I found this great article by Susan Richards who has some helpful tips on spring flowering bulbs. Starting with snowdrops she lists the different varieties and then gives advice on proper planning so that you can enjoy a full four months of blooms. She also gives advice on how to plant to the best effect and how to deter any critters trying to steal your bulbs.
I am sitting at my computer on a very cold, blustery October day dreaming of spring.
I really do love the colours of autumn but nothing beats seeing the first flowers blooming after a long winter.
One thing you can be doing now to enjoy spring flowers is plant fall bulbs.
Next spring those bulbs will produce blooms that will chase away the winter blues.
Snowdrops, crocuses, tulips and hyacinths are some of the earliest ones brightening up the spring garden.
The key to having a successful bulb display is to understand that each type of bulb has its own time of bloom.
Snowdrops bloom as soon as the snow starts to disappear.
Next are crocus, glory-of-the-snow (Chionodxa), scilla plus early narcissus and tulips.
Then, it’s time for hyacinths, grape hyacinths, mid-season and late tulips, the rest of the daffodils.
Alliums, which are ornamental onions, flower from mid-May into July depending on the type.
With proper planning, you can have four months of flowering from a variety of hardy bulbs.
If you think that planning this sounds too complicated, bulb companies have made the task easy for you.
Packages and tags give information about bloom time, identifying them as early, mid-season, late or summer flowering.
Information is also given for planting depth, spacing and light requirements.
Some bulbs are packaged together that offer you either a collection for a succession of bloom or ones that bloom together for a complimentary colour display.
Big colour pictures on the labels show you exactly what you are getting.
Read the rest of the instructions at Sootoday.com
Image source Johan Neven
