September 27, 2005
More About Bulbs
Martha's program today featured a how-to on bulbs. In case you missed it, a few of her tips follow.
1. Look for plump, unblemished bulbs from a good nursery or Costco (the turnover there is so fast, you don't have to worry about the bulbs being picked over). Check for bruises, breaks and mold just as you would produce you were buying to eat.
2. Always be sure to plant with the root side down. Roots go into the ground, right? The little tip is the top.
3. Plant three times the depth of your bulb in light, loose soil amended with bone meal or super phosphate. Her hyacinths and tulips were two inches long and planted six inches deep. The narcissus were two and a half inches and planted nine inches deep. Squirrels and deer LOVE all bulbs except narcissus, which is another good reason to plant deep.
4. You can layer your bulbs in the ground or in a container (she used a very cool clear acrylic planter), with the large bulbs at the bottom covered by a good layer of soil, and the smaller bulbs like crocus above. Then you can top it all off with a planting of violas or the like. The bulbs at the bottom will come up through the ones on the top, even if they are directly underneath.
5. A nice way to plant bulbs for a natural look is to scatter them, then push them into the soil where they land. They will naturalize if planted in a hospitable environment and you let the foliage die back after blooming in the spring.
6. If you do not live in an area with cold winters, be sure to check your garden center's directions for pre-chilling your bulbs.
Bulb Tips
Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Bulbs | Container Gardening | How-to Instruction
September 19, 2005
Forcing Bulbs
Forcing bulbs that would ordinarily be planted in the ground for spring bloom provides color, fragrance and beauty in the depths of winter. And it is so easy to do! This is a good article on the how-to...
Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Bulbs | How-to Instruction
All About Bulbs
Welcome to LeafyLife the week of the autumn equinox!
This is the time for bulb mania. A little advance planning and outdoor work in the fall pays a spectacular dividend in the spring.
A word to the wise: order your bulbs now! Premium bulbs are cheaper and generally in better condition when purchased by mail order rather than from your local nursery or hardware store. Breck's, White Flower Farms, Spring Hill Nursery, Burpee, Park Seed Company, and the like (see links below) offer collections at prices far less per bulb than buying them separately. Many suppliers give discounts for ordering BEFORE October 15th. If you're too late to order by mail, look for large, plump bulbs that have not been picked over or damaged. Be sure to check the zone hardiness for your area. And don't forget the tools and all-important bone meal!
The U.S. Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center is a good place to find out all about bulbs...
Breck's
White Flower Farms
Wayside Gardens
Spring Hill
Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Bulbs | Container Gardening | How-to Instruction
September 19, 2005
Tools for Planting Bulbs
These are Martha's recommended tools for serious bulb planters. Most everything you need is available at Home Depot, Lowe's or your local nursery, or order online at bulb suppliers' websites.
Also, here's a group of interesting garden tools featured on an HGTV show called "Gardening by the Yard" with Paul James. I especially like the new spring-loaded bulb planter he highlights. They list Charley's Greenhouse and Garden and Gardener's Supply Company as good resources for tools.
[via HGTV] Gadgets and Gizmos
Charley's
Gardener's Supply
[via Martha Stewart] Tools for Planting Bulbs
Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Bulbs | How-to Instruction