Nothing rejuvenates the spirit more than seeing the first traces of green pop up in the Spring, signaling the end of Winter. September and October are the months to start preparing your flowerbeds and planting Fall bulbs for the next season. Here are a few tips from the team at Hilton Landscaping Supply to get you started planting your Fall bulbs.
Five steps for planting fall bulbs:
Five steps for planting fall bulbs:- Select healthy bulbs. You can find bulbs in your local stores beginning in July or August. Since you won’t be planting them until September or October, the bulbs should be kept in a dry paper bag in the refrigerator until it’s time to put them in the ground. Choose firm and plump bulbs without any visible signs of mold or rot.
- Choose a good location. Bulbs that bloom in the Spring will need at least six hours of daylight. Early bloomers like daffodils will flower before trees have developed a thick canopy of leaves, so your choices for their location are broader than for late bloomers.
- Prepare the soil. Remove all the weeds from the planting bed and loosen the soil. Bulbs grow best in soil rich with organic matter or compost and in soil that drains well. The bulbs will likely rot if the ground retains water and gets soggy. Hilton Landscape Supply carries all the soil and amendments you need to create a healthy flowerbed for your bulbs.
- Set them in the beds. You should place each bulb in a hole that is about three times as deep as the bulb is tall. Place the pointy part of the bulb upwards–that’s where the growth will sprout from. Cover with soil, and then let them set over the winter.
- Fertilize in the Spring. The bulbs should remain dormant for the rest of the Fall and Winter, so all you need to do is wait for Spring to come. Once you see shoots coming from the ground, you can apply fertilizer. An organic, granular, slow-release fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus and lower in nitrogen works well.
What do you do after the bulbs bloom?
It’s also essential to care for your bulbs after the flowers bloom so perennial bulbs will be healthy for the following year. Allow the bulb foliage to die back naturally. For tulips, deadhead the flowers early to prevent them from forming seeds. Proper care of the bulbs will help them restore energy and rebuild themselves for future seasons.
Hilton Landscape Supply is your one-stop shop for all your landscaping and gardening needs.
If it goes in your yard, you can probably find it at Hilton Landscape Supply! Whether your garden needs a fresh load of soil, a new layer of mulch, or the best fertilizers and nutrients for your area, Hilton Landscape Supply is the place to go. We’ve been serving Southern Oregon and Northern California since 1956, so we know what works best for growing healthy plants and vegetation in our regions. Stop by our retail store in Central Point or contact us for more information about all the products we carry to enhance your garden and outdoor living areas.