Plant now for that beautiful color next Spring

Now is the time to start planting for a lush colorful spring garden.  Called fall bulbs, these bulbs are perennials that when planted right will bloom for years to come with little or no maintenance  every spring. Weather you choose to plant tulips, daffodils, crocus or hyacinths they will give you that "first sign of spring" color that every one is looking for.

Flower bulbs are available in every color of the rainbow - from brilliant reds and yellows to the deepest purple, pale apricot and white. Before buying and planting your bulbs, draw up a plan for your garden.  Choose bulbs that will provide an interesting array of flowering times, plant heights and colors. Consider where you place your bulbs; put taller tulips in the back of the garden, shorter crocuses in the front.

To keep your garden colorful and lovely from March to June, it's equally important to know which bulbs bloom when. Plant them to bloom in phases throughout your garden. Check the package or display box for this information. The bloom time is usually described as early, mid - season or late.

HOW TO PLANT BULBS 

Planting period

Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall.  Plant from September to December, even after the first frost as long as the ground can still be worked.

Planting depth      

Use the diagram below to determine the proper planting depth for the bulbs you have chosen to plant.  As a rule of thumb: the bulb should be planted twice as deep as the height of the bulb itself.

Planting intervals

Read your bulb packets to learn the proper planting interval for the type purchased. At Genrich's planting instructions are available for each type of bulb sold.  In general, large bulbs can be planted at intervals of about five inches; smaller bulbs do well planted four inches apart.

Hint: When planting place bulbs in groups of odd numbers 3,5,7,9 etc. This grouping gives the best show of color come spring.

Watering           

To start root growth and establish your flower bed over the winter months, soak the soil immediately after planting. As long as the soil is well drained, spring flowering bulbs can not be over watered.

Planting             

With a fork or shovel, break up the soil well. To plant bulbs individually use a trowel or bulb planting tool to dig holes twice the depth of the bulb size, space appropriately for its type. To plant large quantities of bulbs, dig a trench or pit to the length you desire. Smooth the soil at the bottom and position your bulbs in pleasing arrangements, keeping in mind their proper planting depths and intervals. Place Bone Meal or a Bulb Fertilizer in each hole or trench according to package instruction. Cover the bulbs with soil and water in well. Keep watered weekly till frost sets in ground.

Bulbs and soil

Spring flowering bulbs can be planted in any type of soil, as long as the ground is well drained. To improve clay-bearing soils, add sand for drainage. In sandy soil add peat moos or compost to improve water retention.

Fertilizer

The only time to fertilize your bulbs is at planting time. When planting new bulbs one should use Bone Meal or a Bulb Booster fertilizer. Both these fertilizer are for root development and will insure a health start under ground. All bulbs depend on a well developed root system for survival. Bone Meal sprinkled in the hole before covering will enhance the root system development.