Spring Bulbs Planting Information and Resources
When should I plant my fall bulbs? Fall bulbs must be planted in the fall before the first hard frost. It is best to wait until the outside temperature does not reach 65 degrees anymore. If there is a hard frost in the first couple weeks after planting, mulch your beds and remove in the spring. Light morning frosts will not hurt the bulbs. Check the USDA Hardiness Zone Map for your area.
What can I do to prevent deer, rodents, rabbits and other animals from eating my bulbs and flowers? The best remedy for preventing animals from eating your bulbs is to plant bulbs they do not like to eat. While you can spray them with soap, pepper, or a chemical, this tends to wash off after the first rainfall and can be time consuming. Here is a list of bulbs that deer, rabbits, and other rodents do not like to eat:
- Daffodils
- Narcissus
- Hyacinths
- Allium (all types)
- Fritillaria
- Fall Flowering Crocus
- Iris (all types)
- Anemones (all types)
- Scilla (all types)
- Snowdrops
- Eranthus
- Chinadoxa
- Muscari Grape Hyacinths
What type of fertilizer should I use? Fertilizer is not necessary, but for increased performance a small application of Bulb Booster or bone meal is acceptable. It is more important to make sure the pH level of your soil is correct - between 6 and 7.
It is not even spring, and my bulbs are coming up, what should I do? There is nothing you can do. If the weather is unusually warm some bulbs will be confused and start to sprout. The good news is that this means that your bulbs have a good root foundation and no snow to shovel! Most bulbs are resilient and will bloom again in the spring.
What do I do after my fall planting bulbs have bloomed in the spring? Let the leaves die down naturally; do not cut them off or mow over them. After bulbs have bloomed it is important to let them rest because during this period, the bulb is gathering nutrients from the soil and growing so that it can bloom again next year.
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