A beautiful flowering bulb garden is easy to achieve and a sure sign that spring is on its way. Bulbs are split into two categories: Fall Bulbs & Spring Bulbs. We will be talking about fall bulbs that are planted in the fall and bloom in the early spring. Fall bulbs include such favorites as Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinth, and Crocus. They also include some lesser-known plants that are definitely worthwhile to plant in your garden. This includes such bulbs as Anemone, Giant Allium, Grape Hyacinth, Snowdrops, Fritillaira, and Spanish Bluebells.
Selecting Bulbs
As a general rule, the biggest is the best. Quality bulbs should be heavy and large for their size. If the bulb has a few nicks in it, that's fine and just part of the harvesting process. You should avoid bulbs with large deep cuts or bulbs that are showing signs of rot, especially near the bast. Blue mold is a sign that the bulbs have been wet at some point, but is not critical unless it is associated with a soft to the touch feel. Gertens only buys #1 grade, quality bulbs.
Soil Type
Flower bulbs thrive in well-drained soil. Adding compost/peat moss will increase drainage and boost bloom size. Adding bone meal or Dutch bulb food will produce stronger, more colorful flowers.
How to Plant
Planting bulbs is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Dig a hole with a trowel or bulb digger to the required depth (as stated at the bottom of this page)
2. Add bulb food or bone meal for more intense colors
3. Cover bulb with soil
You can create a formal garden or you can naturalize. An ideal place for a bulb garden is in your existing annual beds. Small bulbs should be planted 2" apart and larger bulbs should be planted 5" apart. After the bulbs are planted, water the solid well once and cover with an inch of mulch to help insulate the bulbs from our cold Minnesota winters.
Naturalizing
Quite a few bulb varieties lend themselves well to season after season of blooming. Naturalizing means a scattered pattern of planting bulbs in your lawn or underneath a shade tree for that natural look. Make sure to look for specially marked "naturalizing" bulbs.
Squirrels/Deer
Bulbs can create a healthy smorgasbord for squirrels. We have found the best way to protect them is putting a layer of chicken wire between the covered ground and your 1" mulch layer. Make sure to pin the wire down. The mulch will help disguise the wire. There are also a number of repellents on the market for deer and squirrels.
Container Growing
Even if you don't have a garden you can enjoy the color and fragrance of spring bulbs. You can use any style of pot made out of any material you choose, i.e., terra cotta, plastic, wooden, etc. Here in Minnesota, make sure you pot size is at least 10" deep and 17" across. Also make sure the container has drain holes. In Minnesota, your pot will have to live in an insulated garage wrapped in burlap or foam and you will have to water during the winter. Planting depth is the same as when you plant bulbs in the ground.
What you need to plant bulbs
Trowel, Bulb digger, Bulb auger
Gloves
Bone Meal, Bulb Food
Peat Moss, Compost
Chicken Wire (if needed)
Gertens' Quality Bulbs