TIPS FOR PLANTING FALL BULBS
To ensure colorful spring gardens, bulbs must be planted in fall. They need several weeks underground to grow roots before the ground freezes.
Gardeners can determine specific plant hardiness zones by entering a ZIP code on the Department of Agriculture’s site: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
Advised the 2020 Farmer’s Almanac:
“In general, try to plant when nightly temperatures are around 40 or 50 degrees, or about six weeks before you expect the ground to freeze. Most spring bulbs need a chilly period to bloom, so if you live in an area where the ground doesn’t freeze (zones
8 to 11), then you’ll need to chill them. Leave the bulbs in the bags you bought them in, and simply place them in your refrigerator for six to 10 weeks before planting.”
House Beautiful’s “10 Best Bulbs to Plant in the Fall” for color and general success in most plant hardiness zones are daffodil, leucojum (also called snowflake), hyacinth, crocus, allium, starflower, tulip, grape hyacinth, dwarf iris and scilla.
Gardeners can learn from packaging labels and research which bulbs work best in particular regions, how much sunlight is required, best soil for planting, watering instructions, and recommended planting depth and spacing. Bulbs can be planted in rows or patterns, or around the base of trees or shrubs. By learning exactly when each type of bulb may bloom, gardeners can achieve constant blooms and varying colors from early to late spring. For example, daffodils and hyacinths are early bloomers, tulips will bloom early to late spring, and allium typically bloom in late spring. The National Gardening Association noted tulips are available in thousands of varieties, including hues of apricot, pink, salmon, red and deep maroon, and with petals that are ruffled, fringed or lily-shaped. Gardeningknowhow.com suggested protecting bulbs against squirrels and other rodents by covering with mulch and/or mesh.