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Bulbs are a beautiful and low maintenance way to add color to your garden, and by planting them correctly, you can enjoy them for years to come. The first step in planting bulbs is to decide if you want an “all bulb” garden or if you want bulbs among your other flowers. While either one is perfectly acceptable, there are different considerations for each one. Bulbs have very predictable flowering times, starting with snowdrops and crocus in the early spring and progressing through daffodils, tulips, lilies and irises. By planting all of your bulbs together, you can enjoy a predictable riot of color all season long. By putting your bulbs among your other flowers, you get to enjoy the variety and texture of contrasting blooms at the same time. There are some things to keep in mind for whichever method that you choose.
1. After the flower blooms are spent, there will be the dying greenery to deal with. In addition, this is not like annuals or perennials that you can just yank up and go on. The foliage collects energy for the bulbs to bloom next year, and therefor must be left alone until it completely dies. Plan on how you will deal with this. Will your other flowers be in bloom to hide the yellowing foliage, or should you spotlight another area of your garden for a few weeks?
2. Once the foliage dies all the way back, you can remove it. This means being able to get into your flowerbed and work it. If you have a row of Sweet Alyssum 18 inches deep in front of your bulbs you may hesitate to step in there to cut the foliage back. Plan for a back entry or a mulched path to get to these bulbs.
3. Do you have problems with wild animals or cats in your garden? If so, you will want to prepare a chicken wire cage for your bulbs. This will keep them from being dug up or eaten. If you are going to do this you will probably find it simpler to plant all your bulbs in one area.
Once you decision is made as to where to plant your bulbs, you are ready to get started. Begin by preparing your soil. Although there are commercial bulb planters available, you can do the same thing with a hand trowel. Dig holes for your bulbs one and one half to two times the width of the bulbs. Drop the bulb in, pointed side up, fill in the hole and proceed to the next hole. If you are planting the bulbs “en masse” the easiest thing to do is dig your hole to the desired depth and to the width that you think will be required with a shovel and then scatter the bulbs randomly around the hole. Fill back in and you are done. If you think that animals may be a problem, you can construct a chicken wire cage for your bulbs. If you are planting the bulbs one at a time, simply cut squares of chicken wire with wire snips. Make sure the square will enclose the bulb loosely with some overlap. Wrap the bulb and drop it into the hole. An easier method is to dig the area out as mentioned above and line that area with chicken wire. Add a layer of dirt, and then top with another layer of chicken wire, securing the ends together loosely with twist ties or pieces of wire. Finish filling your hole and you are done. You will definitely want to wear gloves when handling the wire.
Once you have the bulbs planted, the only other special requirement is what to do once the flowers are finished blooming. Once the blooms die, the foliage will start to yellow. While it is a common misconception that you have to bundle all of this greenery up and tie it with a rubber band or string, that is not true. That can actually aid in the spread of disease to the plants, as it reduces air circulation. Just let the foliage lay where it wants and continue to yellow. Once it has turned brown, get in the garden with a sharp pair of gardening shears and cut all of that foliage off as close to the ground as you can without pulling on or disturbing the bulbs. Take those stalks to the compost or trash; do not leave them in the garden. The only thing left to do now is wait for your next rush of blooms.
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