10 tips for planting spring-blooming bulbs

Planting flower bulbs is fast, easy, and nearly foolproof. Here's a primer from the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center in New York City to help you plant flower bulbs like an expert.

1. When the bulbs arrive
Spring-blooming bulbs should be planted in the fall, as soon as the ground is cool. In most parts of the country, this is around the time of the first frosts, when evening temperatures average between 5 and 10 C. But you must plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes. You can, if necessary, store bulbs for a month or longer, if you keep them in a cool, dry place. When in doubt, however, the bulbs belong in the ground. They won't last till next season.

2. Read the label
Whether arriving in the mail or from the local garden centre, bulbs usually come with instructions. Read them. Without labels, you can't tell the red tulips from the white ones just by looking at the bulbs so keep the labels with the bulbs until planting.

3. Where to plant
You can plant bulbs just about anywhere in your garden -- so long as the soil drains well. The Dutch say, "bulbs don't like wet feet." So avoid areas where water collects, such as the bottom of hills. Bulbs also like sun.

4. Prepare the planting bed
Dig the soil so it's loose and workable. If it's not an established garden bed, chances are the soil could use some organic matter such as compost or peat moss. These are available at most local garden retailers.

5. Plant the pointy end up
It's easy to spot the pointy end of a tulip; it's tougher with a crocus. But in most cases, even if you don't get it right, the bulb flower will still find its way topside.

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6. Plant big bulbs about eight inches deep and small bulbs about five inches.

7. No fertilizer is necessary for the first year's bloom. Bulbs are natural storehouses of food. They don't need anything to flower the first year. For bulbs that are intended to naturalize or perennialize (return for several years) or for bulbs that are coming into their second year, spread an organic fertilizer such as compost or well-rotted cow manure, or a slow-release bulb food on top of the soil.

If you do fertilize, never mix fertilizer in the planting hole. It can burn the roots. Also don't follow the old adage of adding bone meal. Modern bone meal adds little nutritional value. It can also encourage pests and bone-seeking dogs may dig up your bulbs.

8. Plant bulbs in clusters
Don't plant one bulb alone, or make a long thin line along the walk. Clusters give a concentration of colour for greatest impact. Even if you don't have enough bulbs for a big bed, small clusters can make a super spring show.

9. Plant low bulbs in front of high
This is a good general rule for bulbs that bloom at the same time. Refer to the label for the height of the plant and its approximate flowering time. Of course, there are times to break this rule. For example, if the low-growing bulbs bloom early and the tall bulbs bloom late, plant the tall ones in front. Their display will camouflage the dying foliage of the smaller bulbs.

10. Try a double-decker effect
You can plant small bulbs in a layer right on top of large bulbs. If you plant bulbs that flower in the same period you can create an interesting double-decker effect (picture bright pink tulips blooming above cobalt blue muscari). Or you can stagger the bloom time by planting mid- and late-season bloomers together, creating a spring display that blooms in succession, for a whole season of colour.

In the end, what you do with spring bulbs is limited only by your imagination. A few hours one brisk autumn afternoon can yield months of colourful excitement in your yard or garden next spring.

Now, how do you choose which bulbs you want? Click to continue...

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Pot 'em up!
For blooming pots of colourful tulips, daffodils and crocus next spring, plant bulbs in the fall, advises the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center in New York City. They offer these additional tips:
• Choose pots with drainage holes
• Fill with potting soil or sand (or both)
• Plant bulbs at the same depth as in the garden: two times the height of the bulb. Place bulbs very close together to achieve a bouquet effect when in bloom.
• Water well and place the pots in a cold protected area where temperatures range from 0 to 10 C.

Next spring enjoy a moveable feast of bright springtime flowers, indoors or out. For more information, see: Spring-Blooming Bulbs at Bulb.com.

More pointers:
Buy bulbs in bulk
When planning fall bulb-planting projects, remember that buying tulips, daffodils and other flower bulbs in bulk can greatly reduce prices per bulb. For example, the approximate cost of the highly desirable marigold-orange tulip Ballerina can vary from about 67 cents each (bought in bags of 10) to 30 cents each (for orders of 1,000). Following are tips on buying bulbs in bulk from the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center.
• Consider pooling bulb orders with friends or neighbours to achieve bulk quantities and save money. When the bulbs arrive, throw a Bulb Divvying-Up Party.
• Look for naturalizing mixes. Many retailers offer naturalizing mixes of daffodils, crocus and other bulbs at very good prices. The bulbs are sold in large quantities for mass plantings and may include less expensive, smaller-calibre bulbs, which mature in place once planted in the landscape.
• Find out when local retailers typically hold their end-of-season sales. What seems late in the season to a retailer may seem just-right-for-planting to you.
• For a list of mail-order bulb companies, visit www.mailordergardening.com.

Plant in the fall
Fall is the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. It's also an excellent season for planting perennials such as euphorbia, hostas, bleeding hearts, daylilies, lady's mantle, and coral bells. Such perennials make excellent bulb buddies in the garden because their leaves complement spring floral displays while later masking the fading foliage of the bulb flowers after bloom.

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