One of the most pop ways to get beautiful , bound flowers is to plant bulbs in the fall . Bulbs have many other advantages including the fact that they ’re perennials , so they come back every class , and they are cheaper than most other types of flowers since bulbs can be purchased in measure and return every year .

Here are some tips for properly engraft and care for your bulb so that you could have class after year of great returns .

Proper Soil for Bulbs

The soil should be of the right type and decent prepared before the bulb are planted . effective drain is vitally important to bulb plant . The soil should be loose and well - stock with constituent affair ( compost ) and nutrients . bestow a atomic number 15 fertilizer to the hole , followed by a thin stratum of soil and then the light bulb itself , will boost proper stem outgrowth .

optimal pH levels for bulbs is 6 - 7 , so enforce lime or other amendments as required . Spading and turning the expanse around the planting site ( 3 - 4 feet around the medulla oblongata ) is a good theme as well .

Planting Times for Spring Bulbs

Spring bulb are normally plant in the late summer or autumn . Some specific types of bulbs require earlier or later implant , but most can be planted in September or October . They should be constitute before major frosts set in .

Plant Bulbs at the Correct Depth

When plant , the ecumenical linguistic rule of quarter round for bulbs is to engraft them 2 - 3 times as deep as the bulb is tall . So large bulb like tulip will be implant up to 8 column inch deep while others may be only 3 - 4 inches deep . Summer bulb will be planted according to metal money requirements , usually much shallower .

Most lightbulb will do well if given sun to warm the grease around them . For this cause , Confederate States - facing hills often spud novel plants before Frederick North - facing unity . Most bulbs require at least temperate Lord’s Day during the sidereal day .

Use the Right Bulb Varieties

Your climate will effect which type of bulb plant will do the in force in your surface area . Tulips in the main grow well in most of North America , but some types of daffodil and hyacinth do not do as well in very cold climes . So take a smorgasbord that gibe your mood and the orbit you project to embed , in terms of shade and moisture .

Bulb Pests and Their Signs

The large blighter to light bulb is rot . If the soil does not debilitate well enough , the bulbs can become soggy and decompose away rather of sprouting . Always be certain your soil is well - drain .

Rodents often excavate up bulbs to rust , so in some expanse it ’s advocate that a okay net wire be buried around the bulb in the bed . A handful of sharp , finely crush John Rock or shellfish may also do the trick .

Daffodils are susceptible to the narcissus bulb fly . This will be take note if the works come up attend “ grassy ” with few or no blooms . The fly look like a humblebee , but moves faster and is slightly smaller . Larvae tunnel into and eat the electric light , causing putrefaction .

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Bortytis , or tulip fire , is a fungus that can affect bulbs after extended loaded conditions in the spring . To combat it , abbreviate off decay leaf tips ( where it first seem ) and burn the cuts on the plant side to kill any lingering fungus and cauterise the lesion .

Cutting Foliage on Bulbs

foliation on bulb plants should not be cut until it has died by for the year . When the intact seeable plant life is yellow , it may be turn out down to ground level . Cutting it before this can cause the plant life to fall behind life-sustaining nutrients that it needs to outlive the wintertime .

Alternatively , some gardeners ( especially in areas where freeze bites deep into the land ) will excavate their bulbs after cutting and store them inside for the wintertime .

Want to learn more about planting bulbs?

Do n’t neglect these helpful resource : Bulbs for Spring Bloomfrom University of Vermont ExtensionPlanting and Care of Bulbsfrom University of Illinois Extension

daffodils and tulips growing in garden with text overlay six tips for planting bulbs