Garden Bulbs – Choosing and Planting Bulbs

Executive Summary by: Keith Markensen
The term “bulb” refers to the below the soil growth or “protuberance” of a group of plants. Some “bulbs” are in fact “corms” or “tubers”.

garden bulb

• Planting Garden Bulbs

It is a good idea to fertilize flowering bulbs each spring, preferably with manure, taking care to prevent the manure from touching the roots or the bulb.

• Spring-flowering Bulbs

Of all the popular spring-flowering bulbs, the tulip has to be the leader. The purple flowering bulbs and of course the tiny yet simply beautiful snowdrop are equally beautiful.

• Summer-flowering Bulbs

These garden bulbs need the same treatment with planting and maintenance as the earlier flowering bulbs.

Some Favorite Garden Bulbs

Executive Summary by: Lee Dobbins

Here’s some favorite garden bulbs and their planting needs.

1. Crocus

Crocus bulbs should be planted in the fall. Plant the bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep and space 3 or 4 inches apart. Crocuses require well drained soil, regular watering and will grow in full sun or partial shade.

2. Dahlia

Dahlias have a long bloom time from summer through fall and like many other garden bulbs come in a large variety of colors, sizes and shapes.
These flowers are so diverse that there are varieties with flower sizes ranging from 2 to 12 inches and from under a foot to 7 feet tall! Plant dahlias in spring after threat of frost has passed. Plant between 4 and 6 inches deep with spacing of 1 foot for short varieties and 5 feet for the tall variety’s.

3. Galanthus Nivalis

This plant is more commonly called the snowdrop and is one of the first plants to bloom after winter. Plant snowdrops in fall, dig down 3 to 4 inches and plant 3 inches apart. Water regularly during the growing cycle.

4. Daffodil

Daffodils benefit from full sun and regular watering during their growth and bloom periods.

5. Tulip

Tulips bloom from mid spring to late spring with different varieties having different bloom times. Tulips should be planted in fall and each bulb should be planted about 3 times deeper than the size of the bulb.A 2″ wide bulb would be planted 6″ deep. It is important to leave sufficient space between the planted garden bulbs as well, from four to eight inches depending on the size of the bulb.

6. Gladiolus

Gladiolas are among the most popular of all garden bulb plants, and their distinctive sword shaped leaves and funnel shaped flowers are instantly recognizable to gardeners and non gardeners alike.

7. Hemerocallis

The daylily is actually a tuberous root variety of bulb, and they are best planted during fall or early spring. Daylilies should be planted between ½ inch and 1 inch deep and space between 2 to 2½ inches apart in the garden.

8. Hyacinths (Dutch Hyacinth)

The Dutch hyacinth is one of the most instantly recognizable, and most popular, of all the varieties of garden bulb plants.

9. Iris

Bearded irises are striking plants, and they appear in a dazzling array of colors and combinations of colors. Irises appear in a variety of sizes as well, with very small varieties and very large ones as well.

Check out my other guide on new garden and gardens botanical