Fall is prime season for thinking about spring bulbs in the landscape. That’s because the tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other spring bulbs are planted this time of year.
Colorblends’ Tulip Blend Red Cubed combines three varieties of red tulips that bloom in succession for ongoing spring color in the same bed. Here they are underplanted with violet viola. Red Cubed tulips include early, mid- and late spring bloomers. Photo courtesy Colorblends.com
Whether you plant them yourself or have your Holeman landscape professional do the job, you’ll appreciate the forethought come spring. Your Holeman landscape professional will help you decide the best place to plant spring bulbs. They also will determine which shrubs or perennials are good at camouflaging the bulbs foliage as it ripens. Allowing the foliage to ripen – turn yellow or brown and fall flat – ensures the underground bulbs will be replenished to bloom flowers next spring.
Planting tips for spring bulbs
Bulbs are planted roughly three times their height. If a bulb is 2 inches tall, plant it 6 inches deep. Water after planting and cover with mulch.
This purple-pink early spring bloomer is named Crocus tommasinianus but most people call them “Tommies.” Photo courtesy Colorblends.com
Naturalize the lawn with spring bulbs
Some bulbs are wonderful naturalized in the lawn. Go for minor or special bulbs, such as glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa), squill (Scilla siberica), tommie crocus (C. tommasinianus) are good choices.
Defend spring bulbs from deer and other critters
If you have deer, avoid tulips (Tulipa). Deer think tulips are lollipops just for them. Squirrels also like to dig up tulip bulbs.
If critters are a problem, consider applying chicken wire over the planting area and covering it with mulch or chopped leaves. The grid on chicken wire is usually large enough for the bulbs’ leaves to grow through.
Daffodils and tulips
The lilac-pink flowers with deep yellow centers of ‘Lilac Wonder’ (Tulipa bakeri) bob daintily in soft spring breezes. This species tulip withstands hard rains and wind with equal aplomb. Photo courtesy Colorblends.com
Expect to plant tulips every year. They tend to diminish over a couple of years. It’s always nice to add a few every year. The most reliable tulips are called species types. These are may be less showy, but the come back year after year.
Daffodils (Narcissus) are toxic and usually safe from marauding critters, including deer, squirrels and voles. Daffodils also are more reliable, coming back year after year.
There are early, mid- and late season daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs. If you have a really shady landscape, opt for early to mid-season varieties because they will bloom before all of the trees are leafed out.
Barrett Browning daffodils are early bloomers. Photo courtesy Colorblends.com