Enhance your garden with fall bulbs

The coming of autumn does not have to mean hanging up your garden shears and garden gloves for the year.  The fall of the year is actually the time when many of the most popular bulbs bloom, and planting fall bulbs can provide your garden with much needed color almost until the moment the first snow falls.

The fall of the year is also one of the most pleasant times to work in your garden, since the heat of summer has passed.  Many gardeners love spending the late summer and autumn days working in their garden.

In addition, fall bulbs are a great investment for the home gardener.  After all, the great thing about bulbs is that they are able to remain in the ground, ready to spring forth when their optimal growing conditions are met.  Even when they are not growing and blooming, the bulbs are still there, readying themselves for the next season.

When planting fall bulbs, one of the most important considerations is finding a suitable location for them.  Even though bulbs are very hardy, specific bulbs have their own requirements, and those special requirements must be met in order for the bulbs to thrive and show their best blooms.  The soil is probably the most important consideration.  Bulbs always do best in a well drained soil, and when bulbs fall to grow it is usually because they have rotted due to overly wet soil.

Most bulb varieties grow best in full sunlight, and it is also important to properly prepare the planting bed.  Many experienced gardeners prefer to excavate the area to a depth of between 12 and 15 inches, and then lay down a layer of well aged manure or compost.  After this layer is put down, the bulbs are spaced properly, then covered with either the original soil or with a good quality compost or potting soil.

While this method is a great way to plant bulbs, it is also a very time consuming one.  If you are looking for a less item consuming method of planting fall bulbs, you can use a bulb planter to make three to four inch wide holes.  To use a bulb planter, you simply use a twisting motion.  After the proper depth has been reached, the bulb planter is removed and the bulb can be planted.  Even though bulb planters are a real time saver for most gardeners, they do not perform well where the soil is rocky.

The most popular types of bulbs to plant in the fall season are tulips, daffodils and crocus.  In addition to these well known varieties, however, there are a number of other choices as well, including hyacinths, iris and alliums.  These types of bulbs are easy to grow and they bloom beautifully.  The chionodoxa is another popular fall bulb, and even though its earliest blooms are only a few inches in height, as it matures its blooms become ever larger.  In addition, chionodoxa are resistant to deer, so they are favored by gardeners whose gardens are often visited by these creatures.

Fall blooming flowers

To many people, fall is the time of year when the gardening season is drawing to a close, and it is time to close the flower bed and prepare for winter.  Even though most gardeners are ready to hang up their garden tools and get ready for the next season, gardeners can continue to enjoy the beauty of the fall season, since there are a number of beautiful flowers blooming all through the autumn of the year.

There are many fall bulbs available to the average gardener, and it is important to choose the right ones.  When initially planting the bulbs, it is important to take care to choose the best location within the garden.  It is important to choose a location where the delicate fall bulbs will not be overshadowed by larger plants or hidden in with the surrounding ground cover. 

One advantage of fall bulbs, however, is that they are hardy.  After they have been in the ground a few years, these bulbs will be able to take their rightful place and thrive in any garden setting.

One of the most frequently seen of all fall bulbs is the hardy cyclamens (Cyclamen Hederifolium).  These bulbs are able to come back year after year, and they have been known to last for a decade or even more.  In addition, the hardy cyclamen produces breathtaking blooms, and it is generally a very undemanding plant. 

Other than a good quality soil, sufficient water and ample sunlight, the cyclamen needs little in order to bloom year after year.  Each small cyclamen bloom has a soft pink petal that is complimented by an eye of darker pink.  These small blooms are tiny version of the larger cyclamen that is often seen at Christmastime.  In the home garden, the hardy cyclamen often blooms into November.

Another popular autumn flower is the colchicum.  These flowers usually bloom in the middle of September, and they are similar in appearance to crocuses but generally much larger.  Most colchicums seen in the garden are hybrids of either C. Autumnale or C. Speciosum.  There are some subtle differences between these two common varieties, and their blossoms come in shades of rose and violet.  The sizes of colchicums vary from 10 to 12 inches.  While these flowers can be used in many settings, they are a particularly beautiful way to accent a rock garden.

Autumn daffodils are another popular fall flower, and they can provide a beautiful touch of color for the garden.  It is important to plant fall daffodils in a well drained flower bed and to provide them with plenty of sunlight.  It is also important to avoid planting autumn daffodils in areas where moisture pools, as excessive moisture could damage the bulbs.  Autumn daffodils often bloom at the same time as the colchicum, and the two can provide a striking color palette.

Starting your seeds the right way

When it comes to gardening, gardeners are of two minds. While some gardeners prefer to buy young seedlings and transplant them in the garden, other gardeners prefer the control and the sense of accomplishment that comes with planting flowers and plants directly from seeds. 

Planting from seed has a lot to recommend it.  For one thing, although transplanting seedlings can provide a good head start for the gardener, it can also introduce problems like disease or insect infestation to an established garden plot. 

Planting from seed helps gardeners to avoid these problems.  It is not difficult to plant from seed, but it is vital to read and follow the instructions on the seed packet for best results.  As with other types of gardening, it is important to follow the instructions carefully.  It is also important to protect the seeds and the delicate seedlings as they grow.

Whenever you plant seeds, it is a good idea to use a quality growing tray.  It is important to choose the right growing tray, and you can get recommendations from your local nursery or garden center on the best type of tray for your needs.  After you have the tray and the seeds in hand, the next step is to fill that growing tray with a high quality seed mixture.  This type of product is also called a seed starting mix, and it is similar in consistency to potting soil.  Another advantage of the seed starting mix is that it is sterile, and free of diseases and garden pests.

After the growing tray has been prepared, the seeds should then be placed in the seed starting mix.  The rule of thumb when planting seeds is to plant them at least twice their own depth.  In some cases, such as with very small seeds, you may want to simply dust the seeds with a light coating of seed mix, since if they are buried too deep they may not be able to sprout.

After the seeds have been planted in the tray, they should be labeled, using either sticks printed with a waterproof marker or actual nursery labels.  Do not use the seed packets as labels, since they will quickly disintegrate from moisture as the seeds are watered.

Only a misting sprayer should be used to provide water to the newly planted seeds.  If you use a hose or watering can, you could inadvertently dislodge the seed medium or uncover the seeds.  The growing tray should be covered in order to prevent the moisture from evaporating.  A covered tray will also encourage the germination of the seeds.

Another thing that can speed up the germination of newly planted seeds is heat.  Heat has been shown to speed up the germination of seeds, and this is a technique used by many successful gardeners.  Another favorite technique of gardeners is to use a bell jar to protect delicate seedlings from late frost.  If bell jars cannot be found, a regular water bottle with the bottom cut off makes a good replacement.

Liles for the garden

Liles are one of the most striking and beautiful plants in the garden, and most gardeners will work with these beautiful plants at least once or twice in their lives.  Lilies can add beauty and drama to any garden, and they are very popular flowers for indoor display as well.  Lilies are popular in many contexts, from giving a beautiful contrast to a winter rock garden, to providing a beautiful accent to surrounding shrubs and trees. 

No matter how the lily is displayed, and whether it is enjoyed indoors or out, there are some important things to know about these wonderful plants.  This article focuses on some of the most frequently asked questions about choosing, planting, caring for and enjoying lilies.

When should I plant my lilies?

The best time to plant lilies is in either the spring or fall of the year.  Regardless of the time of year, however, it is important to get the bulbs in the ground as soon as possible after purchasing them.  Unlike many other types of bulbs, lily bulbs do not store well.

What is the difference between a daylily and a garden lily?

The plant known to gardeners as the garden lily is grown from a bulb, but the plant known as the daylily actually grows from a corm.  In addition, the daylily contains many leaves that grow from the corm, but the garden lily contains only one shoot that contains leaves.  That shoot grows directly from the bulb.

How deep should lily bulbs be planted?

The general rule of thumb for many types of bulbs, including lily bulbs, is to plant them three times as deep as the bulbs are wide.  For instance, a two inch wide lily bulb would be planted to a depth of six inches  In addition, lilies should be planted in groups for the best effect when they bloom.  It is a good idea to dig a hole to the proper depth, then plant several bulbs together in that hole.

How do I propagate lilies?

Garden lilies are best propagated through breaking off a few of their scales in the spring or fall and planting them approximately one inch deep.  Daylilies can be propagated by dividing the corms and planting them.  In addition, some lilies will produce bulbils, which may appear to be black or dark green seeds. These bulbils are found at the point at which the lily leaf meets the stem.  Even though these bulbils are not really seeds, they can be planted, and they will emerge within two or three years of planting.

Should I cut back my lily after it has finished blooming?

After the lily has bloomed, it is best to remove only the stem itself.  That is because garden lilies will continue to feed off their foliage, and lilies that are left to die off naturally tend to grow better the next year.  On the other hand, daylilies usually bloom for longer periods of time.  The blooming season of daylilies can be extended if the gardener deadheads the blooms and cuts back the stems.  After the blooming season is over, the foliage on the daylily should be allowed to die back naturally.

Can Easter lilies be planted outside?

Many people are interested in planting their Easter lilies outside, and it is fine to attempt that.  The main problem with Easter lilies is that they do not bloom naturally at Easter time.  Easter lilies are actually forced to bloom at that time of year by the florist.  This forced blooming can make it harder for the lily to grow properly once it is transplanted.

If you plan to transplant your Easter lily after you have enjoyed it outside, the following steps will help increase your chances of its survival.

ü      Plant the lily in a sunny spot using well drained soil

ü      Use a good, high quality planting mix

ü      Plant the bulbs three inches under the surface of the soil and also place an additional three inches of soil on the top

ü      Allow enough space for the lily to spread its roots

ü      Water the newly transplanted lily thoroughly

The first flowers of spring

One of the most thrilling sights for any gardener, from the newest to the most experienced, is the first spring flowers peeking up through the last snow of winter.  Spring flowers have long been seen as a sign of new life, and gardeners certainly enjoy seeing these beautiful harbingers of warmer weather.

Whether it is the tiny, delicate blossoms of the snowdrop, the delicate petals of the econite or the subtle beauty of the Irish reticulate, it is hard to beat the beauty of spring flowers.  These first delicate blossoms of spring are a sign that the long days of winter are finally over, and that it is time to look forward to warmer weather.  Even the most jaded gardeners continue to be excited by the sight of the earliest blossoms making their way through the last snow of winter.

The well named snowdrop is one of the most beloved, and most popular types of flowers for early spring.  These delicate blossoms are breathtaking to behold.  The common snowdrop, scientific name Galanthus nivalis, features small, delicate blossoms, while the giant snowdrop, known to scientists as the Galanthus elwesil, features striking large early spring blooms.

The Iris reticulate is another favorite early spring bloom.  This bulb is one of the most striking flowers in the world of gardening, and it is highly prized for its beauty.  The Iris reticulate originally came from the high mountain areas of Western Asia, and it does well in cold climates.  The Iris reticulate does best in a well drained bed containing coarse sand or grit. 

When caring for an Iris reticulate, it is important not to over water the plant, since this can cause severe damage to the bulb.  This plant comes in a wide variety of colors, ranging from a pale amethyst to a deep, dark purple.  In addition, the Iris reticulate has been thoroughly hybridized, and a wide variety of hybrid colors, including solids, speckles, stripes and splotches are available as well.

In addition to these somewhat common early spring blooms, there are rarer varieties as well.  One of the rarest of late winter and early spring bulbs is the Adonis vernalis.  The Adonis appears to be a delicate plant, but it is able to make its way through the snows of late winter to provide a beautiful bloom in March.  The Adonis has a beautiful yellow bloom, and it makes a wonderful companion to any landscape.  The Adonis can be used anywhere, but it makes a particularly good addition to a winter rock garden.

No matter which types of late winter or early spring blooming flowers you choose, you will be rewarded with beautiful color in your garden as the last days of winter give way to the first days of spring.

Popular perennials for the garden

Perennials are one of the most popular types of flowering plants, both for the beginning and experienced gardeners.  Gardeners of all types and abilities enjoy the beauty, hardiness and ease of planting of these find plants.

In addition, perennials come in every color of the rainbow, and in all shapes and sizes, making them a great choice for any garden.  What makes perennials special, however, is their ability to come back year after year.  While the actual life span of a perennial will vary from species to species and planting to planting, some types of perennials have been known to last for decades.

Perennials can be used anywhere in the garden, and anywhere around the home as well.  Many varieties of perennials are great as landscape plantings, and their ability to regenerate makes them perfect for areas of the garden that are hard to reach.  Using perennials to line a driveway, surround a flagpole or accent a front porch is a great idea for any gardener.

In fact, the hardest part of perennials for many gardeners is choosing the right ones.  There are so many different perennials at your local garden center that it can be difficult to choose the right ones.  This article attempts to help with that problem, by providing a brief overview of some of the most popular perennials for the home garden, as well as some brief care tips.

Name: Achillea

Common name: Yarrow

Needs: Full sun, moderate water (less watering once fully established)

Name: Anemone

Common name: Japanese Anemone

Needs: Partial shade, regular watering

Name: Aster

Common name: New England Aster

Needs: Full sun, partial shade in hot climates, regular watering

Name: Astilbe

Needs: Partial to full shade (some sun OK in cool climates, regular watering

Name: Chrysanthemum

Common name: Shasta Daisy

Needs: Full sun, partial shade in hot climates, regular watering

Name: Coreopsis

Common name: Threadleaf Coreopsis

Needs: Full sun, moderate to little watering

Name: Delphinium

Needs: Full sun, regular watering

Name: Echinacea

Common name: Purple Coneflower

Needs: Full sun, moderate watering

Name: Geranium

Common name: Geranium

Needs: Full sun or partial shade.  Must have afternoon shade in hot climates.  Regular watering

Name: Helleborus

Common name: Lenten Rose

Needs: Full sun in winter; partial to full shade in spring, summer and fall.  Regular watering

Name: Nepeta

Common name: Catmint

Needs: Full sun, moderate watering

Name: Paeonia

Common name: Peony

Needs: Full sun, partial shade in hot climates, regular watering

Name: Papaver

Common name: Oriental Poppy

Needs: Full sun, regular to moderate watering

Name: Penstemon

Common name: Beard Tongue

Needs: Full sun; light shade in hot climates.  Regular watering.

Name: Phlox

Common name: Summer Phlox

Needs: Full sun.  Flowers may fade in hot climates.  Needs regular watering.

Name: Redbeckia

Common name: Black-Eyed Susan

Needs: Full sun.  Regular to moderate watering.

Name: Salvia

Needs: Full sun.  Regular watering.

Name: Sedum

Common name: Autumn Joy

Needs: Full sun or partial shade.  Moderate to little watering.

Name: Veronica

Needs: Full sun.  Regular watering.

How to divide perennials

One of the things that makes perennials so attractive to home gardeners is the ability to divide and transplant the perennials.  Gardeners can use cuttings made from their perennials in order to create new growth, share their plants with family members and friends, or even to sell excess stock to nurseries, garden centers and flower stores. 

There are basically two reasons why gardeners choose to divide their perennials.  The first reason is for the improvement of the health of the plants, and to encourage those plants to produce more flowers.  In many cases, an older planting of perennials will become overgrown, and this can cause the bloom quantity of those perennials to drop considerably.  The other reason gardeners divide perennials, of course, is to create new plantings.  Perennials can be divided easily, and these new divisions can be used to create plantings in other parts of the garden, or even in another garden patch.

Even though many perennials can be divided easily, not all can.  In generally, division is most feasible on those perennials that grow in clumps, and those that have an expanding root mass.  Perennials that grow from single taproot, on the other hand usually cannot be divided.  That is because any attempt to divide the taproot can cause the plant to die.  Those perennials that grow from a taproot should be increased by using root cuttings or seeds instead of division.

The best time to divide those spring and early summer perennials that can be divided is generally in the fall of the year.  Perennials that bloom in the fall or late summer should be divided in the spring instead.

To divide perennials, the ground around the plant should first be gently lessened with a spading fork.  The clump should then be sliced with a garden trowel and then divided into four parts.  Those four sections should then be broken by hand to create sections four inches by four inches.  Those small sections should then immediately be transferred to a previously prepared plant bed.

It is important for the gardener to thoroughly wet the soil a day or two before the division is to take place.  Watering thoroughly will make it easier to dig the clump.  In addition, it is important to add compost or other organic material to the soil.  The organic material should be added to both the original plant and the new divisions.  Doing so will give the plant the nutrition it needs and help them to thrive better in their new location.  The plants should also be watered thoroughly and fed with a good quality fertilizer once they have been planted.

Proper care of perennials in the garden

Perennials have much to recommend them, including of course their famed ability to regenerate year after year.  After all, while the longevity of perennials varies from variety to variety, some, especially peonies, have been known to last for decades. 

Even though not all perennials are so long lived, in order to be called a perennial a plant must have the ability to come back for at least two consecutive years.  This longevity makes perennials a great choice for gardeners.

Even though perennials are generally very hardy, it is still important to get them off to the right start, and to provide them with the care they need to grow and thrive.

Choosing the most healthy perennials is the first step.  Most perennials are purchased in either four inch containers or one gallon containers, depending on the size and quantity purchased.  In addition, some mail order and internet sources of perennials ship their plants as bare root plants. Wherever you buy them, however, it is important to care for them properly, both before, during and after they are planted.  Doing so is the best way to ensure a garden full of beautiful plants year after year.

Most types of perennials like soil that is rich in organic matter.  Therefore, it is important to have your soil analyzed, and amended if necessary, before using it for your perennial bed.  Soils that do not contain sufficient nutrients should be enriched with compost, aged manure or other organic materials.

Even though it is best to provide most perennials with a rich organic soil, a surprising number of perennials are able to live well in poorer quality soils.  Even though they can grow in poor soil, however, they will provide better blooms if the soil is enriched.

Sunlight is also important to perennials, with many varieties doing very well in full sunlight, while other varieties do better in partial shade or filtered sunlight, especially in a hot climate.  It is important to consider the need for sunlight when planning your perennial garden.

The needs for water also differ among varieties of perennials.  While some perennials prefer large amounts of water, other varieties can get along with little water.  In addition, most varieties of perennials do best with an annual feeding.  This annual feeding can consist of either working the organic materials in the regular soil in the spring or fall or by using a good quality fertilizer.  When using fertilizer, it is best to fertilize in the springtime. 

When buying perennials, it is important to take into account how large the plant will grow at maturity, and therefore to provide enough space for the adult plants to grow.  Some perennials can grow to heights in excess of seven or eight feet so it is important to determine how large that tiny seedling will grow when you plant it.  Planting the seedlings with the adult dimensions of the plant in mind will save you lots of headaches in the future.

Since perennials come back year after year, it is important to trim and prune them properly during and after each growing season.  The process of deadheading, or removing spent flowers, is important to keeping a perennial garden blooming season after season.  Removing spent blossoms will encourage more growth and keep the plants at their healthiest.

Trimming and pruning can also make the perennial garden more attractive.  It is a good idea to cut back the stems and foliage by a third at the end of each growing season.  This trimming will provide for a round of new growth when the new season takes hold.

Using perennials in your garden

When it comes to flowers for the garden, annuals and perennials are the two largest families.  Plants designated as annuals are those that grow from seed, blossom, set seed and die within a single season.  Perennials, on the other hand, have the ability to return to life season after season.  That means that after the bed is established, you may not need to replant for a number of years.

The actual life span of each perennial will vary from variety to variety, but in order to be classed as a perennial a plant must be able to come back for at least two seasons.

Perennials are available in a seemingly endless amount of colors, sizes, shapes and textures, and there are perennials available to please just about any gardener.  In addition, the ability to plant the perennials only once and have them come back year after year makes them a favorite with all kinds of gardeners. 

In addition, perennials are suitable for virtually any location, and most varieties grow well in a variety of climates and soil types.  Some perennials, such as aster, phlox, geraniums and peonies, are valued mostly for their beautiful flowers, while other varieties of perennials are more highly prized for their lush foliage.

The longevity of different types of perennials varies, and some types of perennials can last for decades.  Each type of perennial will list the average lifespan of the plant, so it is important to check the longevity rating when buying perennials. 

If you are looking for a perennial that enjoys a legendary longevity, you may want to look into peonies.  Many plantings of peonies have been known to last from one generation to the next.

Many gardeners like to plant a combination of annuals, perennials and bulbs, and this can be a great way to provide a wonderful variety of color in the garden, while cutting back on the work the gardener must do.  Many gardeners like to use perennials in parts of the garden that are difficult to plant, or using perennials as landscape plants.  This can be a great strategy, and many people are finding that perennials are wonderful, beautiful plants.

Many gardeners like to accent their front yard, flagpole, mailbox or other small areas with plantings of perennials, and these plants are great for small spaces like those.  In addition, the wide variety of colors perennials come in mean they can be used to accent just about any type of home décor.

Perennials can even make a great addition to a vegetable garden, particularly to provide a colorful border or to edge the planting beds.  In addition, perennials can be used with shrubs and other larger plants in order to provide a beautiful splash of color and beauty in an otherwise plain landscape.

Gardening with annuals

Annuals are among the most popular of all flowering plants, and it is hard to beat annuals for low cost, beautiful blooms and ease of planting.  All most annuals need in order to thrive is proper water, sufficient sunlight and a good well balanced soil.

Let’s take a quick look at each of these important elements for growing a spectacular bed of annuals.

Soil

Most types of annuals will do best in when given a well drained soil containing a moderate amount of humus.  If you start a compost bin at home, you can provide your own high quality humus, or you can buy prepared humus from your favorite garden store.  If your soil is very dry or contains a lot of clay it can be supplemented with manure or high quality compost.

Sunlight

Most varieties of annuals need to have at least six hours of full sunlight per day.  Many types of annuals, such as argeratum, browallia, coleus, fuschia, dianthus, pansy, and impatiens, do well in partial shade or in filtered sunlight, but few if any annuals will thrive in complete shade.  It is important to take these sunlight needs into account when planning your flower bed.

pH Level

Most annuals tolerate a pH range from 6 to 7.4.  Soil that is too acidic to fit this range can be amended with lime, while soil that is too alkaline can be amended with aluminum sulfate.

Water

The watering needs of annuals vary according to variety, and it is important to provide water in accordance with the needs of each plant.

Choosing the best plants

Finding the best plants is very important, and it is important for the gardener to determine whether to grow the annuals from seed or buy transplants.  When purchasing ready to plant stock from a nursery or garden enter, it is important to choose the plants carefully.  It is important to buy only deep green, healthy looking plants.  Most varieties of annuals do their best if they are transplanted before they have fully bloomed.  It is also important to provide the plants with shade and water if they cannot be planted immediately.

Planting times

Most annuals should not be planted until all danger of frost has past.  Most varieties should be planted in warm soil, while hardy and half hardy varieties can be planted while the evenings are still cool.

Planting annuals

The best time to plant most annuals is during the late afternoon.  In most cases you will want to water the plants and the soil in the bed before the annuals are planted.  When transplanting the seedlings, it is important not to disturb the roots.  The hole in which the seedlings are planted should be dug slightly larger than the root ball, and the plant should be planted at the same level it had been in the transplant container.  After the plant has been put into place, the soil should be carefully arranged around the roots and watered thoroughly after planting.  It is important to keep the plant moist until the roots have established themselves.

Caring for your bulbs properly

Bulbs are generally among the easiest of all plants to care for, and this hardiness makes bulbs one of the most popular among all kinds of gardeners.  Even though bulbs are easy to care for, however, it is still important to care for them properly to ensure you will have a garden full of dahlias, lilies, daffodils, tulips and other bulbs. 

One great thing about bulbs is the colors they come in.  Bulb plants come in a wide variety of colors, and a flower bed full of bulbs can be one of the most colorful parts of any garden.

As with any type of plant, it is important that your bed full of bulbs receive plenty of water, plenty of sunlight, proper fertilization and a good quality soil.  Providing these basic elements is the best way to get your bulbs off to the best start.

When it comes to watering bulbs, it is important to remember that all bulbs need regular watering during their growth and blooming period.  For most bulbs, the active growth period begins shortly after they go into the ground, and it continues until the foliage on the plant has died back.  The die back generally occurs after the flowering has stopped, or in the autumn of the year. 

If there is not enough rainfall available, the gardener should be sure to supplement the water with deep watering, deep enough to reach the root zone, as the roots will be growing underneath the bulb.  In addition, providing a good layer of mulch will assist the roots in retaining their all important moisture content.  It is important to note here, however, that the bearded iris should never be mulched, since mulching it will cause it to rot.

Proper fertilization is also very important to successfully growing bulbs.  The fertilizer should be applied at the time the bulb is planted, in the bottom of the hole, and covered with a thin layer of soil.  The bulb should never be placed directly on top of the fertilizer.  In addition, the bulbs should be fed with a high nitrogen content fertilizer at the start of the growing season.  Providing this extra feeding will help the bulbs to produce more attractive flowers.

After the bulbs have completed their blooming cycle, they will have used up a great deal of their nutrient content.  For the bulb to do well the following season it is important for those nutrients to be replenished.  There are two steps gardeners should take to ensure that their bulbs will bloom well the next year.

The first step is to be certain that the foliage is left on the plant, even if the foliage looks poor, until the foliage has yellowed and pulls off easily.  That is because the leaves will continue to make food for the plant as long as they are green, and this food will help the plant bloom better the next year.

The second step is to provide a good quality fertilizer right after the flowers have begun to fade away.  It is important to fertilize with a bulb food which is high in phosphorus and potassium, as this will help the plant thrive the next year.

In order to be their most effective, the phosphorus and potassium in the bulb food must be able to reach the root zone, and for this reason the fertilizer should be placed as close as possible to the roots.  For a planting that has already been established, the fertilizer should be stretched slightly into the soil to help it move deeper, and the feeding should be followed by a deep watering.

Buying and planting bulbs the right way

There are many varieties of flowering plants, but few offer all the advantages of bulb plants.  For starters, bulbs are generally inexpensive to buy, and they can be purchased through the mail or over the internet, since they are durable and easy to ship.

Bulbs are also beautiful, and some of the most beloved flowers in the garden, such as hyacinths, daffodils and of course tulips, are bulb plants.  In addition, many bulbs can remain in the ground through the winter and bloom the next year. 

Even though bulbs are among the hardiest of all plants, it is important to exercise caution when planting them, and to buy only the best and most healthy bulbs.  By choosing the healthiest bulbs, it will be easy to create a beautiful and healthy garden year after year.

When shopping for bulbs, it is important to look for the firmest, plumpest bulbs you can find.  A good, high quality bulb will seem surprisingly heavy for its size.  It is important to avoid bulbs that are too soft, since softness is often a sign of bulb rot.  In addition, bulbs that are very light in weight, or that appear shriveled or cracked, should be rejected.  These bulbs may have lost too much of their moisture to bloom in the garden.

The best blooms are generally provided by the largest bulbs.  For instance, the largest daffodil bulbs will generally provide the biggest daffodils, and the biggest tulip bulbs will produce the largest tulips.  Since bulbs bloom again and again, however, a most cost effective approach for the patient gardener is to buy small bulbs and allow them to grow over time.  Each bloom will be larger than the last, and letting your own small bulbs grow can be a real treat for the gardener.

After you have bought the best bulbs you can find, it is important to exercise care when planting them.  In order to thrive and grow, bulbs should be provided with a good well drained flower bed.  If you have a poor draining soil, you may want to plant them on a slope or used a raised bed for better drainage.

Many people like to prepare an entire bed only for bulbs, while others prefer to intersperse their bulbs with other kinds of plants.  Either approach can be great, but it is important to do the planting properly.  To plant an entire bed of bulbs, you should first remove weeds and other vegetation from the bed.  You should then spread between one and three inches of organic matter over the soil, then put down a small amount of a high quality fertilizer.  When using fertilizer, it is important to follow the instructions on the package.  After you have tilled and raked the soil, it is time to plant the bulbs.

Most bulbs should be planted three times as deep as the bulb is wide, so the average two inch wide bulb should be planted to a depth of about six inches.  In sandy soils or hot climates, the bulbs should be planted a little bit deeper, while in heavy soil they should be planted a bit shallower.  While it is fine to space bulbs close together, the more closely spaced the bulbs the more need there will be to divide them in a few years.

Using a bulb planter is a great idea when planting bulbs.  If you do not have a bulb planter handy, you can use a garden trowel to dig the holes.  Each hole should be dug a few inches deeper than needed, and a tablespoon of fertilizer should be placed in the base of each hole.  The fertilizer should then be covered with a thin layer of soil, on top of which the bulb should be placed.  The rest of the hole should then be filled with soil.

After planting the bulbs, you should be sure to water the bed thoroughly in order to get them off to a good start.  Proper moisture at the start will allow them to establish a healthy root system.

Gardening with bulbs

Bulbs are among the most popular of all flowering plants, due to their hardiness, low price and beauty.  It is hard to beat the color variety of a garden bed full of bulbs, and planting bulbs that bloom in different seasons can guarantee a season full of beautiful flowers.

This article focuses on a few of the most popular varieties of bulbs.  Some of the most popular bulb varieties available to the home gardener include:

Hyacinths (Dutch Hyacinth)

The Dutch hyacinth is one of the most instantly recognizable, and most popular, of all the varieties of bulb plants. The Dutch hyacinth blooms in the spring and features the well known foot high spires with their small bell shaped and very fragrant flowers.  Hyacinths come in a wide varieties of colors, including red, pink, buff, white, blue and purple.  The Dutch hyacinth grows best in colder areas, and it can last from year to year.  In these cold water climates, the hyacinth is best planted in September of October.

IN areas where the weather is milder, hyacinth bulbs will not last from one year to the next.  In these more temperate areas, hyacinths are best treated as an annual and replanted each year, preferably in October, November or December.  It is best to plant hyacinth bulbs four to five inches deep, and to space them from four to five inches apart as well.  Hyacinths grow best in full sunlight, and they benefit from regular watering, especially during their blooming and growth periods.

Iris

The most frequently seen variety of irises are the bearded varieties.  Bearded irises are striking plants, and they appear in a dazzling array of colors and combinations of colors.  Irises appear in a variety of sizes as well, with very small varieties and very large ones as well.

Irises should be planted in July or August in cold climates and in September or October in warmer areas.  Irises are actually rhizomes, and they should be spaced from one to two feet apart, with the tops placed right below the surface of the soil.  Irises grow best in full sunlight or light shade, and they benefit from a regular watering schedule during their growing season.

Lilium

The lillium is the scientific name given to the Asiatic and oriental hybrid lily, and they are very popular bulb plants.  These Asiatic lilies bloom early in the summer, and they range in height from a mere six inches to a towering 4½ feet.  These lilies feature blossoms ranging in size from four to six inches and in colors like white, yellow, orange, pink and red.

Oriental lilies bloom later in the year, usually in midsummer or early autumn. Oriental lilies have stems from two to ix feet in height, and they feature large and fragrant flowers up to nine inches in length.  These beautiful flowers feature pink and white petals with stripes and speckles, and they provide a striking addition to any garden.

Lilly bulbs should be planted as quickly as possible after they are bought, since these particular bulbs do not keep well.  If it is necessary to delay planting, the bulbs should be stored in a cool place.  It is important to examine the bulbs carefully before they are planted, and any shriveled bulbs should be placed in peat moss or moist sand until they have recovered.

Asiatic and oriental lily bulbs are best planted spaced about a foot apart.  Smaller bulbs should be covered with a layer of soil two to three inches thick, which medium sized bulbs need a layer of three to four inches and large bulbs should be covered with four to six inches of soil. 

The most commonly seen problem encountered when growing bulbs is a viral infection, and unfortunately that infection is incurable.  The best way to avoid infection is to buy only the healthiest bulbs from the best sources.  Any lilies showing mottled or very stunted leaves should be destroyed.

Lilies tend to do best in full sun or partial shade, and like other bulbs they benefit from regular watering during their growth and blooming phases.