Article published November 18, 2009
'Tis the season to plant bulbs
The recent mild weather might lure you up on a ladder to string Christmas and Hanukkah bulbs. It is also a great time to get down on your hands and knees and take care of a few other bulbs, ones that will bloom in the spring.Pretty bloomers
This is the perfect time to plant bulbs. Soil temperatures are still warm but will cool within the next two months. Warmer soil temperatures make it easier to dig and give your earth-dwellers a good start. So, grab a few bags of bulbs and get going.
Tulips are always good. Hyacinths, iris, daffodils, and paperwhites, seen below, are popular spring flowers too. If you have a traditional landscape, pick three major colors and stick with them. Plant bulbs in uniform rows, doing at least three rows per color. If you have a cottage or less structured style for your landscape, plant the bulbs in groupings of five or more. The bulbs will create the most spring impact if you plant them in a large group rather than one or two in a spot.
Be conscious of bulb height. Crocus are tiny and usually bloom first. Dutch crocus are very popular and have relatively bigger flowers. They prefer a sunny location, and some can grow up to eight inches tall. You can also plant them in front of taller bulbs.Planting tricks
Not really sure where you should plant the bulbs? Put a cluster at the base of shrubs near your front door. Plant a thick line near your sidewalk or driveway. Consider planting a few dozen of the same color under your favorite tree in the front yard, or plant a variety of bulbs around the base of your mailbox if it is by the road.
The important thing is to think of your bulbs as jewelry. They aren't the best plants for major structure in the landscape, but are great accents.Once you have a spot in mind, mark the area on the ground with landscaper's paint. You can also use a jar of flour; sprinkle it on the ground so you stay between the lines. After the bulbs have been planted, stake the area with a plant marker so you will know what you planted next spring before they start to bloom. This is also helpful if you have bulbs that don't sprout.
You can use a bulb-planting tool to help pull a column of soil out of the ground. The tool works well if you are looking to plant a basket full of bulbs. One of my favorite tricks is to use my cordless drill with a large two or three-inch paddle bit.Wire planting baskets
Protect your bulbs from annoying burrowers such as skunks and moles by planting them in a wire envelope. Skunks and moles eat the same thing. They aren't after the bulbs but the earthworms, grubs, and other larval insects living in the soil around the bulbs.
Using gloves and protective eyewear, cut the 1/2-inch mesh with tin snips and shape it into a box. Secure the corners with wire and put your bulbs in the cage before they are planted. Dig a hole big enough for the cage and at the proper depth for the bulbs and cover it with soil. You can also build a wire envelope by lining the hole with wire, placing the bulbs on top of the wire, and leaving enough wire to wrap on top of the bulbs. Then bury them with a teaspoon of bone meal or slow-release fertilizer.
Here's the good news: daffodils and hyacinths are toxic, so raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, and mice will leave those alone. There also are commercial taste repellents that might work on your bulbs and foliage. The bulb needs to be dipped in it before planting. The repellents must be reapplied every few days or after it rains.
When you are finished with the bulbs, you can get back on the ladder and finish the lights!
Contact Kelly Heidbreder at:
kheidbreder@theblade.com
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