Tip of the week: 3 steps to prepare your bulb garden
Autumn officially begins on Monday, but it's a good time of year to plan ahead for your spring bulb garden. Rather than lament the end of summer, use the weekend to get out into your yard to plan some color for next year.
1. Scope out your garden.
Choose the right location in your landscape, preferably an area that gets full sun -- at least six hours each day. Think about which flowers you'd like to see next spring in your garden. In addition to tulips and daffodils, consider some less-common bulbs for variety and interest, like the dramatic Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) or early blooming Snowdrops (Galanthus Nivalis)
2. Measure and calculate how many bulbs you need.
Plants need to be spaced so they are pleasing to the eye when they bloom, but they also need to be spaced far enough apart to keep them from competing for water and nutrients. Large bulbs such as tulips and daffodils should be spaced six inches apart, so you'll need about five bulbs per square foot. Space smaller bulbs such as Crocus and Grape Hyacinth or miniature Daffodils about four inches apart. You will need eight small bulbs per square foot of garden area for those.
3. Shop now.
Even if you don't plan to plant for a few weeks, now is the time to look for bulbs. Waiting until the last minute could mean that your local garden center is sold out of the variety you want. Look for plump, firm bulbs and avoid ones that feel soft and mushy or extremely dry. Within the same variety, select the largest bulbs available as they tend to bloom better than smaller ones. Shopping now also means that if the variety you want is not available locally, you might still have time to place an order. While you're shopping, add fertilizer to your list so that it's on hand when it's time to plant.
Call (303) 721-9003 and place your bulb order with us today. We are taking orders until October 15, 2019.
1. Scope out your garden.
Choose the right location in your landscape, preferably an area that gets full sun -- at least six hours each day. Think about which flowers you'd like to see next spring in your garden. In addition to tulips and daffodils, consider some less-common bulbs for variety and interest, like the dramatic Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria Meleagris) or early blooming Snowdrops (Galanthus Nivalis)
2. Measure and calculate how many bulbs you need.
Plants need to be spaced so they are pleasing to the eye when they bloom, but they also need to be spaced far enough apart to keep them from competing for water and nutrients. Large bulbs such as tulips and daffodils should be spaced six inches apart, so you'll need about five bulbs per square foot. Space smaller bulbs such as Crocus and Grape Hyacinth or miniature Daffodils about four inches apart. You will need eight small bulbs per square foot of garden area for those.
3. Shop now.
Even if you don't plan to plant for a few weeks, now is the time to look for bulbs. Waiting until the last minute could mean that your local garden center is sold out of the variety you want. Look for plump, firm bulbs and avoid ones that feel soft and mushy or extremely dry. Within the same variety, select the largest bulbs available as they tend to bloom better than smaller ones. Shopping now also means that if the variety you want is not available locally, you might still have time to place an order. While you're shopping, add fertilizer to your list so that it's on hand when it's time to plant.
Call (303) 721-9003 and place your bulb order with us today. We are taking orders until October 15, 2019.
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