Think about this situation. It’s March, and your neighbors are standing in line at garden stores, paying too much money for plants that are going to struggle to survive their first summer. While they are doing that, you are sitting on your porch drinking a cup of coffee, watching your incredible display of tulips, daffodils, and crocuses putting on a show that started blooming as many as months before anything they can purchase.
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Why Garden Legends are Created with Fall Planting
Bulbs are planted in September and October. While the world above the ground looks barren, a wondrous event is going on under the frost. These bulbs are creating extensive root systems which store energy for a big debut in spring. Scientists have a name for this process. It is called vernalization.
Fall planting bulbs give 300% more root mass than spring plantings. You get months of root development before the demands of a spring season kick in. This means bigger blooms, earlier flowers, and displays that last weeks longer than spring planted bulbs.
12 Champion Bulbs That Enjoy Cold Weather Training
These powerhouse varieties consider winter their time to bulk up:
As snowdrops begin to poke through the snow, it is also time to begin planting spring heroes that will carpet your soil with color! Crocuses are the first to bloom in purple and yellow, so plant them 3-4 inches deep and watch them multiply naturally to give you more and more each year!
Mid-Spring Showstoppers (April-May): With their bright golden color, daffodils put on a striking display for several weeks while hyacinths perfume the entire neighborhood with their sweet scents. These champions of the garden need to be planted 6-8 inches deep to come back even stronger each year.
During the Late Spring Grand Finale in May and June, the stunning Tulips provide the maximum color impact, but the brilliant Alliums provide stunning, eye-stopping architectural, vibrant purple spheres. Tulips should be planted at a depth of 8 inches and Alliums at a depth of 4-6 inches for optimal results.
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The Strategic Planting Formula
There are three major components that determine success: time, depth, and preparation of the soil. To allow roots to develop without inducing top growth, plant 6-8 weeks prior to the first expected hard frost.
The rule is simple- bulbs should be planted three times deeper than they are tall. So for large tulip bulbs, they should be planted 8 inches deep, whereas small crocus bulbs should be planted 3 inches deep. This will help protect the bulbs from freeze-thaw cycles and hungry squirrels.
Everything starts with soil drainage. Because bulbs will rot in wet soil, you should mix in some compost or coarse sand if you have heavy clay. If water collects in a basin after it rains, then you should plant in higher spots or use raised containers.
Multiplication Magic to Save Money
Most fall bulbs get more efficient each year, creating more flowers with little effort from you. A daffodil will become 3 daffodils in 2 years. Crocuses create little patches of their own, which makes them so fun to have. Even tulips produce little baby bulbs that bloom in the following year.
Let's break this down: A $20 investment earns an annual return over three years with no additional costs, and creates displays worth several hundred dollars. In contrast, spring shoppers buy annual flower plants that cost $5 to $10 each and only last one season.
The Wildlife Bonus
The first bulbs of spring are a vital food source for newly awakened queen bees who are coming out of their winter hibernation. Crocus flowers, one of the first to bloom, are critical food sources for bees in February when almost nothing else is available. Late Tulips help provide food for migrating humming birds in May. By planting bulbs, you are not just creating beauty – you are running a wildlife rescue operation!
Container Growing for Small Spaces
No yard? No worries! With container gardening you can create beautiful spring displays on your patio, balcony, or even your doorstep. Use a pot that’s at least 12 inches deep and plant a variety of bulbs in layers for succession blooms. To do this, plant the early blooming varieties at the bottom of the pot and the later varieties on top.
The most important factor is protection for the winter. For areas that experience cold weather, you can either move your containers into unheated garages, or you can wrap them in bubble wrap. The goal of wrapping is to keep it at a consistent cold temperature. This will prevent the pots from freezing to the point that they get cracks.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Be careful not to plant too early. The soil should be cool, not warm. Areas where water springs up in the spring are not good to plant in. Don't use bone meal if you have a problem with squirrels. It attracts them.
Absolutely avoid the desire to trim any leaves once the flowers are done blooming. The leaves feed next year's flowers by creating and storing energy in the bulb. It may look messy for a period, but letting the leaves die back to the ground as a natural process is best.
Your Spring Victory Garden Starts Now
Unlike others who wait for good spring weather to start their gardening, you're making the best investment now for the future of your yard. These bulbs do the work for you all year round; while your garden is dormant during the winter, these bulbs are building strength and coming alive in the spring to create beauty, and then storing energy to create even more stunning displays the following year.
When your neighbors are dealing with stressed plants and fighting the crowds next March, you will be the one with the house that makes people slow down to appreciate the professional landscaping. You knew the best spring gardens are actually planted in the fall.
