| Flowering bulbs are great for the beginner gardener. | | | | bulb fertilizer |
| They are economical, produce vibrant colors, come in | | | | - Ensure soil is well drained and modify with compost |
| a wide assortment of sizes, flower for different | | | | if necessary. |
| periods of time but most importantly they require | | | | - Plant with root side down and cover with mulch to |
| minimal care for great looking flowers year after | | | | even out soil temperature and moisture. |
| year. | | | | - Bulbs (and most flowers in general) look best when |
| There are two types of flowering bulbs; | | | | planted in groupings or clumps of the same variety. |
| spring-flowering and summer-flowering. I'm going to | | | | Determining if your chosen bulb is hardy or tender is |
| focus solely on spring-flowering bulbs. | | | | very important. Hardy bulbs can be left in the ground |
| Spring-bulbs flower from as early as the end of | | | | winter after winter. Tender bulbs need to be dug up |
| winter until the middle of June. The start of a bulbs' | | | | or 'lifted' and stored indoors for the winter then |
| life is the best way to ensure amazing looking | | | | replanted each and every spring. |
| flowers. | | | | If you happen to live in zone 9 or 10 you need to |
| Here are my garden design tips for best looking | | | | pick your bulbs carefully. Bulbs need to be activated |
| flowering bulbs; | | | | by going though a cold period followed by a warm |
| - Purchase your bulbs just prior to planting. | | | | growing season. In colder climates this is easily |
| - Pick the largest bulb in the variety you've chosen | | | | achieved by Mother Nature herself. Plant the bulbs in |
| because it will be the most mature and produce the | | | | the fall and let winter do the job. For the warmer |
| healthiest flower. | | | | zones, you need to do Mother Nature's job by placing |
| - Plant the bulb six weeks before the 1st frost at a | | | | the bulbs in a breathable mesh bag and placing that |
| depth of 3 times the bulb's width. | | | | bag in the fridge. After the required number of |
| - Remember to fertilize the bulb hole with specific | | | | weeks, simply plant the bulbs as instructed. |