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Caring For Bulbs

Stacy Glass

By now the flowers of hundreds of varieties of bulb type plants are blooming millions of flowers all over the world. Its really the first visual sign of the coming spring  and the reawakening of plants. The vast array of color can almost leave one speechless and certainly can get one into the gardening spirit in a hurry.

There are so many varieties to choose from  and the temptation is high to have as many different kinds as possible, but what about the work involved? How easy are they to care for? And do they have to be dug up every year?

These are the 3 main questions everyone asks when they visit the nursery in the fall.  Of course most people start thinking of bulb planting in the fall when they are already tired from the seasons hard and laborious garden chores.  But don’t forget there are many kinds of bulbs that can be planted in the spring for blooms in late summer.  By adding bulbs to perennial gardens is a good way to extend the blooming period for those gardens.

What about the work? Are bulbs different than seeds?  Bulbs are mainly large energy tanks that store food for the plant during dormant periods. This energy is then used to spring forth the bloom at the appropriate time. The different thing about the bulb is that it will have to be rejuvenated after its energy is spent. So after the blooming period is over it should be left alone with the tops on so the plant can recover lost food and store this food back into the bulb. When the tops start to brown out they can then be trimmed back.

Bulbs will need to be place in a larger hole.  A good rule for depth is to plant the bulb about 3 times its size.  Make sure the tip is facing up or the plant will expend needless energy trying to grow in the wrong direction. 

Caring for bulbs are really no different than other plants.  They will need a good soil base, good drainage and lots of food during blooming periods. The main issue that most gardeners encounter is whether to lift the bulbs out every season. This can become a lot of work and tedious if the bulbs are intermixed with other perennials. If the bulbs are left in the ground year after year eventually they will become overcrowded and lack their original luster. One way around the intensive labor is to plant the bulbs in cages and place the entire cage in the ground. That way when the plant has faded the entire cage can be lifted right out.  Wire cages can easily be made from hardware cloth or chicken wire and can be made to the size desired. Just cut out a square and fold up the sides just like a tray and that’s all there is to it.

However it is not necessary to remove the bulbs every year. If the blooms are looking good and the plant mass is what is desired they can be left.  By the third year or so it will most likely be time to thin them out or remove them entirely and start over.  This also gives the gardener a chance to change color schemes if necessary.  This method also reduces the amount of work involved by digging them up every year, drying them and finding a place to store them.

There are so many different kinds of bulbs and now that spring is here and garden plans have begun don’t leave out a most important plant group and add some color to the garden this year by planting spring and fall bulb.

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