Planting Bulbs

Planting Bulbs Now for the Spring: A Bright Idea!

Text and graphic submission by Emily K. Alberts

There is nothing more magical than that first flower poking through the snow, emerging - against all odds - to assure us that spring is on the way. And though you’ve probably been seeding, watering and weeding for months now and are ready to simply kick back and welcome the cool fall season this September – if you can “dig down deep” (think 6-9 inches) and find the energy for one more late season affair in the garden, you will reap surprisingly colorful rewards in early spring. Come to think of it, this endeavor can easily become a family affair! Grab your kids and head to your local nursery. Remember, if you let the kids pick out what they want to plant, they will certainly be more apt to get their hands dirty. Steer them toward smaller perennial favorites such as crocus or scilla if you want more “pop” in a smaller amount of space. Daffodils, tulips, irises and lilies are bigger so they need more space, but if you don’t mind dedicating a larger portion of your flower bed to them, they will add a pleasing backdrop of color. When selecting what to plant, two main caveats come to mind:

1.) THINK DEER RESISTANT! I had the most unpleasant experience of watching a family of six work for hours together to plant a hundred tulips in their backyard only for the deer to eat each and every one of them! If you live in a deer-populated area, you may want to rethink tulips unless they are either guarded by a tall fence or VERY close to the house. 2.) THINK NATIVE! It can be important to plant native species because they are better suited to the New River Valley climate, hydrology, soil and much more. Not only are natives better for the soil, but they are better for the complex system of competition among pollinators in the local habitat. However, it is important to note that flowering bulbs reproduce on their own and don't need help with pollination. Their nectar is still valuable to hungry critters though.

For Virginia, the best native bulbs (and spring ephemerals) are listed below. The ephemerals can be sown in early fall just like bulbs, to ensure color in the spring. Now that you know what to plant, let’s go over what to look for when selecting the perfect bulb. First things first: When it comes to bulbs, the bigger the better. Avoid mushy, rotten or undersized bulbs and you will ensure large, beautiful blooms come spring. While you’re at it, grab a few bags of soil, unless you have your own compost at home. With the poor clay soil so prevalent in our area, your bulbs are going to need better drainage and a nutrient rich environment instead of our dense, impenetrable clay. Finally, grab some mulch, too. This will help keep weeds at bay. Weeds compete with your bulb for resources and moisture, so mulching will help keep them out of your flower bed. Mulch also keeps moisture locked in, so you won’t have to water as frequently. Getting the kids their own gardening gloves and a few shovels will help make the job go smoothly, and one more thing – if you wait until the day after a good, hard rain, the ground will be softer and easier to break through when you’re digging. This is much preferred than scraping away at rock hard dirt. Game changer! Figure out the layout ahead of time. If you have an artsy family, maybe everyone could grab some colored pencils or markers and sketch out a layout for the flower bed. The more involved they are with the process, the more likely they are to pitch in later, and to feel like they contributed to something special. Don’t worry, if you end up not loving the layout, plants that come from bulbs are much easier to move than those that come from seeds. Pay attention to sunny spots versus shady spots to ensure the bulbs will get the right amount of light. Aim to plant the bulbs at least 6-9 inches below the surface (you may want to bring a ruler for the kids to use) and be sure to leave plenty room to add your soil around the bulb. Spread the mulch layer on top and water away! You will only need to water them once, right after planting, until they begin to flower in spring. At that point you’ll water them once a week (unless there has been some good rain) until the foliage dies back. Also, make sure you’re not too eager to get the bulbs in the ground. Between late September and November is ideal. If you plant them too early when temperatures are still warm (such as late summer or early September), the bulbs may be fooled into thinking it’s spring. If you wait too long, they may not have enough “chill” time before spring, or worse, the ground could already be frozen! In both instances, you will only get foliage without flowers. The reason? Bulbs require a long period of cool temperatures to spark the biochemical process that causes them to flower. Here is the rule of thumb: If you are planting a bulb that blooms in the spring, plant it in the fall. For bulbs that bloom early summer or later, plant them in the spring.

Nowadays, many big box stores sell their fall bulbs in July and August to make room for holiday displays, which means you’ll need to buy them early and store them in the fridge for a few months. The other option is to order online and have them arrive at planting time. Whichever method you choose, good luck, and get growing!

Written by Emily K. Alberts, who is less of an “early bird gets the worm” and more of a “second mouse gets the cheese” type of girl.