My Garden Delight

Planting Bulbs is Spring-time Beauty

Dig Your Way to Spring-time Beauty by Planting Bulbs

By Honey B. Wackx

Want an easy-care way to brighten up your garden, walkway or other area that could use some life and color? Bulbs are an easy and usually carefree way to solve that problem. Visit your local garden center or consult a few books or Internet sites to find out what bulb plants survive and thrive in your part of the country.

Late September through October is the time to plant most spring-flowering bulbs (tulips are best set out in November). Our method of planting daffodils in heavy field grass is as follows. I drive a spade down to the hilt in the meadow and turn back the sod. I loosen the dirt in the bottom of the hole, stir in a handful of plant food, and set in four or five bulbs. This procedure gets them down the proper depth of about eight inches. Then I fold back the sod and tramp on it. In this way it doesn’t take us very long to plant our annual quota of a hundred daffodils. Once settled they need or, at least, they get no further care. Crocuses and the other smaller bulbs go in less deeply (a trowel is an adequate planting tool for them).

On the subject of planting I am sure a touch of the spirit of Johnny Appleseed lives in most of us. There is something you can do about this-something exciting and pleasant. Plant a dozen (or several dozen or a hundred) crocuses or daffodils along the edges of the road-far enough back so the town mowers won’t trim off the foliage too early.

Then, in spring when we all seek the first signs of life, the first of Nature’s new seasonal colors, the daffodils and crocuses will spread general gaiety along the roadside, giving a lift to all who pass. This is an easy way to lighten up the spirit in an area.

One fall a couple of years ago we tried a variation of this idea. One night we went out and planted crocuses near the front doors of a number of our friends and neighbors. In a thoughtful, but reckless moment we dug some in beside a few unfamiliar front doors. Here we were, tiptoeing around after dark, feeling like burglars, small trowel in hand, and bulbs rustling in pockets. We were really taking a big chance for doing this at night when we could have easily been shot by unsuspecting owners.

At Christmas-time we told our friends that their presents would arrive mysteriously in the spring. We had no idea what they might think their presents would be, but did not suspect anyone would guess correctly. But we said nothing to the strangers, and I have often wondered what they thought when the bulbs broke ground and bloomed. I never met the unknown neighbors so I never got their reaction from our little prank.

It’s not really necessary to feed naturalized bulbs, although a bit of fertilizer is bound to help. In uncultivated areas, decomposing leaves bring the bulbs fresh compost and all the food they need to carry on. If you wish to feed them, do so just after the bulbs flower. Organic food scattered on the grass where they grow will be washed down by rains. We never feed our naturalized bulbs, except one time I had some tree food left over and, on the spur of the moment, spread it around the daffodils to see what would happen. The following spring they came up, not only about two for one, but simply huge! I just hope I haven’t upset their hormones or genes or whatever by getting them to feel they must become trees.

I suspect our thrifty nature make us want to tuck something away underground -something with promise, color and a nice fragrant smell when possible. Planting bulbs in early fall or on Indian summer days is sort of like this. Months later when the cold winter months are waning and give way to the beginnings of spring, the sight of groups of rhythmic beauty and brilliant color gives you a deep feeling of pride within you. Don’t ignore your green thumb, go plant some bulbs.

About the Author

Honey B. Wackx is an Internet Infopreneur. She writes many articles for herself and other website owners. One of her favorite interests is hair styles – visit http://hairstyleholiday.com. Another is online dating – visit http://unlonely.com. Some of her articles and announcements are posted on http://15hwy.com.