Planting Fall Bulbs

By following a few simple rules you can have beautiful blooming bulbs that come up year after year. It's almost foolproof - all you really need to do is follow the instructions on the package that the bulbs come in!

One way to insure successful planting of fall bulbs is to start of by planning your garden properly. Most bulb plants like full sun and a well drained soil, so plan accordingly. Bulbs look best when planted in clusters and don't forget that most only bloom for a short period of time, so if you want color in your garden all year, you will have to plant bulbs with different bloom times in the same area. You can actually plant them in the same hole or trough in layers with larger bulbs on the bottom and smaller ones on top.

Planting fall bulbs can be done anytime before the ground freezes but the earlier you can get to it the better for the plant so that it can establish a root system before the ground freezes. Planting in September is ideal because the weather is still nice enough so that you can enjoy being outside.

Successful flowering starts with the bulb so make sure you buy high quality bulbs. You won't be saving any money on discount bulbs as they may not flower! Pick bulbs that are plump with at least 3 eyes. Be aware also that some bulbs need to be planted in the spring or summer, so read the instructions on the package to make sure you are planting at the right time for your chosen flower.

Planting fall bulbs in trenches is a bit easier to get a lot of plants in a group then digging individual holes. Make sure you plant them at the correct depth which is typically 3 times the height of the bulb but you should check the package and plant accordingly. Make sure the soil is loose and mix in some compost or organic material. Fertilizer is not needed and can damage the roots so it's best to leave fertilization until the spring.

After planting fall bulbs, you will need to water them thoroughly and water a bit more than usual for a week or so. Once the ground freezes, protect the planting bed with a mulch of straw or pine needles or boughs. Make sure to remove this mulch in spring and mulch with an organic material like wood chips.