back to approximately four inches. The clumps of the roots should be permitted to dry in the sun a few hours, then placed in boxes in a single layer and covered up with either sawdust or dry sand. The bulbs should be stored in a cool dry place over the winter and replanted the following spring.

Galanthus Nivalis

This plant is more commonly called the snowdrop and is one of the first plants to bloom after winter. They are short plants about 6 inches tall and have two bell shaped flowers. They thrive in colder climates. Plant snowdrops in fall, dig down 3 to 4 inches and plant 3 inches apart. These flowers like full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Water regularly during the growing cycle.

Using Annuals In Your Garden
Unlike perennials or bulbs, annuals provide full color for the entire growing season. The downside of this is that annuals only last for 1 season and more must be planted in the garden each year. Luckily, annuals can be purchased rather cheaply and are even less expensive if you grow from seed.

Preventing disease in your garden
A healthy garden is important for lush blooms and vibrant leaves and one way to keep your garden healthy is to make sure your plants don't how any signs of pest and disease.

Common Flower Diseases
No garden is immune from disease and your best way to deal with it is to educate yourself as to the common pests and diseases in your area.

Gladiolus
The gladiolus which has distinctive sword shaped leaves and funnel shaped flowers are instantly recognizable to gardeners and non gardeners alike.

Asiatic And Oriental Hybrid Lilies
Asiatic and Oriental Hybrid Lilies are popular bulb plants that are a joy to use in any garden. As a bulb plant, these lilies are easy to plant and will reward your good care with blooms year after year.

Tulips
Tulips have long been a favorite flower of hobbiest and professional growers alike. These are the flower that we most closely associate with bulbs and many a gardener has put in fall tulip bulbs and eagerly awaited their blooms in spring.