Fall Bulb Planting Ideas
By Bob Chapman
Fall has arrived and knowledgeable gardeners know that it is time to plant spring-blooming bulbs. Planting bulbs is like putting a message in a bottle. People will get the message later when they see all their glorius blooms with the coming of spring.
Unlike many flowers, shrubs and trees, bulbs will grow happily in almost any soil. Plant your bulbs in full sun if possible. Add fertilizer only when you plant the bulbs. Watering them is usually not a problem. And many can be left in place and will bloom for years and years. And, after planting your bulbs in fall, you can plant right over the taller growing species with colorful violas (in solid colors of yellow, blue, apricot, ruby red or white), pansies, alyssum or violets. These bulb covers (as they are called) will provide bright colors all season long in mild winter climates.
Take a look at the bulbs below and just imagine the color that your garden will have next spring when these bulbs bloom.
Daffodils. To many gardeners the King Alfred daffodil is what they think of when they hear the words "spring bulbs." The glorious yellow blooms nodding in the warm spring breezes are not soon forgotten. The King Alfred daffodil is just one of the many, many members of the narcissus family. It grows to 18 inches high and prefers full sun. Plant them 6 inches deep and 6 inches apart for a mass display.
Narcissus. Consider using members of the narcissus family (which includes daffodils) for naturalizing, creating a beautiful display of color for many, many years. Early-blooming, growing to 12-18 inches high. Prefers full sun but will grow in part shade. Many color shades and combinations of petals and the prominent cup are available. Plant narcissus bulbs deep (to 6 inches) and about 6 inches apart. The "paper white" narcissus can be forced to bloom at Christmas-time making a nice addition to the holiday table.
Tulips. Tulips are another spring-time favorite featuring many colors, shades and forms of the flower. The very, very large tulip family has groupings based on appearance rather than strict botanical relationships. The Darwin tulip is probably the widest selling, featuring the typical flower shape. The blooms are square at the base but the tips of the petals are rounded. The flowers are often borne on stems that can grow to three feet. Blooms mid-season and prefers exposure to full sun but will grow in light shade. Colors range from pure white, yellow, orange, pink red, mauve, lilac, purple and maroon. Plant tulips about six inches deep and space them about six inches apart. Newer introductions feature fringed petals and variegated colorations.
Hyacinths. To many gardeners, the hyacinth is known as the bulb with the best fragrance. The fat 6-12" spikes of blooms appear early in the season in pure white, cream, buff, yellow, pink, salmon, red, blue and purple. Hyacinth must be planted in full sun. The large bulbs need to be planted 7 inches deep and spaced 6-12 inches apart. Hyacinth can be planted in containers, thus moved around the patio or displayed as a "welcome" on the front entryway of the home. The hyacinth is easily forced in special hyacinth glasses for indoor display. In mild winter climates, hyacinth bulbs must be dug at the end of the season and stored in brown paper bags in a cool location. In late August in early September place the bag of bulbs in the crisper section of the fridge for six weeks to set the buds and then plant them.
Crocus. The very first bulb to bloom in early spring! These low-growing bulbs (to six inches high) are the harbingers of wondrous things to come in your garden. Crocus bulbs are available in shades of orange, yellow, cream, white, lavender, blue and purple. Plant these bulbs 2-3 inches deep and 3-4 inches apart in full sun in mild winter climates, in part shade elsewhere. Varieties exist that will bloom profusely in autumn, thus you can have the best of two worlds!
Freesia. These bulbs (really corms) bloom in early spring and their many colors (all except green) brighten a dark corner of the garden. The long stems (1-1/2 feet) support the trumpet-shaped, fragrant 2 inches long and 2 inches wide flowers. Freesia sprays are excellent cut flowers, the perfume wafts through the room. Plant the corms only 2 inches deep and about 2 inches apart in full sun or part shade. They can remain in place several years before needing lifting and dividing.
Anemones. Also known as "windflowers," these delightful bright and cheerful tubers feature clear, vivid colors in their two-inch-wide flowers. The flowers are borne on 18 inch stems and are found in solid reds, purples, pinks, blues and whites. There are strains that feature semi- or double blossoms. Plant them only 1-2 inches deep in full sun, part shade or light shade and about six inches apart.
Ranunculus. The 3-inch-wide flowers of these popular tubers are found a wide range of colors including pink, red, orange, yellow, cream, white and multicolored varieties. Hybridizers have developed double and semi- double varieties. They are great for cut flowers, growing on stems that can reach 12 inches long. Plant ranunculus only 1-2 inches deep and with the prongs pointing downward. They thrive in full sun. Remove faded blooms to encourage continuous bloom.
Amaryllis. A native of Central and South America has been hybridized to produce many exotic flowers ranging from pure white, pink, crimson and orange scarlet. In spring each plant produces one or two thick stems, each bearing a cluster of large, three to six trumpet-shaped flowers that often measure 9 inches across. The stems appear long before the leaves, just simply erupting from the ground. The bulb produces its long strap-shaped leaves after it blooms. Plant the bulbs about 2 inches deep and with the "nose" of the bulb projecting above the soil level. Allow at least a foot between bulbs.
Asiatic hybrid lilies. The very large lily family has been divided by botanists into nine divisions. Most gardeners are familiar with the Asiatic lilies. They are division #1. They tend to be the tallest, easiest to care for, most readily available, are the biggest and have the most colorful blooms. The flowers can be as much as six inches wide. Colors of the very popular Asiatic hybrid lilies range from pure white, to red and yellow with many shades in between. Plant these bulbs seven inches deep and space them about one foot apart.
Dutch iris. Stunning is the word for Dutch iris when in bloom. The flowers are 3-4 inches across carried on stiff stems 1½-2 feet long, making them very desirable for cut flower use. They are available in bright clear blue, white, purple, mauve, bronze, yellow and orange. You can also find Dutch iris in bicolored blooms. The flowers appear in March and April. Plant them in full sun 4 inches deep and 3-4 inches apart. They will not need digging up for years.
Muscari "Grape Hyacinth"
Although many gardeners are quite familiar with the popular Hyacinth the grape hyacinth has a more modest display. It more than makes up for the lack of the large flowers of the Hyacinth by producing a profusion of blooms. The Muscari grows from 8 to 18 inches high and is one of the earliest of the bulbs to bloom. The fragrant blossoms are found in blue, white, lilac and greenish brown. Plant these bulbs 2 inches deep and 3 inches apart. Grape hyacinths are excellent for naturalizing, as they will spread easily from bulbs and seed, making a delightful carpet of color. They will grow in sun or light shade.
Fritillaria "Fritillary"
These bulbs will grow from a few inches high up to four inches to three feet high depending on the variety. The variety ‘Fritillaria imperialis' is the ultimate show stopper. This bulb sends up a thick stalk up to 3-4 feet with about half of the stem clothed in whorls of 6-inch lance-shaped leaves. At the top of the stem is a cluster of drooping bell-shaped 2 inch-wide flowers, each cluster featuring a ‘crown' of small leaves. The more common varieties are much shorter and feature flowers in yellow, white, dark maroon, dark purple and lilac. Plant the Fritillaries 3-5 inches deep, depending on the variety and in light shade. Space the larger-growing ones 12 inches apart, the others about 6 inches apart.