Fall Planting Promises Spring Color
Spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths must be planted in the fall or early winter in order to enjoy their color in the spring. These plants require a long period of cool temperature to ignite the biochemical process that causes them to flower. Planting flowering bulbs is easy. If you plan ahead properly, you can delight in areas full of blooming colors for several months—even before it is officially spring!
The following are some helpful tips from Biltmore Company's Landscape Manager, Bill Quade.
Choose firm, clean bulbs with no mushy spots, free of mold and uniform in size. Purchasing from a reputable source assures quality plants and usually offers customer service to answer your gardening questions.
The best time to plant in fall is when the soil temperature drops below 55 degrees. It's important to get the bulbs into the ground before the ground freezes. Also, the soil needs to be well drained as too much moisture will cause the bulbs to rot. If the soil is mostly clay or sand, mix in peat moss or compost. The ground should be worked and loosened well. When in doubt about your soil or planting time, check with your local nursery or county cooperative extension agent.
Most bulbs do well in a sunny location. Daffodils can tolerate a bit of shade. Planting tulips where they will receive plenty of morning sun, with some afternoon shade, will keep them blooming longer. When planting in the fall, remember the pattern of sun and shade will be different come spring, as non-evergreen trees will be leafless providing lots of sunshine. For a heady perfume greeting, try planting hyacinths with their pervading fragrance, near a doorway to welcome you and visitors.
Consider whether you desire a more formal or natural look before planting. Formal gardens are neat, tidy and orderly in straight or diagonal rows. For a more natural look, plant randomly, without a pattern, creating the effect such as you would find wild flowers growing. Keep in mind tulips look best when planted en mass for an impressive color impression. Daffodils do well under deciduous trees, in rock gardens and naturalized throughout your lawn.
Two important rules for planting: 1) the pointy end of the bulb always faces up when planting and 2) plant to a depth three to four times the height of the bulb.
Add a bit of fertilizer to the hole before putting in your bulb. This will give your bulb an extra boost come spring. Depending on the size of the bulb, there may need to be three to six inches of space between bulbs. Check your bulb package for the correct spacing.
After planting, add a few inches of leaves or mulch to help keep moisture levels consistent. Pine straw, wood chips or bark are good choices.
Quade cautions that squirrels love to dine on tulip bulbs but don't eat daffodil bulbs, as they are poisonous. He suggests mixing in some daffodil bulbs with the tulips to offer some protection. Daffodils will generally bloom first, before tulips, so you will have a progression of color.
Discover the Biltmore Bulb Collection at your local independent garden center. Then dig in—a festive spring of colors awaits you!
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