Spring is that time of year when our gardens begin to come to life again; the plants start to come out and color returns to our flowers. But if you want your garden to look truly beautiful come spring time you need to be preparing some time before. That is of course unless you are happy with a trip to local garden center, where you can pick up maturing plants.
When to Plant
First and foremost, if you want to plant your own flowers then you need to have planted the bulbs between October and December of the year before, or as they say, before the first frost. Plants which are planted as bulbs include daffodils, grape hyacinths, crocus and tulips.
Bulbs have what is known as a long dormant period which means they spend most of the year without requiring any attention at all. If you are going to buy bulbs then choose them like you would your vegetables in the super market.
You are best to avoid any bulbs which don’t look fresh, have shriveled up or feel soft. Another key point to remember is that your bulbs need to be planted within one week of buying them, otherwise they will begin to grow, which is what you don’t want until spring.
How To Do It
Bulbs are some of the easiest plants to care for as, once planted, they require very little attention until they begin to sprout. The two key characteristics that a bulb needs to be successful is a bit of sunshine and feely draining soil.
If you are planting your bulbs in pots then then general rule of thumb to follow is to plant them at two to three times their own depth, at least two bulbs widths apart and facing upwards. If you do not know which way is up then plant the bulb on its side and it will find its own way to the surface.
Bulbs planted in pots will require more care than those planted in your lawn. To make sure they are looked after keep the soil moistened and during the winter wrap your pots in bubble wrap to keep the bulbs protected. You may also want to consider putting something like chicken wire over the top to stop animals stealing you bulbs for dinner.
Once the bulbs shoots start to appear it is time to make sure you take off the protective bubble wrap and chicken wire, keep them moist and show them some sun!
About the Author: This article was provided by Rhubarb and Roses of Winslow, England, specializing in floral design courses and boutique style homewares.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Paul Stainthorp.