{"id":167,"date":"2016-11-22T15:11:12","date_gmt":"2016-11-22T15:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/arborhilltrees.com\/blog\/?p=167"},"modified":"2016-11-22T15:12:26","modified_gmt":"2016-11-22T15:12:26","slug":"planting-bulbs-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arborhilltrees.com\/blog\/planting-bulbs-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Planting Bulbs Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Planting<\/a>If you\u2019re a flower person, you\u2019ll do just about anything to extend the colorful season to enjoy plants in bloom and a riot of color in your gardens. Doing any work now may sound odd, seeing that this is the start of the gloomy season of late fall, when most plants have died back, skies are grey, and the hint of winter is in the air.<\/p>\n

But this is the best time to plant bulbs!<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s right. When you\u2019re cold, the squirrels are cold and done foraging for nuts and seeds, and even the top layer of ground is getting a little stiff and cold, that\u2019s exactly<\/em> when you want to be out in your garden. We start planting after Halloween with a goal to finish by Thanksgiving. BUT\u2026we have planted well after the holiday season. We have even planted bulbs in January!! So wintertime still works to plant if you can get a shovel in the ground. Remember \u2013 you are planting them as a storage method. They are going in, and going to sleep in the cold soil. THEN, when the spring comes, the frost thaws, the moisture returns, and the soils warm up, that is when they start growing.<\/p>\n

While bulb planting is certainly not an exercise in instant gratification, it will brighten your days much earlier next season as some flowers start blooming as early as April 1st<\/sup> and as late as June 1st<\/sup>. It is worth a chilly day in the garden for all the spring glory to come.<\/p>\n

Start by getting good bulbs.<\/strong> Many of the box stores stock the lowest grade and smallest size bulbs, often called \u201cstandard,\u201d and can yield less than satisfactory results. If you buy from a better garden center like Arbor Hills Trees in Omaha\u00a0— you can get top size bulbs. They may cost a little more, but the results are a lot<\/em> better, serving up big, beautiful blooms.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no magic to planting bulbs \u2013 in fact, it\u2019s easier than a lot of people think:<\/h1>\n
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  1. Dig a nice even hole, using a good shovel. Set the shovel spade almost vertically, and dig around the outside of your hole so you have nice straight sides, loosening soil as you go before you actually shovel it out. This is better for your back!! Once your soil is out \u2013 make a flat bottom to the hole so you are able to set up your bulbs in a nice orderly fashion.\n
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    • A word on depth \u2013 as in the three bears \u2013 not too deep, not to shallow \u2013 plant them JUST RIGHT. So how do you know?<\/li>\n
    • Read the package to start \u2013 and then don\u2019t skimp. What I see is people interpreting 6 inches deep to mean that\u00a0the bottom of the hole is six inches which\u00a0leaves the top of the bulb (when it is a big one) as little as two inches below the top of the soil.<\/li>\n
    • Shoot for the middle to top of the bulb being at the required depth. This protects the bulbs from starting to grow too early, keeps them a \u201clittle more\u201d out of reach from critters \u2013 including your dog. AND ensures that they have the ability to stay standing tall and strong when they emerge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • The ideal soil is a well-drained, slightly sandy soil that keeps your bulbs from rotting. If your soil feels too wet \u2013 either choose another spot \u2013 or work in some sand. Put it in the back fill soil and in the base of the hole. Loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole \u2013 make it good and flat – and add a handful of good fertilizer (here at The Garden Continuum we use Roots Healthy Start).\n
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      • Why a flat bottom is better \u2013 okay \u2013 if you have a pointy-bottomed hole \u2013 your bulbs can\u2019t be set evenly \u2013 so they tip inward when you set them up. This makes for messiness underground. Go for a neat hole with a flat bottom and vertical sides \u2013 you\u2019ll be able to set up more bulbs that way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Plant bulbs in groups for maximum effect and color \u2013 and don\u2019t be afraid to group them fairly tightly together in the hole, almost touching. When they bloom, they\u2019ll spill out against each other in a bouquet-like effect.\n
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        • Okay \u2013 myth of touching \u2013 yes, you are best off NOT to have your bulbs touching. That is because if one starts rotting, it won\u2019t infect its neighbors. But really, that\u2019s about it. SO, buy Top Size healthy bulbs. Don\u2019t use any squishy or moldy bulbs. Set them up snug with a little space \u2013 hence the neat hole. And you are golden.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Gently cover the bulbs with the soil\u00a0from the hole, pack it down gently but fairly firmly (no need to stamp on it) and scrape any mulch back over it from when you began digging your hole.\n
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          • Don\u2019t skip the packing down and clean-up step. Always leave your garden neat \u2013 smooth out the soil, reapply the mulch you pulled off BEFORE you dug the hole, and in true TGC fashion\u2026get rid of all your footprints!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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            • BONUS TIP ONE<\/strong> \u2013 IF you are planting tulips \u2013 beware \u2013 the critters love them, so if you plant nice and late, they will miss them this fall. BUT come spring, they may find a tasty salad emerging. A little Irish Spring or strongly perfumed soap \u2013 shaved with a cheese grater \u2013 as those tender bulbs emerge will keep them away. Don\u2019t delay though \u2013 they\u2019ll find them in a flash is you drop your guard!! Trust me\u2026it is worth the effort to have tulips!!<\/li>\n
            • BONUS TIP TWO<\/strong> \u2013 Bulbs that are less likely to be bothered by deer or rabbits \u2013 Daffodils & Narcissi (all types \u2013 and there are amazing varieties out there \u2013 not just yellow), Camassia (look them up they are stunning), Hyacynths (Grape and Bedding), Fritillaria, Scilla, Botanical tulips, and Allium.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              If you\u2019re a flower person, you\u2019ll do just about anything to extend the colorful season to enjoy plants in bloom and a riot of color in your gardens. Doing any work now may sound odd, seeing that this is the start of the gloomy season of late fall, when most plants have died back, skies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n