GREEN THUMB: bulbs

Bulb-up in Fall for Flower Power in Spring

by DOUG SCOTT

Planning and planting now will give you a
spectacular display of color and fragrance in spring

always brings statements like, “I would like to buy some of those flowers I see blooming in my neighbor’s yard.” As a garden-center retailer, I can only reply that what they are seeing is the colorful springtime reward of planting crocus, daffodils, tulips and narcissus bulbs the previous fall. It is a sad story, but many of you reading this autumn garden story will have already planted your bulbs this fall.  Come spring, you will be the happy folks looking out your window and reaping the colorful and fragrant rewards. With this little garden primer, let’s look at the fun activity of planting fall bulbs.

An Exciting Array of Choices

Purple Crocus blooming in snow

Let’s first take a look at some of the choices we have among cold-hardy flower bulbs. Tulips have to be the number one choice of gardeners throughout the High Desert, but if you have deer in your area you may want to reconsider. It has been rumored that deer have had GPS locaters placed in every tulip bulb thus allowing them to hone in on every planting site just prior to flowering. In other words, deer love eating tulips. Protective netting, deer repellents and fencing may offer some relief but are not remedies or guarantees.

That said, let’s take a look at some of the deer-resistant rough, tough and hardy flower bulbs you might want to plant instead. The vast selection of narcissus and daffodils are probably my number one choice. This collection of bulbs is perfect for the High Desert gardens. In colors of vibrant yellow, oranges, pinks, and white, these long-blooming flowers will surely put a smile on your face. Heights of these flower stalks range from an impressive 20 inches down to varieties that reach no higher than four to six inches—perfect for naturalizing and rock gardens.
For those of you who would like to see spring in bloom even when there is snow and frost on the early spring ground, look no further than the tough little crocus. Inexpensive and delightfully colorful, the crocus bud will bloom even before the foliage appears. In most cases, this flowering bulb is “somewhat” deer and critter resistant.  If you want a little more insurance for the blooms, give them a light spray of “Deer Off” ( a “pleasant smelling liquid product”).  For a fun little project try drilling a few holes in your lawn (four inches deep, three inches apart) and drop a crocus bulb in each. Wait until spring and your lawn will come alive with vibrant crocus blossoms long before you have to cut the grass.
If you want fragrance, look no further than the long-blooming hyacinth. Colorful spikes of flowers will give off an intoxicating fragrance around the planting site.

Size (and Quality) Matters
As you visit your local garden centers in search of bulbs, keep in mind that quality and size are of the utmost importance. You should select the largest firmest bulbs available. Adherence to this principle will bring you spectacular results next spring. Smaller so-called “promotional” bulbs will probably not bloom for a year or so due to their immaturity and underdeveloped flower bud. Inspect your selections carefully to ensure they are free of blemishes and insects. These small steps could mean the difference between a colorful exciting spring and a gardening disappointment.

Tucking Them In
All of your autumn planted bulbs will grow in the same undisturbed garden bed for at least three years, so it is imperative that you do a good job of soil preparation before the first planting. This task can be accomplished by adding one-third Black Gold organic compost to two-thirds native soil. In addition you should work in a good organic fertilizer (Cold Climate is my favorite) to the recipe of one cup per square foot of garden bed.  Work all this deeply into the garden, and you are ready to plant. One side note: If you have rodent problems in your garden, work in liberal amounts of coarse oyster shells. This practice has proven very successful to repelling rodents, plus it adds added calcium and other valuable nutrients to planted areas. All planted bulbs should be mulched over with a three-inch-thick layer of compost to assist with weed control as well as moisture retention.

Another Successful Ending
Well I guess that about “digs” them in! You made exciting selections, and then properly planted your choices to ensure fantastic results. All you have to do is wait patiently for the passing of winter, then watch as those mundane brown balls you planted last fall explode into a bouquet for the spring landscape. Happy “late-season” planting. See you out in the garden.

Doug Stott, owner of Redmond Greenhouse, has more than 25 years of horticultural experience and is a radio talk-show host, an educator and an industry consultant.