Talk about easy – Bulbs are the gardener’s easiest delight – plant ‘em and forget ‘em.
They will remind you of your effort when they emerge from the garden with a plethora of flowers as in the case of spring blooming types or just a few gorgeous specimen blossoms such as the Asiatic Lilies produce. Not that the Asiatic Lily is the only one – oh no! Try a few of the Oriental, Trumpet (Aurelian), Orienpets (great marriage of the Oriental and Trumpets), the Turk’s Cap (a showstopper) and the Longi-lorum.
Just remember where you planted them so that you won’t mistakenly dig into those precious bulbs when planting another perennial or shrub. I find that the best way to do this, because I do not trust my weak memory, is to plant them among some ground cover type perennials. Sedums, Lamb’s Ear, Phlox, Ice Plant, Yarrow and Veronica just to mention a few. I often plant them within multiple plantings of taller perennials like Daylilies, Irises, Cone-flowers, Daisies, Phlox, Rudbeckia and Salvia. Just give them plenty of space so that these will not spread and cover the bulbs thus giving them too much competition.
Right now bulb catalogs are arriving to announce that it is time for you to look into getting an order in for the fall planting season. Everything from Allium (fancy onions) to Tulips entice a gardener to think about the Spring garden right here before we have even sweated out the summer months. I will spend hours dreaming in a bulb catalog – heaven only knows how many cultivars of Daffodils and Tulips there are in the world. However, being such a long time gardener, I look for other beauties – Botanical Tulips, Hardy Amaryllis, Hyacinthoides (Spanish Bluebells), Muscari, Snowflakes (Leucojum) Crocus, and Hardy Cyclamens (which bloom in the fall). There is also a crocus that blooms in the fall (Colchicum autumnale). Then there are the Surprise Lilies or Naked Ladies in pink, yellow, red (most common) or white. These Lycoris squamigera pop up with blooms on naked stems in August or September, die down, then the foliage emerges in the spring with resulting blooms in August again long after the foliage has died.
Want to save some money? Of course! Buy red Amaryllis on sale after Christmas and plant them in the garden. Buy Easter Lilies on sale after Easter when all the blooms look pitiful and plant them immediately in the garden. Buy all bulbs in late winter when they are on sale. Just make sure the bulb is firm and healthy and not covered in mold. Plant immediately after purchase and you will have made a great buy!
Only the lilies are tasty food for the deer, so plant these where the deer do not roam.
Planting bulbs in the landscape is one of the best investments you will make. They last for years and require little maintenance. Never cut back the green foliage after bloom. The bulb requires these leaves to make its food. Cut back the stems and foliage once they have turned yellow.
For more information on gardening from Kathy, check out Kathy’s Plants on Facebook.
