Although early September is still technically summer, now is the time to purchase and prepare for planting bulbs of all types that will flower next spring. By purchasing early, you will have the greatest selection of bulbs to choose from.
Look for bulbs that are large, plump, feel solid, and are disease-free. If the weather is particularly warm, store your purchases in a cool place, at about 60 degrees, before planting.
From the last part of this month and generally into early November, bulbs can be planted. Choose a site that will be sunny at the time the bulbs are expected to bloom. Sites under deciduous trees are acceptable for bulbs that bloom early, such as daffodils, before the tree canopy matures. Be sure the site drains well, as bulbs resent a wet location. If you need to use a site that might have poor drainage, raise the level of the bed.
Prepare the planting site by incorporating organic matter and a good balanced fertilizer, preferably organic. Bone meal or organic bulb food can be added to the individual planting holes, as recommended.
It is better to buy a large amount of one variety and color and plant in a large group or drift rather than buying a few of many different colors or varieties of bulbs. If you are limited on funds and want more variety, for the larger bulbs, plant no less than five or seven bulbs of a given variety, and no less than fifty of the smaller bulbs. Keep the spacing as recommended, and avoid planting in rows. Plant in groups or drifts. The general rule of thumb for depth is about 2-1/2 to 3 times the height of the bulb. Keep the site watered, but not soggy, until the ground firmly freezes.
Naturalizing an area is another way to use some of the bulbs. Daffodils, grape hyacinths, squill, and crocus are good choices for naturalizing. The basic concept is to plant in drifts. The effect is to give the impression that these bulbs were planted as nature intended, in no real pattern. By tossing the bulbs on the ground and planting them where they fall, you can achieve this effect. Other than the species tulips, most tulips and other bulbs that are more specific with their spacing requirements are generally not ideal for naturalizing. Be sure that the bulbs you plant for this purpose will respond well to naturalizing.
