Proper prep in December results in “bulb lawns” in the spring.
Want to be the envy of all your neighbors this spring? Create a bulb lawn this winter and while everyone else is scrambling for blooms in March and early April, you’ll be sitting back with a smile on your face.
My friend Joe Lamp’l, the Joe in joegardener.com and creator of the national PBS program “Growing a Greener World,” did just that a couple of years ago at his GardenFarm in North Georgia. Now every spring this part of his property is a showplace of color. He teamed up with the folks from Flowerbulbs.com to plant a mixture of bulbs with overlapping bloom times to assure a long-lasting palette of blooms.
How you can have a colorful carpet of spring color?
Decide as soon as possible what bulbs you want to plant and order them from a reputable supplier. Check out companies like longfield-gardens.com, brecks.com, dutchbulbs.com, hollandbulbfarms.com or edenbrothers.com for inspiration. Consider crocuses, Spanish blue bells that come in pink and blue, Grecian windflowers, miniature daffodils called “tete e tete,” grape hyacinths, snow drops and miniature irises.
“Be sure to check on the bloom times so that you can extend the color show,” Lamp’l said. “Don’t be afraid to try several types of spring bulbs.”
Order in bulk for the best pricing. If you don’t own one, purchase an extended shaft bulb auger that can fit a standard drill. It will make planting bulbs so much quicker and easier, especially in our Georgia clay. Box retailers often have power augers for short-term rental, which can save money.
Prepare the planting space by marking off the plot with water soluble landscape paint. Divide it into sections to allow for easy maintenance. If you’re doing a large area, it will be less daunting to plant in sections, perhaps in successive years.
Once the bulbs arrive, dump all the bulbs into a bucket and mix them up. “You can either plant them in rows or grab a handful and toss them into a random pattern, planting them where they fall,” Lamp’l said. “I’ve found that most people prefer randomization to more closely mimic nature and extend the bloom season.”
He said the rule of thumb is to dig the holes about three times the size of the bulb: for 2-inch bulbs, dig a 6-inch hole, and if the bulb is 1-inch, dig the hole 3 inches deep. If you like, add about a tablespoon or a fat pinch of bulb food to each hole; a slow-release type like Milorganite works well. Insert the bulb flat side down; backfill the hole and lightly tamp down the soil.
“If you err on either side, you should still be OK.”
Adding a layer of mulch can help insulate the soil and retain moisture. If rainfall is scant, water once or twice a month. If you are concerned about critters foraging, cover the bulb planting with hardware cloth; then remove it in late winter before the bulb foliage begins to emerge.
“That’s all there is to it – a one-and-done project,” he said. “Over the years, the bulbs will multiply increasing the impact of the show. So just sit back and enjoy.”
Here’s the link to Joe’s YouTube channel at www.growingagreenerworld.com/author/ggwtv/. It’s searchable and offers access to his 12 seasons of his shows on Public Television.
Photo: courtesy of Joe Lamp’l
