Flowering Bulbs Garden
Flowering bulbs extend a large number of chances for enhancing the home gardens. Their array of vividness and bloom, kind and size, also their long range of bloom, are without equal in any other category of flowers. And there a bunch of bulbs to select from. The bulbs need a small amount of space so can be placed into almost any area of the landscape. If you plan correctly and carefully you can have bulbs blooming from very early spring to late autumn. Remember bulbs are a permanent plant and will multiply or spread, so take that into account when you lay out that bed. Hardiness Whether the bulbs are tender or hardy will determine if the bulbs are left in the ground or not. Tender plants need to be taken in each winter for their protection and then planted again the next spring after all danger of frost has past or began indoors and transplanted later. The hardy bulbs can be left outside year round. This type though commonly don't bloom the 1st or 2nd year. Make sure to leave the foliage on the plant while green so the plant can continue to take up nutrients. When the foliage has died then pruning can take place. Purchasing Bulbs There are so many places that sell excellent bulbs online and in catalogs. Local stores have them available but only offer a few selections and may not have been maintained properly while in their hands. Choose big, solid, chubby ones. Stay away from bulbs that are soft, flawed and bruised. Placement Put the bulbs in a sunny or partial sunny location pertinent to the requirements of that particular sort. Place where they will get good drainage and the soil has been properly prepared. Typically blooms look best when put out in an informal format, not in rows. For the best appearance do a mass planting instead of just a small quantity. Preparing the Soil Drainage is one of the most important needs of flowering bulbs. Try a raised bed of about 2 to 4 inches above the surrounding ground level. Sand and organic material can be worked in for best results. Have soil test done and plan your bed from those results. Bulbs lean towards an acid soil so the pH test is crucial. The fertility of the soil should be optimized by using a good organic fertilizer as this will give a lasting effect instead of instant affect and need continued application. A good organic additive to use is bonemeal and with a good organic fertilizer you should have the nicest flowers in the neighborhood. Spacing and Planting Controlling the spacing is the size of the bulb, the size of the plant when mature and the flowering capabilities. It is best not to place too close together cause it will produce small flowers and leaves and keep the plant from developing to its true beauty.
Depth of the bulbs to be planted is crucial also. From the top of the soil level to the base of the bulbs here the approximate depth of several types.
hyacinth=6" As a rule, place to an depth equal to 2-1/2 to 3 times the bulb’s greatest diameter
jim ellison enterprises |