Plant Spring Blooming Bulbs in Fall

Even new gardeners can succeed with bulbs.

When choosing your bulbs, check the candidates with your specific climate zone. Some bulbs won't bloom if they don't go through dormancy, which requires enough cold weather. Others may not be hardy enough to withstand a frigid winter climate.

The bulbs I'm featuring in this lens are those traditionally used in northern gardens. If you're in the deep south, you might be able to plant other types that are not winter-hardy in the north.

Good drainage is important for your bulbs. Most won't do well if they are water logged. Bulbs need a fertile and well-drained garden soil in order to thrive for years to come.

For the best results, plant your bulbs in a large showy group. The best displays are concentrated in an area, vs. a single row.

No matter what types of bulbs you eventually choose, the perfect flowers for a beautiful spring garden are available. Let your imagination run free!

Naturalizing means to plant the bulbs in informal groups instead of measured rows or patterns. Choose varieties that will last, and multiply, for your naturalized garden.

When planting in this style, some growers will say to just dig an area, toss in the bulbs, and plant them were they land. I know from experience this works. I prefer to put the bulbs in upright position before covering with soil but you don't have to. When they grow, they know which way is up.

Species tulips, which are the varieties closest to their original tulip ancestors, are more suitable for a naturalized garden. They can multiply like they would in the wild. Many of the more recently-developed tulips will last only a few years. Some gardeners today treat their tulips as annuals.

Small bulb species like many crocuses can be naturalized in a lawn. Their height will be about the same as the grass, and their foliage will be dying off about the same time that the grass is ready for mowing. Be cautious about the way you fertilize your lawn if you do this, because some products will consider your bulbs a weed.

If you plan well, you can have bulbs blooming before all of the snow is gone, with a succession of color lasting into May or even June.

As you are making your choices, look for the estimated bloom time for each variety. Of course, your growing zone will make all the different. Early in Michigan is not the same as early in Georgia.

Early varieties bloom first, some even before all the snow is gone. Look for crocus, snow drops and snow glories (chinodoxa).

Mid-season bulbs flower around April and May. Many tulips and daffodils fall into this group.

Late flowering types also include tulips and daffodils. These will blossom from mid-May into June.