FALL PLANTING FOR SPRING COLOR!

There's something magical about planting tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other hardy bulbs in the fall.  As temperatures drop and the leaves start to fall, we know winter is on the way.  But we can look forward to Spring coming again, and with it, a garden full of color and fragrance! 

Here are a few tips for bulb-growing success. 

The term "hardy bulb" is used for a variety of bulb-like structures that are all planted in the fall, such as corms (crocuses), rhizomes (the underground stem of irises), and true bulbs (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths).  All are easy to plant and grow.  The first part of this article applies to true bulbs and corms, and I'll finish with some tips on irises.  

First off, choose a good location.  As all bulbs need sunlight to develop showy flowers, make sure the location will provide at least six hours of sunlight per day.  You can plant under deciduous trees, because the flowers will be done blooming by the time the tree's leaves appear.  Take into account the position of the sun in early spring, because areas that are sunny in autumn may not be sunny in springtime.  Plant in a well-drained location and preferably in soil that's not heavy clay.  Areas against a house facing west or south will thaw in the daytime and freeze again at night – and this will cause your bulbs to rot (I've made this mistake more than once!).  Planting at least four feet away from a structure should eliminate this issue.  Also avoid areas where water pools during spring thaws – such as adjacent to snow drifts and piles. 

Now that you've got your location picked out, it's time to prepare the soil!  Loosen the soil in the area you want to plant and add well-rotted compost.  As Minnesota soils tend to be high in phosphorus, there's no need to add bulb fertilizer.  Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers as well, because this can damage the bulbs and limit flower growth. 

Planting is the fun part!  The planting instructions on the bulb package will tell you how deep to plant.  These are general rules, though.  Plant 1-2 inches deeper in light, sandy soils and 1-2 inches shallower in heavier, clay soils.  A bulb planting tool is very helpful, because you can remove a plug of soil that's the exact depth you want.  These are inexpensive and available at any garden center.  When buying bulbs, ensure that they are plump and not shriveled, and do not have any discolored or rotting areas.  Planting clumps of the same type of bulb (for example, tulips of the same height) will be showier than a long line of flowers.  Fall bulb planting time in our area is anytime up to mid-October for all bulbs other than tulips, which can be planted later. 

Once you've got your bulbs planted, cover them with a piece of chicken wire that you've affixed to the ground with U-shaped staples that are commonly used with landscape fabric.  This will discourage squirrels and chipmunks from digging up the bulbs. The leaves will grow up through the wire so it does not need to be removed in the spring.  Water your bulbs and cover the wire with leaves or mulch.  Label where you've planted so you don't accidentally dig up your bulbs in the spring!  If there's little rain, you may need to water again before the ground freezes.  That's it!  Now your bulbs are planted, and you can look forward to an early splash of color in the garden!  (Side note: deer love tulips!  So, either plant in an area where deer can't get to them, or plan to use deer repellent as soon as the leaves appear in the spring!) 

Fall is also a great time to plant irises, as well as dividing and replanting existing irises in your garden.  Lots of folks are dividing their irises at this time of year, so you might want to check around with the neighbors and see if you can add some new colors or varieties.  As previously mentioned, irises grow from underground stems called rhizomes, which are not true bulbs. Dividing irises is not hard at all!  Simply dig up the clump, break the rhizomes apart (discard any areas that look unhealthy) leaving some roots on each piece.  Replant with the roots down and the top of the rhizome about level with the soil surface.   

For more info see:  https://extension.umn.edu/garden-and-home/yard-and-garden/gardening-in-m...