Planting Bulbs

Planting your spring-blooming bulbs properly will result in more successful plants. Bulbs planted too deeply may not bloom at all, and those planted too shallowly may heave right out of the ground as it freezes and thaws. Holes for bulbs should be three times as deep as the bulb is tall.So, large bulbs like tulips will be planted much deeper than tiny ones such as grape hyacinths. The hole only needs to be wide enough to place the bulb inside.

Bulbs of every kind look best planted in clumps or drifts; bulbs planted in straight lines just don't look right. The best way to lay out your bulb planting is to lay the bulbs on top of the soil before you start digging. This will help you determine what looks pleasing to you, and will also ensure correct spacing between the bulbs.

Once you have a design that looks pleasing, it's time to start digging. If you have wonderful, light fluffy soil, a bulb planter will work fine for you.Just shove it down to the proper depth (most have markings on the side so you know how deep the hole is) and pull it back out, brining the soil with it. Place the bulb in the hole, making sure that the pointy side is up-this is where the foliage and flowers will come from. If you plant it upside down, it won't grow. Cover the bulb with the soil, firming it lightly with your hands. Repeat this until all of your bulbs are covered.

If you have clay soil, or rocky soil, a trowel will work better for planting. And, if you're planting a lot of bulbs in difficult soil, it may be better to dig one big hole the width of your preferred layout, place the bulbs in, and shovel all the soil back on top.

No matter what kind of soil you have, dusting the soil with some bone meal after the bulbs are planted will give your plants just the kick start they will need in the spring. Bone meal is high in phosphorus, which will stimulate root growth and increase blooms.

Just follow these easy steps, and you will have beautiful blooms come spring! ITGO