They arrived in early October and I’ve been working to get them into the ground – my annual over-indulgent purchase of spring-flowering bulbs.
I had no idea how heavy the box would be as I ran jubilantly to meet the UPS man at the end of the driveway the day the bulbs were delivered.
“I’ll take them,” I said. “They’re heavy,” he warned. “How heavy can a few bags of bulbs be?” I thought. Plenty heavy – somehow I got the box to the porch without humiliating myself in front of a package-handling professional.
The weight on the label: 54 pounds!
I always, always plant daffodils. I’ve been planting them for fourteen autumns now – naturalizing large clumps along the banks of an agricultural drainage ditch (reminiscent of a babbling brook in the spring) that cuts through our yard.
Then there are the tulips. They are amassed underneath the two maple trees which flank the entrance to our driveway and in various perennial beds and borders.
The bulbs are the last big planting of the year and I look forward to it. Even when the weather is not all that great, I’m glad to be out in the fresh air soaking up the last hints of mildness before the cutting winds of winter take over. The process is also ripe with the hope of spring to come. The vision in my mind of the daffodils in full bloom gets me through the long months of winter.
I probably wait a bit too long to plant my bulbs. Earlier in October would give them more time to establish root systems the way they are supposed to after planting. But there are so many jobs that beg to be accomplished that it’s usually into November before I’m done. I’ve read the bulbs will be fine – they simply hold off on sending out roots until spring – the only difference is they bloom slightly later than in following years.
The spring bulbs are practically fool-proof. They need a spot with sun and good drainage, but other than that, they are not very demanding. Mice and chipmunks can feast on them and fortunately for me, that has not been a problem in my yard – I don’t know why, we have enough of the little critters around.
Any disappointment I have (and it is not significant) is from the ups and downs of springtime weather. Warmth in March will bring the daffodils along only to have the flush of blooms buried in a late snow or thrashed by winds and heavy rain.Amazingly, though, they usually come through and provide a spectacular display and plenty of extra blooms to bring inside for the spring table.
If you have bulbs and notice clumps that are not flowering vigorously, they probably need to be divided. Once the leaves have turned yellow next spring, you can dig them up and divide. Replant soon after – you don’t have to wait until fall. Be patient, though, the newly divided bulbs may need more than one season before they begin to bloom.
If you are planting bulbs this fall, group them in drifts rather than single-file. I plant anywhere from 10 to 25 in a single large hole.
You should water the bulbs after planting, but I usually find the ground is moist and we get frequent enough rains at this time of year that I don’t have to worry about it.
This fall I also planted a little something different – Oriental poppies at the home of my mother-in-law. She has always admired the poppies I grow and was asking me to save seed. I decided to order some bare roots from a catalog and give them to her as a birthday present.
I love the over-the-top blooms of Oriental poppies. I have bright red and orange ones as well as fuchsia and peach colored varieties. They are amazing in a bouquet (singe the cut end with a candle before placing in the vase) and I have neighbors with long-established plantings that are large and striking to see around Memorial Day each spring.
However, they can look pretty sad once the blooms fade and the foliage begins to die back. You can cut the foliage back when it starts to yellow and not damage the plant. Early fall is the best time to plant them and once they have a home, they are very easy to care for, but they don’t like to be moved, so pick the spot wisely. They like full sun and well-drained soil.
Spending a little time in the fall planting spring blooming bulbs and perennials is enjoyable and certainly makes for a colorful and happy spring right outside your door.
10/27/13
