Spring-blooming Bulbs

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Think Spring-blooming Bulbs
Although the garden season is pretty much history for most of the country — don’t put up your garden gloves just yet. The fall is the time to plant spring- and summer-flowering bulbs that emerge months later in bright brilliant color.

Planting Spring-flowering Bulbs
The first step to growing beautiful spring-flowering bulbs is to select quality bulbs. They should be large, firm and free from spots or blemishes.

Plant hardy bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths and alliums, from September until the ground begins to freeze.

Don’t wait too long, however, because the bulbs must develop a good root system before the ground freezes.

In warmer climates, zones 7 to 10, simulate winter by storing bulbs in a paper bag in the vegetable crisper of your refrigerator for six to eight weeks prior to planting. Wait to plant until late October through the end of December.

Select a location that receives full sun to partial shade and has well-drained soil. If you are planning a large area with masses of bulbs, it’s a good idea to till the bed to a depth of 12 inches and incorporate some fertilizer, about 2 to 3 pounds of 5-10-5 analysis per 100 square feet of garden space.

Video on Garden and Lawn Maintenance
When planting spring flower seeds, wait until two weeks after the last frost to plant them in the ground, or start them inside and move them outdoors when the weather warms up. Plant a variety of flowers to enjoy all year long with help from a sustainable gardener in this video from eHow. Presented by Real Living; video.realliving.com