Think spring: It’s time to plant colorful bulbs
By Pamela A. Keene, Hall County Master Gardener
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The online flower peddlers are on the move. Not a day goes by that I don’t receive an email about all the specials on spring bulbs. From daffodils to tulips, hyacinths to crocus, my inbox has been flooded with offers. And I played right into their hands.
The tulip photos are gorgeous and tempting, but practicality dictates that the daffodils, grape hyacinths, globe allium, freesia and crocus are better suited for our milder Georgia winters. Snow drops and Lily of the Valley are also pretty in North Georgia landscapes.
Daffodils are deer-proof, although our fine white-tail friends love to feast on just about every other kind of bulb. Daffs are my go-to and each year my daffodils multiply and provide a beautiful show for as long as five to six weeks. For the best bulbs, explore the websites of reputable quality growers, such as Longfield Gardens, Brecks of Holland and White Flower Farms. Many sell bulk packages at lower prices; All offer premium-sized firm bulbs that ship at just the right time to plant.
If you buy bulbs from a local retailer or nursery, check that they’re firm, free of mold and mildew. Look for bins of loose bulbs, rather than bags; you’ll be able to hand-select the ones you want. Choose bigger bulbs and/or those that have multiple bulbs in clumps.
Plant them in the ground before we have a hard freeze. The general rule of thumb is to plant the bulb twice as deep as it is tall. For instance, if the bulb measures two inches, plant it so that the base of the bulb is four inches below the surface. Avoid planting in straight lines. For the best display, “naturalize” bulbs by tossing a handful of them into the air and planting them where they land.
If you’re mixing different bulbs, plant the deepest ones first. Then come back and naturalize the smaller bulbs and plant them less deep. Good combinations include daffodils and grape hyacinths, crocus – which are early bloomers – with grape hyacinths, smaller-blossom white or yellow narcissus with daffodils.
Work a bit of bone meal into the soil before filling the holes. That’s all you’ll need to do. Mother Nature takes care of the rest. Depending on what you’ve planted, you may have blooms as early as February, especially with crocus.
Consider the bloom times of various bulbs. Daffodils are available in early bloomers, mid-season and late blossoming. If you’ve been to Gibbs’ Gardens in Ball Ground in March and April, you’ve certainly enjoyed the seemingly long season for daffodils. Long before Jim Gibbs opened the world-class garden to the public, he and his crew were planting hundreds of thousands of daffodils of all kinds.
Not only are daffodils easy to grow, they multiply year after year, producing even more color. They’ll do just fine to stay in place but for maximum performance, they should be dug up, divided and replanted every five years or so. Plant now and get ready for a spectacular show in your yard.
You’ll reap a big pay off if you plant your bulbs by the end of October or the middle of November. Your early-blooming daffodils may signal the arrival of spring as early as mid-February.
Photos: courtesy of Pixabay
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