Choosing the best bulbs for fall planting ensures that you have an instant garden as soon as spring arrives. Bulbs have the incredible ability to push up through the almost frozen soil in order to bloom, making your work at the start of the growing season unnecessary. In order to be able to enjoy the flowers of spring though, plenty of work has to be done as summer winds down and fall begins. There is a lot to consider when it comes to picking the bulbs that will make up your garden design.
Use this guide to help you choose the best bulbs for planting your fall bulb garden.
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Get an Idea of Your Likes
There are so many fall bulb choices to select from that the task can become overwhelming if you don’t narrow down the list from the beginning. Take some time to look through gardening books, magazines and websites to identify color patterns and flowers that you like best. The bulk of your choice should come down to what you prefer, because once you plant, your choice is set till next spring.
Layer for Bloom Times
A big part of choosing bulbs and planting relies on the bloom times of different plants. Some bulbs push through at the first sign of thaw, before the snow is even gone, while others don’t push through till the end of spring. Make sure that your bulb choices include early, mid and late spring bloomers to ensure that there is always something to look at and color combinations that meld and change with time.
Think About Height
In addition to planning for bloom time you need to think about the different heights when you combine bulbs. If you choose three different types of tulips that bloom at different times but are the same height, this is not as much of a concern. However, mixing different bulb types makes it necessary to place bulbs in the garden so that the highest growers are in the back and shorter growing bulbs are placed in the front.
Take Stock of Sunlight Now
In order to determine where and how your bulbs should be planted, watch the sun in your garden to see what areas get the most sunlight. Areas of the garden that are in full sun will thaw out faster, and will be able to support full sun blooming bulbs. Also note the soil conditions and drainage in areas of the garden to ensure that you only plant bulbs that will be able to survive each type of soil condition.Plant or Your Zone
Most bulbs are very hardy, but some have been designed for survival in different zones, so make sure that you study the growing conditions necessary for each before purchasing. If a bulb will not bloom in a climate that is too cold, or will wither in warmer climates, avoid adding them. The best showing of bulbs is going to happen with bulbs that are meant to be grown in your climate zone.
Choose the Right Tools
Planting bulbs is pretty easy but using the right tools will make planting bulbs super easy. A short handled Steel Bulb Planter with a wood handle will allow you to make precise holes to put each bulb in. It’s easy to use, just press bulb planter into soil to the desired depth, remove the plug of soil and place bulbs at the bottom, and replace soil in hole. Continuous Release Bulb Food feeds new bulbs at planting and throughout flowering. Bulb food feeds established bulbs in the fall for more beautiful blooms next year. Bug and slug control is a must to keep your bulbs healthy so they will produce in the Spring and it can be used safely used around pets and wildlife.
