| Garden bulbs are a great way to get color in your | | | | in soil with good drainage. It's a good idea to |
| garden year after year without having to replant. | | | | decide on where you will be planting the bulbs |
| But many people are intimidated by planting and | | | | before you buy them so you know how many to |
| caring for bulbs, and never get to experience | | | | get. You don't want them to be overcrowded at |
| these great flowering plants. These easy tips for | | | | fist as they will multiply over time. Be sure to |
| planting garden bulbs will show you there is | | | | read the package to determine how far apart |
| nothing to fear and have you planting your first | | | | they should be planted and the optimum |
| bulb garden in no time! | | | | conditions for the type of flower you are planting. |
| Most bulb plants are actually rather hardy and | | | | Preparing the soil is another important step in |
| planting them is quite easy. All it takes is a bit of | | | | planting bulbs. You want to loosen the soil in the |
| planning and being able to follow the directions on | | | | bulb hole and mix in some compost or organic |
| the bulb package. As is the way of nature, your | | | | matter. Don't put fertilizer in the hole as this can |
| bulbs will really put in an effort to bloom so you | | | | damage the young roots and it is not necessary - |
| really have to screw up to get them to fail. | | | | your plant has all the nutrients it needs right inside |
| The most important thing to do to ensure good | | | | the bulb! |
| blooming plants is to read the package. On there | | | | Place the bulb in the hole and cover loosely with |
| you will find the depth that the bulb needs to be | | | | dirt. Dig a shallow moat around the bulb and water |
| planted. This is important because each type of | | | | thoroughly so that the moat is full. Let the moat |
| flower likes to be put in at a different depth. As a | | | | drain then fill in the rest of the soil and pack lightly. |
| general rule of thumb, the bigger the bulb the | | | | Give it a final thorough watering and you're done! |
| deeper the hole. Usually you will find the directions | | | | Planning your bulb garden is important for |
| telling you to plant 3 times as deep as the bulb or | | | | antithetic purposes. Put the taller bulbs in back and |
| 4 times as deep. Each bulb is different so follow | | | | the shorter ones in front. If you have a garden |
| the directions for best results. | | | | that can be viewed from all sides then put the |
| Another important thing is not to skimp when | | | | taller bulbs in the middle. Since most bulbs only |
| digging the hole. Be prepared to dig out anywhere | | | | bloom for a few weeks, you need to include bulbs |
| from 5 to 10". It helps to have a good digging tool | | | | with all different bloom times in your garden. Buy |
| and to pick a spot where the soil is loose and not | | | | bulbs that bloom in early spring, late spring, early |
| full of roots. Loosen up some of the oil around | | | | summer and late summer and plant them all in |
| the bulb and plant it with the pointy part up. Of | | | | the same area for color all season long. You can |
| course, it's not obvious in all bulbs which part is | | | | plant them next to each other or even in the |
| the pointy part but don't panic if you can't tell. Just | | | | same hole. If you time things perfectly, you will |
| do your best and nature will take over and usually | | | | have one plant starting to bloom as another is |
| get the flower growing in the right direction. | | | | ending. |
| If you buy bulbs ahead of time, store them in a | | | | Keeping your bulbs healthy and vibrant is easy. |
| cool dry place and keep them in the package until | | | | Remember to water them per instructions and |
| you are actually digging the hole for them. This | | | | fertilize them yearly. When your flower is done |
| way you will be able to tell which bulbs you are | | | | blooming, do not remove the leaves until they |
| planting. If you take them out, you might get | | | | have turned brown - the green leaves are |
| confused as to which is the tulip and which is the | | | | gathering nutrients to be stored in the bulb for |
| daffodil as many bulbs can look amazingly similar. | | | | next years flower! |
| Most bulbs like to be planted in full sun and always | | | | |