October in the Daffodil Garden

October in the daffodil garden could find me doing many things. By now, the new bulbs I ordered from specialist growers have arrived, and I've been relishing the gratis bulbs they've also sent. Most specialist growers send along something extra, by way of a "thank you" to their customers.

If you're making a new garden, be sure to dig the soil deeply, and incorporate any amendments that may be necessary: humus for clay soils; gypsum if you like, though some say it doesn't help; some fertilizer low in nitrogen, as daffodils don't want a lot of nitrogen. Avoid fresh manures, as they encourage bulbs to rot. Also, avoid bone meal. It doesn't do anything for your bulbs. Mix all this thoroughly before planting, and be sure the bulbs don't sit directly on fertilizer. While daffodils aren't fussy, like all plants, the better conditions you give them, the better they will do for you.

You can plant daffodils any time until the ground freezes, but it's a good idea to plant them once the ground cools so that they can get good root growth made before the soil freezes. While you're re-planting the bulbs you dug, along with the new ones, be sure to give each bulb a good squeeze, and if it's soft, discard it. It may have a bulb fly larva in it, or it may have rotted while it was out of the ground. And of course, never buy a soft bulb. Once the bulbs are planted, cover the area with mulch. Mulch accomplishes several things: it keeps the soil temperature more even, keeping it warmer in winter and cooler in summer; it makes the beds look nice; and it will keep your flowers clean next spring when it rains. I use a fine pine bark; some people use pine needles. Use whatever is handy in your area. Just don't use peat moss as a mulch. It crusts, making it hard for the rain to penetrate, and it does nothing to keep your flowers clean in the spring. Now all you have to do this fall is rake up the leaves. Leaves make great compost. If you can run them through a shredder first, they'll make compost sooner. Or pile them up and run the lawnmower over them, to chop them up a bit. Instant shredder! I'm planning to use the chopped leaves as a mulch at the very back of my garden, where it adjoins the woods behind us.

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