Planting Bulbs

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Tulips come in a wide array of colors, color combinations, fringed edges and double blossoms.

Bulbs Provide Color, Variety, Scent and more to Welcome Next Spring

With minimal effort, any gardener can have success with growing bulbs. The two key items bulbs require for success are the right conditions to establish root development and protection from squirrels in the fall then deer and/or rabbits in the spring.

Almost any site will work for planting bulbs. Most bulbs need some level of sun to blossom to their fullest. Planting bulbs near trees is an option since many bulbs will emerge before the leaves of the tree cover the ground in shade. Keep in mind if bulbs are planted next to your house, garage or anywhere that collects and reflects heat from the sun, the bulbs will probably emerge before the snow melts. This doesn't harm the bulbs, just know these bulbs may emerge much earlier than the rest of your bulbs.

Dig the depth of the hole per the bulb requirements. Tulips and daffodils are planted 4-6 inches deep while muscari only need to planted 2 inches deep. A bulb planter can be used or a shovel. I find that by using a shovel I can dig deeper and wider holes faster.

•Loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole so the bulbs can easily establish roots.

•Sprinkle Espoma Bulb Tone fertilizer or Espoma Bone Meal in the bottom of the hole and mix lightly with the soil.

•Water the soil and place bulbs in the hole. (Be sure the correct end of the bulb is sitting on the soil.)

•At this stage if squirrels or deer are a problem, spray the bulbs with Shot Gun Animal Repellent. The offensive order of the spray (hot peppers) can be detected by the animals and by animals only and they won't dig up your bulbs.

•Back fill the hole and mark the hole with plant tags at each end of the hole so you'll remember next spring where you planted the bulbs and how large of an area you planted.

•If squirrels are a real pest, put a piece of chicken wire fencing over the newly planted area and stake down the wire with landscape pins.

•Keep the area relatively moist during the fall. The bulbs will need water to grow roots, however most bulbs do not tolerate being wet. If you have clay soil in addition to loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole before you plant, you may need to mix peat into the hole and into the soil you are back filling the hole with to help loosen up the clay.

•Early next spring, reapply the animal repellent as the bulbs emerge to deter animals from eating the flowers. Remove the chicken wire fencing if you used it.

•After the bulbs have blossomed, leave the green foliage on the plants and let it die back. The leaves provide the bulb with food as the bulb is restoring its energy for the next season. This is also a time you can make a second application of bulb fertilizer to help restore the bulbs.

•When planting summer annuals over the bulbs keep in mind, that bulbs don't like being wet, so pick annuals that don't require much watering.

•Or you can dig up the bulbs and plant your choice of annuals or perennials.