Fall is the time to think about...

PLANTING SPRING BULBS

by Marianne Kistler

Nothing says spring like the sparkling brilliance of the first crocuses peeking out through the leaf cover. Often the first to bloom, crocuses start the parade of bulbs. Bulbs are the perfect perennial - beautiful, easy to care for and practically indestructible, they increase annually and thrive in a wide range of conditions. They bloom gloriously and reliably for many years with little care. Bulbs are one of the most versatile groups of plants.  Included in with the true bulbs (tulip, narcissus, hyacinth, lily) are corms (crocuses, gladiola, colchicum), tubers (anemone, ranunculus), and rhizomes (bearded iris, spuria iris, Japanese iris, Siberian iris). 

   When selecting bulbs, purchase the healthiest, best bulbs you can afford. Size is important. Larger bulbs tend to produce larger and more pleasing blooms. Avoid soft bulbs and those that seem bruised. The outer, paper-like skin does not need to be intact for the bulb to grow.

   Choose bulbs that are firm, with no soft spots, sprouts, or mold, and do not give off a bad odor. Good bulbs feel heavy for their size. Plant them in a sunny, well-drained bed. Bulbs will give the most pleasing results when planted in clumps or mass displays.

   Spring flowering bulbs can be planted from October through December, depending on the temperatures where you live.  If it's still pretty warm in October, wait to plant until daytime temperatures drop. Some bulbs require more chilling than most areas of our state offers to bloom their best, so chilling can be done in the fridge. Wrap bulbs in paper, not plastic. Tulips and hyacinths are in this category - several weeks will do.

   Give some thought to their placement before wielding the shovel!  Spring flowering bulbs look especially lovely encircling trees, planted in groups among shrubs or along walkways. Mass plantings are always breathtaking. Bulbs may be planted one to a hole or several in a broader basin-type of hole. It is also possible to double-deck bulbs: plant smaller bulbs higher up in the same hole as the larger, more deeply planted ones, if space is limited.  Mark the tips of the larger ones (say, daffodils), which are set 3 to 4 inches apart at the bottom, so as to place smaller bulbs, like muscari or crocuses, in between them at a higher level.

   If your soil is very alkaline, use cottonseed meal (an organic fertilizer) sprinkled over the soil to cover each layer of bulbs instead of putting it underneath. Finish with a 1 to 2-inch layer of mulch and plant labels.

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