Tip of the Month March 2008

Care of spring flowering bulbs 

Flowers in the early spring after a long winter are a special treat. Fall bulbs such as Crocus, Hyacinth, daffodils and tulips provide wonderful spring color just as plants are beginning to come out of dormancy. These plants always provide a special pleasure because of the hope of spring that they bring.

When to plant: Fall bulb are usually planted in the months of September, October or November. They usually will remain dormant until March or April.

How to plant: Most bulbs are planted at a depth of about three times the diameter of the bulb. Proper planting depth helps to ensure that the plant does not emerge too early in the spring. The soil is usually amended with super phosphate or bone meal to ensure a large flower. The point of the bulb is usually pointed upward and the soil is kept damp but not wet.

When do I feed them: Feed the bulbs with a high phosphate fertilizer during or right after bloom time in the spring.

How long to leave the foliage after bloom: A bulb will have green leaves for a few weeks after it finishes blooming. These leaves will create food from the soil nutrients and the sunshine to form the flower that you will see next year. The trick is to let the leaves remain in place as long as possible to make as much food as possible to make the biggest bloom. After the leaves have turned brown they should be removed carefully so that the bulb is not moved from the soil. If the leaves do not pull off easily then you are removing them too soon.

How do I choose which bulbs to plant: Bulbs have different bloom times and are generally classified into early, mid-season and late-season bloomers. Care should be taken so that all of the parts of spring have color and that flowers showing at the same time of the season have colors that blend together well.