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Planting spring flower bulbs – Part 3
Posted under Flower bulb care
Dutch Miracles? Hmm… Red Emperor’ tulips? Mount Hood daffodils? Snow crocus? You stand in front of rows and rows of Dutch bulbs, wondering which spring-flowering bulbs are just right for your garden. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus and so many others – the choice is incredible. You want to try all of them, but the reality of budgets and limited space is usually the deciding factor.
You pick up a tulip bulb and turn it over, meditatively, in your hand, wondering how this new variety would look in your yard. There, contained in a compact package, is one of nature’s miracles. Within that hard, relatively small bulb, you hold an entire flowering plant. Leaves, stem and flower bud are all tucked neatly inside, waiting for just the right conditions to commence its flowering cycle. Imagine the wonder of a child, as you explain these “magical” bulbs. They’ll delight in the simple planting process and spend the winter anticipating a spring flower show.
Here in Zone 5, bulbs are available at garden centers right through the autumn, but selections are best in September and early October. To avoid premature sprouting of foliage during the fall, store bulbs in paper bags in a cool, dark, dry basement until mid to late October.
Is your garden formal, informal or somewhere in-between? Long rows of stately tulips, bordered by earlier blooming daffodils, hyacinths and minor bulbs will create the right look for formal beds. Incorporating bulbs into the informal landscape is a less exact science and a lot more fun. For naturalizing, toss a few handfuls of narcissus or crocus bulbs across the lawn and plant them where they land – children love this part. Cluster groups of daffodils and grape hyacinths (Muscari) under a birch clump.
Most Dutch bulbs lend themselves to group plantings, equally at home around the kitchen garden or planted in pockets throughout the foundation beds. For maximum display, plant minor bulbs (crocus, scilla, etc.) at 20-30 per square foot, tulips at 12 per square foot, hyacinths at 8-10 per square foot and daffodils at 6-8 per square foot.
While a bulb planter is fine for popping in a few minor bulbs, or naturalizing bulbs into a lawn area, I find a spade is generally the most practical tool for the job. This is especially true when planting bulbs in “pockets,” in groups of 6-30 (depending on variety). In general, minor bulbs are planted 3-4″ deep, while major bulbs (tulips, narcissus, hyacinth) are planted 6-8″
