There is no way better to have a beautiful garden in full bloom than through the use of flowering bulbs. If planned correctly you will have a flower garden full of blooming flowers throughout the growing season. Bulbs are a natural choice for many gardeners. So many varieties are available that it is sometimes hard to choose the right ones for your garden! Flowering bulbs are hardy, some can winter over, and they multiply profusely if taken care of. There are recorded varieties of tulips that are over 400 years old, and heritage bulbs can be found in many places.

If deciding on flower bulbs for your garden, it is a good idea to plan ahead if you wish continuous blooms in the garden. The most important considerations are color and time of bloom. Make a sketch of how you wish your garden to look. Important considerations are based on height, amount of sunlight needed, color, and blooming time. Flowering bulbs have different planting times. Ones planted in the fall are hardy and winter over well. These bulbs are sometimes left undisturbed for years and survive. Even though this is not a good idea to leave them unattended for several years, fall bulbs are very easy to care for. For bulbs that are planted in the spring, remember that these are more tender than fall bulbs, and must be dug up each year at the end of the growing season.

Know your bulbs. some require full sun, others partial shade. Knowing this helps you to have a garden that is healthy and producing good blooms. Because most early spring bulbs will bloom before trees and shrubs begin to make leaves, they can be easily planted in these areas, On the other hand, a lot of summer blooming bulbs require full sun or partial shade to do well. Planting spring bulbs on a south slope will bloom earlier than bulbs planted on a slope facing north. If bulbs are planted in a valley, remember that cold air acts much like water, and will flow down the slope into the valley, causing later blooms.

For flowering bulbs to do well, the soil condition must be optimum for good growth and quality of blooms. Good drainage is necessary to avoid rotting the bulbs from excess moisture. If you have a garden plot high in clay content, then work compost or peat moss into the soil at a depth of eighteen inches. Flowering bulbs prefer a PH balance of between 6 to 7 PH, and testing the soil for PH balance is necessary to insure optimal growing conditions. To insure good bud development, work bonemeal into the soil when planting the bulbs.

Once you have determined the best location, planned your garden, and have worked the soil for optimum results, it is time to begin planting the flowering bulbs. The basic rule of thumb for planting is putting the bulb into the soil 3 to 4 times as deep as the bulb is tall. the bulb is measured from the root base to the top of the bulb. This works best for larger bulbs like tulips and daffodils. smaller bulbs will be planted 3 to 4 inches deep, and summer flowering bulbs, which generally have different planting requirements, should always be planted according to the directions on the packaging they come in. Plant tulips, hyacinths and daffodils with the nose of the bulb up, and the root base down. Plant these bulbs in a bed that has been thoroughly worked up. Avoid using a bulb planter, as they just do not work well.

Water the bulbs well after planting to help settle the soil and provide water for the bulb to begin to grow. Be careful not to over water – this can lead to bulb rot. For spring and summer bulbs, begin watering as soon as the first flower buds begin to appear. Don’t skimp on watering. Remember, bulbs have been planted to a dept of up to eight inches, and water needs to reach this depth. Throughout the blooming stage, water at least once a week if rainfall does not nourish the bulbs. You will need to water to a depth of about one inch during blooming seasons.

Once the foliage dies, the bulbs will become dormant. Spring bulbs become dormant in the summer, and as the foliage dies, the root system that supports the plant also dies. only dig bulbs when they become dormant. Bulbs will benefit from digging them up, as they can become overcrowded and flower size will decrease, blooms will be uneven, and plants will not grow to their normal height. Dig the bulbs up using a garden fork, wash off any dirt, and allow them to dry out on top of the soil. Some bulbs, such as canna, dahlia, and caladium should not be washed. Store these bulbs for the winter in clumps surrounded by sawdust or peat moss, and keep in a cool place. Other bulbs should be stored away from sunlight in a cool place with an average temperature of 60 to 65 degrees. Small amounts of bulbs can be stored in a paper bag and hung on the wall. If you have larger amounts of bulbs, the best way to store them is in a loose knit sack hung in a cool sheltered area. Don’t separate bulbs before storing them. You will do this at planting time.

By following a few simple steps, and insuring that the soil is well prepared and rich in nutrients that a flowering bulb requires, you will have a garden in bloom for the entire growing season, and will be blessed with rich, vital blooms. Flowering bulbs will reward you for many years with the proper care.

source : www.doityourself.com