Should i soak bulbs before planting

This depends on your goals and to some extent on the type of bulbs. What do you want the flowers to look like? Do you like the flowers spaced farther apart? Closer together? Each flower will end up above a bulb so space the bulbs to give you the spacing you want for the flowers.

Keep in mind that if the bulbs are happy in their new home they will multiply and get more crowded over the years. It is a good idea to give a little extra space for this growth. The second point to consider is the bulb itself. If you see this, you need to dig them up and give them more space.

Other bulbs like the snowdrop seem to like being very crowded and it almost makes them flower more. But tulip bulbs and to some extend daffodil bulbs have leaves that are wider and spread sideways — give them more space between bulbs. I usually plant large bulbs inches apart, and smaller ones 3 inches apart. Spring bulbs planted in layers — daffodils and muscari planted in the same hole, by Robert Pavlis.

Remember bulbs are planted at different depths. You can plant some tulips or daffodils deep in the ground at about 6 inches.

Then add some soil to partially fill the hole. Now add some small bulbs like Muscari grape hyacinth , Anemone blanda or squil. You can even add species tulips to the top layer. Then fill the hole. In the picture above, the yellow daffodils are planted deep, and the blue Muscari are planted shallow. Both types of bulbs have a soil area for their roots. Depending on the bulbs you select, you will have one type of flower after the other which extends the flowering season, or you will have them flower at the same time — which can look quite nice.

It is a great idea for smaller gardens where you want every inch of soil to perform. These can make the soil around your bulbs too wet and bulbs like to be dry, especially in summer. If you only need phosphate, use super phosphate in the planting hole, not bone meal.

Bulbs do not need a high level of phosphorus — that is a myth. For more about bone meal see Bone Meal Organic Fertilizer. I grow hundreds of different types of bulbs, including about 80 different types of daffodils, and I have never fertilized them. I do mulch the soil surface with wood chips which adds some nutrients. Why do some people have squirrels that dig up their bulbs? Here is what I do. When the hole is covered up I stamp on it and cover it with mulch. Squirrels will dig any place where they think other squirrels have buried food — they steal from each other.

I make my newly dug soil look as if it was never dug. I could write several posts on designing with spring bulbs, but this is not the place for it. I just want to point out one important point. It is important to keep the leaves on bulbs as long as possible.

As mentioned above, the leaves are feeding the roots which are making next years new bulb. Spring bulbs — plant in the middle of beds to hide their dying leaves, by Robert Pavlis. The solution is fairly simple. Plant bulbs like tulips and daffodils, which have large ugly leaves, near the center or even the back of the flower bed. In spring there will be nothing in front of them, and you can see the blooms. By early summer other plants grow up in front of the bulbs, and you will hardly notice the bulb leaves.

You can also select bulbs that do not have ugly leaves. This list includes most smaller bulbs, including species tulips, dutch iris and Iris reticulata. Would this be a problem if i skipped this step? Also i planted the bulbs in march so i am not sure if they will bloom this year? Any advice would be grateful. I am sure they will grow. Soaking makes it a bit easier for them, allowing them to start making roots sooner. Maybe this should be done like an experiment.

True that if you can divert their attention someplace else, like toward a bird feeder, it helps. I like the older varieties as well so will buy more of them.

Press here to subscribe. Enter your email adress. Garden Fundamentals - become a better gardener. Spring Bulbs — Buying and Planting By on It is fall and some gardeners are getting tired of their gardens.

As with any new procedure, we recommend testing preplant bulb soaks on a small quantity of pots before you treat your entire crop. There is a limited amount of greenhouse height control of hyacinth, tulips and narcissus. You will need to conduct postharvest trials to evaluate the efficacy on these crops. October Soaking bulbs in PGRs before planting can be an effective means of height control for spring bulb crops. Krug can be reached at [email protected]. Current Issue.

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Interested in reading the print edition of GPN? Subscribe Today » Be sure to check out our sister site. The flowers will bloom and die off before you'll have to mow. And since most bloom before trees leaf and shade the garden, they can be planted under deciduous trees, says Obal.

This hardy early- to mid-spring bulb thrives in full sun or filtered shade. Tip: If daffodils become overcrowded over the years, dig them up with a fork, divide them, and replant. Plant these early bloomers in the early fall. Soak the bulbs in water for a few hours and plant with the "eyes" facing up. This bulb, which prefers partial shade, may not bloom the first year.

Also known as snowdrop, this small flower is one of the first to appear in spring — even when snow is on the ground. It's easy to grow in full sun or partial shade and is great for borders. Ideal for bedding. Be sure to wear gloves when planting, however; the bulbs may cause skin irritation.

Prefers full sun. Depending on whether they're bulbous or tuberous iris, these can be grown in full sun or partial shade. Plant in well-drained soil. Known as grape hyacinth, these bulbs bloom in early spring. They thrive in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil. These long-living bulbs grow best in moist, rich soil and in full sun or partial shade. This versatile bulb offers a range of colors and blooms in the early spring. For the most dramatic effect, plant in groups of at least five.

Tulips thrive in full sun, but do well in partial shade. For the best bulb growth, "deadhead" the flowers by cutting them for indoor use or as soon as they fade. Product Reviews. Home Ideas. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. The Rise of the Cleanfluencer.