How to Plant Flowering Bulbs

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Adding color to your garden can be as simple as planting flowering bulbs in the Fall.  Depending on what your planting zone is, your Fall planting window will vary, this should be done before your weather gets too cold.  Lucky for me, here in the Desert of South West America, our window is longer than most places.  November is still safe to get this done if the weather is warm, like it is at my house.  Last week it was still 85 degrees here and I was able to get those extra bulbs planted that I have been wanting to.

There are many different types of hardy bulbs that you can grow easily.  Check your local nursery for ideas, as they are always able to give you great advice for your specific location.  I would say that the top 3 bulbs on my list, and the easiest, are Iris, Narcissus and Daffodils.  I recently planted more Dwarf Iris, otherwise known as Butterfly Iris, because they are a favorite of mine.  They bloom in Spring and come back every year and multiply.  I also planted Narcissus, otherwise known as Paperwhites, and they are by far my very favorite!  The strong perfume scented white beauties never cease to amaze me!  Here in the desert they bloom twice a year, Spring and Winter, and keep coming back even better each time.  These are great to plant near an open window or door so you can enjoy the aroma often!  Paperwhites can be forced to grow inside in pots and many people do this for Christmas.  I also planted a bunch of pink Tulips this year!

My old  Paperwhites are already sprouting again.  Yahoo!

My Top 10 Tips for Planting Bulbs

1.    Best to plant in Fall when the ground cools down from Summer heat, but before ground freezes, so they can get their root system growing. 

2.    Add some organic matter to your dirt before planting, like compost or peat moss.  I do this when I plant something new and it builds up the poor desert soil we have here.

3.    Bulbs should be planted so the bottom rests at a depth that's two-and-a-half times the bulb's diameter. In well-drained or sandy soil, plant an inch or two deeper to increase longevity and discourage rodents.

4.    Plant bulbs in groups and clusters, not single flowers or rows, for the most appealing look.

5.    Plant bulbs with the pointy end facing up.

6.    Mix bulbs with other flowers in the garden so that when they are not in bloom you won't have bare spots in your garden.

7.    For a spectacular look, plant flowering bulbs of different types of flowers on top of each other so that they bloom together!  Place the larger flower first and then the smaller one on top, of course you will want your hole to be a bit deeper when doing this.

8.    You do not need to fertilize your bulbs the first year.  When bulbs come into their second year, spread an organic fertilizer such as compost or well-rotted cow manure, or a slow release bulb food on top of the soil.   Don't put it into the planting hole or you could burn the roots.        

9.    Over the years as some bulbs grow and multiply, you can divide them and start a new grouping in another part of your garden.

10.   After your bulb flowers bloom and fade do not trim green leaves until they turn yellow because this still feeds the bulb during that time.  Once they turn yellow simply cut them down to the dirt.

Easy huh!  These are just some helpful tips but if you simply plant them now and forget about it then you will be in for a pleasant surprise when Spring arrives.  It's that easy!  Have you ever planted bulbs before?  If so, what did you plant?