Bulbs can be planted in early fall. They need time to establish a root system before the ground freezes. The general rule is to plant the bulb three times the depth of the height of the bulb. Many years ago Diane took her first gardening class from a very knowledgeable teacher who preferred to plant tulip bulbs at least 8 inches deep. She has followed her advice with good results. Sometimes the directions the tulips come with say to plant them only 6 inches but the problem with those instructions are that early spring thaws can ‘wake up’ the bulb, they start to grow and then freezing weather returns and kills the new growth. Play it safe and plant deeper. If they are right up near the foundation of your house sometimes 10 inches is better. The soil temperature near the house is warmer and the bulbs come to life earlier than they should. The new top growth can suffer from freezing when rough weather returns; which most of the time happens.

Full sun is best for bulbs but most can perform with part sun. Don’t forget that deciduous trees don’t leaf out until later in the spring so there is more sun in the spring around them.

Dig a large hole to the depth needed and mix compost or very fertile soil into the bottom of the hole. Sprinkle a bulb fertilizer in the hole. Position the bulbs in the bottom of the hole in a pleasing pattern. How far apart will depend on the bulb but the individual directions will tell you. Don’t line them up in row, which is an unnatural look. Fill in the hole half way, water, and fill in remainder of the hole. Placing mulch over the area is best.

If your soil is hard clay you will need to amend the soil with loose fertile soil. Be sure to locate the bulbs in an area with good drainage.

You can layer different types of bulbs in the hole if space is limited. Start with the types that are planted deepest, fill in the hole with soil to the next depth and plant some other type such as crocus or grape hyacinths next.

If you don’t like the look of dying foliage in the late spring (you need to allow the bulb foliage to die naturally because it ‘feeds’ the bulb for the following year) you can plant a shallow rooted perennial over the top or right next to the area. Choose something that doesn’t reach full growth early in the spring. This way you will have some green camouflage as the leaves are dieing.

Be sure to read the descriptions of the bulbs before you purchase. They bloom in early, mid and late spring. Have a plan as to the look you want to accomplish. If you want different colors to bloom together then pick them accordingly. If you want to lengthen the bloom time then pick some from each category.

Diane would say you should have a color scheme picked out when you buy the bulbs. I might not pay much attention to that but there is a good possibility she would be disappointed with the results. I’m sure you can see who is responsible for decorating, colors and landscape design around our house.

John