Delayed gratification is a foreign concept to many people these days, but it’s a virtue gardeners must embrace in order to enjoy the vibrant blooms of daffodils, spring crocus and hyacinth this spring.
October and November are the ideal time for most S.C. gardeners to plant spring-flowering bulbs (coastal residents can wait until December), which need to experience a season of cold temperatures in order to bloom properly. For many gardeners, it’s a real act of faith to nestle those little brown lumps into the cool fall earth and then wait patiently for the first warmth of spring to coax vibrant flowers from bare ground, but if you follow a few basic tips, the results will be spectacular.
Prepare the ground: For better blooms, choose a site that receives full sun to part shade in the early spring. Planting under deciduous trees is fine for the early bloomers like snow bells, leucojum, and most daffodils, because the trees won’t develop their full shade-casting foliage until after these bulbs are beginning to go dormant.
Flowering bulbs cannot stand “wet feet,” so look for well-draining soil. You can also improve soil drainage by adding 2 to 3 inches of organic matter, such as compost or soil conditioner, into the bed and tilling it in 10 to 12 inches deep. While building the bed, correct any soil pH or nutrient problems by incorporating lime and fertilizer as recommended by a soil test report. Most gardeners also find that an application of bone meal at planting aids in root development.
Choose bulbs carefully: Look for bulbs that are firm and not bruised or moldy. Larger bulbs will generally produce more and larger flowers, but they may cost extra. I usually choose medium-sized bulbs. Plant your bulbs right away if you can, otherwise store them in a dry place between 60–65 degrees F.
Plant in groupings: Flowering bulbs have the greatest visual effect when planted in masses. I generally group at least 10 bulbs together in a bed, but the more the better.
Spacing between individual bulbs depends on the bulb size. The largest bulbs should be spaced 3 inches to 6 inches apart, while small bulbs can be spaced 1 inch to 2 inches from each other. Purchased bulbs usually come with instructions that detail how deep to plant them, but a general rule is to plant a bulb three to four times as deep as its width. So a bulb that measures 1½ inches across would be planted approximately 5 inches deep. Once the bulbs are set and covered with soil, water them to settle the soil and apply two to three inches of mulch over the bed.
Bulbs require little care after planting. A light fertilizer application just as the shoots emerge in the spring may be helpful. Don’t remove the foliage after flowering. The green leaves feed the bulb and provide energy for next year’s flowers. Planted properly, springflowering bulbs (except for tulips which are treated as annuals in the South) will provide years of earlyspring color.
S. Cory Tanner is an area horticulture agent for Clemson Extension based in Greenville County. His responsibilities include coordinating the Greenville County Master Gardener program and providing home gardening advice. Contact Tanner at shannt@clemson.edu.