Plant spring-flowering bulbs this fall for a colorful display later

Plant spring-flowering bulbs this fall for a colorful display later
                        
Each fall I promise myself I am going to plant more spring-blooming bulbs. Each fall I buy them and forget about them. By the time I discover them, limp and moldy, they are only good for the compost pile. Spring-flowering bulbs’ arrival each spring brings hope of renewal, and after an Ohio winter, we all need a little more hope of renewal. Now is the best time to plant spring-blooming bulbs, with the weather still agreeable and a fine selection to choose from in local nurseries and garden centers. I used to get a stack of catalogs, with bulbs from all over the world, in the mail this time of year featuring black tulips with names like Queen of the Night and fritillaria with checks and stripes. Colorful images on page after glossy page lured me in with the hope of spring before the leaves had even fallen from their branches. I do not get the catalogs anymore. I am not sure why. I remember signing up for a “do not call” list but not a “do not mail” list. But then again, maybe I did after I started receiving advertisements for hearing aids. I have never ordered spring flowering bulbs from a catalog so perhaps they just gave up on me. Spring-flowering bulbs, like most plants, prefer loose, well-drained soil. Some bulbs prefer full sun while others do well in the shade. All bulbs have issues with standing water, so it is best to avoid planting them in places where water collects, like the bottom of a hill. To get a lot of impact, you need many bulbs. Each bulb equals one flower, and the best bulb displays are those planted en masse in one color. A good rule to follow when planting bulbs is to plant large bulbs about eight inches deep and small bulbs about five inches deep. Some garden experts will tell you to plant the bulbs three times the height of the bulb and to factor in the depth of any mulch that might be above the soil line. Seriously, they are bulbs. It does not have to be that complicated. Pay attention to the final height the bulb is expected to reach so that you can plant tall bulbs behind the shorter varieties. It is wise to pay attention to when bulbs are expected to bloom. Timed well, you can have colorful displays in the yard and garden as early as March. If you don’t want to dig an individual hole for each bulb, you can dig out an area and place bulbs pointed end up before covering them with soil. If wildlife shows interest in your bulbs, place a piece of poultry wire over the bulbs before covering them with soil. Fertilizers like bone meal are attractive to animals. You probably do not need them anyway. Everything that little bulb needs to become a beautiful spring-blooming flower is inside it. With only a few more weeks of grass-mowing left on the fall calendar, you might find time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. Plant them as soon as you buy them.


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