Landscaping Tips: Fall a good time to plant spring bulbs

By Karen Panter and Scott Hininger, UW CES

Now is a good time to plant fall bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, crocus, lilies and hyacinth.

 

Make sure to purchase quality bulbs that are clean, show no signs of disease and are firm and healthy. The earlier bulbs are purchased, the better the selection.

 

Many people plant bulbs one by one. This works well if there are not many to plant; however, some like to plant buckets of bulbs in large areas so the easiest way is to dig out an area for planting the bulbs en masse. These large areas need to be tilled or dug out and prepared for the bulbs.

 

The rule of thumb for planting depth is four times the height of the bulb, measured from the soil surface to the top of the bulb.

 

This means that for Narcissus (daffodils), the tip of the bulb should be somewhere around 7 inches below the soil surface; Lilium (lilies), 6 to 8 inches; Tulipa (tulips), 5 to 7 inches; Hyacinthus (hyacinth), 4 inches; Muscari (grape hyacinth), 4 inches; and Crocus (crocus), 3 to 4 inches.

 

Depth of planting also depends on soil type. In heavier clay soils, don’t plant quite as deeply. Plant larger bulbs approximately 1 inch shallower and smaller bulbs 1/2-inch shallower.

 

Before planting, incorporate a complete, slow-release fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium into the soil below the bulb level. Mix in well, and do not set bulbs directly on the fertilizer. Next, mix some fertilizer with the soil used to cover the bulbs.

 

Adding organic matter, such as compost, will improve the ability of soil, including those heavy in clay or sand, to retain water and nutrients. Aeration in heavy clay soils will also increase. The more organic matter tilled into the soil, the better the results.

 

Maintaining good soil contact with the bulbs is important for good growth and development. After planting, make sure to thoroughly water the area. Keeping the area moist after planting and during the winter will aid in the survival and health of the plants.

 

The University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (CES) has a number of landscaping and gardening bulletins, including ones on backyard composting and flowers, on its Web site at http://ces.uwyo.edu/PUBS/Horticulture/Horticulture_Publications_Main.htm.

 

Bulletins are also available from county CES offices across the state. Contact information is at http://ces.uwyo.edu/Counties.asp.

 

Karen Panter is a horticulture specialist for the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, and Scott Hininger is an area extension educator for the UW CES in Johnson and Sheridan counties.

Contact: Robert Waggener, Editor
Phone: (307) 766-3571
E-mail: robertw@uwyo.edu

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