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RISING WOMEN EXPERT
ADVICE...
We are new to gardening. We created our flower beds this Summer and
want to start preparing for our Spring collection. What do we need to do?
When planning to add a Spring collection of flowers to your garden, start by
preparing your soil. The best approach is to rework your existing soil with
compost or other rich organic material. This needs to be done to a depth of
at least 12”. Keep in mind that bulbs need to be dry so if your beds don’t
have good drainage, you also need to work the soil with sand or landscaping
charcoal.
When it comes to designing your beds there is a huge selection of bulbs
available for our region to create a garden that blooms from very early
Spring to late Summer. If well planned, you can plant a mix of varieties
that allow new flowers to bloom in specified areas with each turn of the
season. In general, crocus and snowdrops bloom in the very early spring.
Daffodils and hyacinth bloom a bit later. Fritillaries and tulips are ideal
for mid Spring, while bluebells and lilies show their glory during late
Spring. Other varieties of lilies, alium and iris bloom in the early Summer.
With a bit of research into the blooming stages and advice from your garden
centre, you can very easily create a breathtaking array of flowers
throughout the year.
When purchasing you bulbs, note that most come in packages containing
anywhere from 3 to upward of 24. Not all bulbs in these packages will bring
satisfactory results. Sort through the batch and select only the large, firm
ones. Discard the soft and moldy ones.
When you are ready to plant, a simple trick to keep you from getting
confused as to what you have planted (most bulbs look alike), is to arrange
the bulb groupings on a tarp to reflect where they will be planted in your
beds. This will help you to organize the colors and varieties to create the
blooming cycles you want to achieve.
Once this is done, dig into the area that you want your first grouping --
roughly 6-8” deep. Sprinkle the hole with a specially-formulated bulb food
or bone meal and work it into the soil. This fertilizes the bulbs through
the winter, promoting vigorous blooming in the Spring. Next, arrange the
bulbs in the space in the proper planting position and at the right depth.
Press each bulb slightly into the soil to ensure that they do not lose their
positions. Cover with soil, pressing firmly. Finally, water thoroughly and
cover with a 2” layer of mulch to help keep the bulbs moist and protected
from the frost.
For more advice on gardening, email your questions to our panel of
Experts at experts@risingwomen.com |
