Gardening Tips - Fall

Fall Bulbs

Do you love early spring color? The first hoorah of the promise of the season to come are spring bulbs. Crocus, Hyacinth, Daffodils, and Tulips all give the earliest color possible. They also share another common aspect; they must be purchased and planted in the fall. Because they have an early appearance, they can give a degree of flexibility in use. The only requirement is a sunny location. With this in mind, plant some in that juniper bed. The area you fill each summer with annuals: why wait? Plant some bulbs to extend the season. Some have even scattered bulbs through out their lawn area.

For the best effect, bulbs look best when planted in a mass planting. Groups of ten are recommended. When planting, use compost, gypsum (if you have clay soil) and bulb food to improve your soil. Not only is this good for your new bulbs, but anything you plant after that will also be the beneficiary of your forethought and work. Water the bulb bed thoroughly three times over a six-week period. Then in the spring, as the foliage breaks the soil, another application of bulb food will spur on the growth.