Fall the perfect time to plant spring bulbs

Early spring is a dreary time.  Waiting for your special perennials seems to take forever.  There are flowers that flower in March.  Plant alliums, daffodils, tulips, and snowdrops in the fall and enjoy their beautiful flowers in the spring.

They are finicky.  They need a deep layer of a somewhat sandy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.  Mix a generous amount of compost in the bed.  When preparing the bed, make sure the location is well drained or the bulbs will rot.  The soil can not be waterlogged.

There are many, many varieties of each. Try the ones that look best on the package, then follow the instructions on the package carefully. 

Follow these basic instructions:

1. Buy spring bulbs in late summer or early fall. Select fat and firm bulbs with the papery covering still on. Store in paper bags in your refrigerator until you plant them.  Do not store with apples or other fruit such as bananas, as the ethylene gas emitted by the fruit will kill the flower bud in the bulb. Try to plant within a week of purchasing them.
2. Bulbs like a moist spring, then a dry summer. Plant where there is good drainage, such as on a slope or in a raised bed. Bulbs will rot in low lying areas.  Plant in rows or clusters, leaving room to spread.
3. Plant early in September to give them time to develop roots before a hard frost. Most bulbs need three to eight weeks to root properly to survive our winter and get ready for spring.
4. Plant at the depth indicated on the package with the pointy side up, about 4 to 6 inches apart at a depth of 6 to 8 inches, depending on the size of the bulb. 
5. Water well. Provide 2 to 3 inches of mulch to reduce the impact of thawing and freezing cycles.
6. Mark the location of your bulbs so that you don’t damage them when planting annuals after they have bloomed.
7. Mulch annually to provide nutrients and prevent weeds from growing.
8. Once the bulbs have finished blooming in the spring, deadhead, but let the leaves die off. While the leaves are dying, they are still providing carbohydrates to the bulb. Sprinkle some bone meal to assist in the process.  Water well.
9. The bulbs will spread. Eventually, you will have to divide the clumps and start over. To divide the clumps, simply dig them up, divide, and replant immediately at the recommended spacing.

Alliums are related to garlic and leeks, giving off an oniony scent when bruised or cut. Grow in average garden soil that is well drained. Their flowers are a cluster of individual stary flowers grouped in a sphere on top of a long stem. Varieties come in a number of different colours and sizes. Be prepared to stake the taller varieties.

Daffodil or Narcissus flower early in the spring, before other perennials. They multiply rapidly; plan accordingly to give them enough space. If the bulbs do not flower well, add a low-nitrogen, high potassium fertilizer.

Tulips are one of the most common flowers, coming in many different colours, sizes, and shapes. Chose varieties you like best and enjoy. They spread by forming small bulbs that eventually grow into full size bulbs.

Snowdrops are small bulbs with small flowers, and usually are the first to flower. All parts of the plant are poisonous for humans, dogs, and cats alike. Avoid letting kids or pets come into contact with any part of the plant. Plant immediately. They tolerate some shade and mediocre soil.

Every one of these beautiful flowers will add colour and beauty to your yard for years to come. Just make sure the bed is well drained and replenished with some compost each year.

Charles's book, Urban Gardening, Planning to Preserving, is available through Amazon.ca