Planting a Bulb Flower Garden

Planting a bulb flower garden is easy and even easier to care for. Hundreds of beautiful flowers are available in bulb form and as spring arrives you will begin to see brightly colored flowers that affirm the coming of spring.
With flower bulbs the actual plant is kept safe and secure protected from the harsh elements of the wintertime beneath the ground. When the bulb is dormant food is stored to sustain the plant. This ensures the plant is fed all the needed nutrients to survive during the winter and a beautiful, blooming flower in the spring.

The most common bulbs:

• Gladioli and Crocuses
• Bearded Iris and Cannas
• Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Tulips
• Begonias and Dahlias

Bulbs are referred to as hardy or tender. Hardy bulbs are more tolerant to the cold and able to survive in the ground during the cold winter months. To generate the best plants the hardy bulbs need cold time. They are best suited for the northern regions. They are planted in the ground in the fall and by springtime they are producing gorgeous colorful flowers.

Tender bulbs are much more sensitive to cold and cannot survive the harsh winters. They are typically grown in the warmer regions of the south and southwest. To enjoy the most gorgeous blooms choose tender bulbs that are large and firm. If you see a few small nicks there is no need to worry but if the bulb has definite soft spots or moldy spots avoid them. In northern areas tender bulbs should be removed from the ground in early fall and stored in a cool place indoors.

Hardy and tender bulbs have a different blooming cycle. Additionally, the sequence of the bloom is dependent on the weather and the bulb variety. If you want to enjoy flowers from bulbs starting in early spring and lasting all the way to fall plant a nice mix of hardy and tender bulbs.

When to plant:

• Very Early Spring: Crocus, Snowdrop Crocus, Daffodil, and Hyacinth
• Mid Spring: Daffodil, Fritillary, and Tulip
• Late Spring: Bluebell, Fritillary, and Lily
• Early Summer: Alium, Irish, and Lily
• Mid Summer: Dahlia, Gladiola, Iris, and Lily
• Late Summer: Dahlia and Lily

Bulbs come in two primary shapes; clawed and teardrop. The clawed bulb (also called a flat bulb) is planted with the flat side up and any roots pointed down. The teardrop bulb is planted with the tip up. By choosing a variety of bulb types, come springtime, you will have an amazing garden to enjoy and will continue blooming through the spring, summer, and fall.

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