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Some Favorite Garden Bulbs
By Lee Dobbins
Bulbs are a great addition to any garden as they will provide
color year after year and can even provide additional flowers to be divided
and planted in another part of the garden. Unlike, annuals, bulb flowers do
not need to be planted each year.
Bulbs are hardy in nature and there is a color, shape or size
that should suit any gardening need. Here are some favorite garden bulbs and
their planting needs.
Crocus
Crocus bulbs are often the fist blooms we see in early spring or at the end
of winter. Their tubular shaped flowers range in size from 1˝" to 3"
long. Crocuses are planting in almost every garden and have a wide range of
colors to suite any taste. Other types of crocus, such as the saffron crocus,
bloom instead in the fall, and the flowers can rise from the bare ground
weeks, or even only days, after the bulbs are planted. Crocus bulbs should be
planted in the fall. Plant the bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep and space 3 or 4
inches apart. Crocuses require well drained soil, regular watering and will
grow in full sun or partial shade.
Dahlia
Dahlias have a long bloom time from summer through fall and like many other
bulbs come in a large variety of colors, sizes and shapes. These flowers are
so diverse that there are varieties with flower sizes ranging from 2 to 12
inches and from under a foot to 7 feet tall! Plant dahlias in spring after
threat of frost has passed. Plant between 4 and 6 inches deep with spacing of
1 foot for short varieties and 5 feet for the tall variety's. Dahlias like
full sun unless you are planting them in a very hot climate where they might
do well with a little shade. As with most flowers, make sure these are
watered regularly.
Galanthus Nivalis
This plant is more commonly called the snowdrop and is one of the first
plants to bloom after winter. They are short plants about 6 inches tall and
have two bell shaped flowers. They thrive in colder climates. Plant snowdrops
in fall, dig down 3 to 4 inches and plant 3 inches apart. These flowers like
full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Water regularly during the growing
cycle.
Daffodil
The daffodil may be the most easily recognizable of all bulb plants, and it
rewards its gardener with a generous display of beautiful blooms. Besides the
traditional white and yellow varieties, daffodils also come in shades of
orange, apricot, pink and cream. Daffodil bulbs should be planted twice as
deep as they are tall, and they should be spaced between six and eight inches
apart. Daffodils benefit from full sun and regular watering during their
growth and bloom periods.
Tulip
Tulips are a favorite flower around the world and one of the most easy to
recognize. These are among the most hybridized of all flowers, with hybrids
available in a staggering array of shapes, sizes, colors and textures. Tulips
bloom from mid spring to late spring with different varieties having
different bloom times. Tulips should be planted in fall and each bulb should
be planted about 3 times deeper than the size of the bulb. A 2" wide
bulb would be planted 6" deep. It is important to leave sufficient space
between the planted bulbs as well, from four to eight inches depending on the
size of the bulb.
Gladiolus
Gladiolas are among the most popular of all bulb plants, and their
distinctive sword shaped leaves and funnel shaped flowers are instantly
recognizable to gardeners and non-gardeners alike.
Gladiolas are best planted in
the spring, but only after the soil has warmed. Gladiolas do best in full
sunlight and they should be watered regularly during their blooming and
growth phase. In much of the country, gladiola bulbs can be left in the
ground over the winter months, but many gardeners choose to dig them up and
store them during the winter. If you decide to take this approach, it is best
to dig them after the leaves have turned yellow. The bulbs should be placed
in a single layer and stored in a cool, dry and dark place to dry for two or
three weeks. After the bulbs have dried sufficiently they should be stored in
nylon stockings or onion sacks and kept in a cool and well ventilated place.
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis is the scientific name for the daylily, and it is one of the
most well known types of bulb plants on the market. Daylily hybrids can grow
as tall as six feet and bloom in the spring and summer months. The daylily
produces flowers ranging in size from three to eight inches, and they are
available in a wide variety of colors. The daylily is actually a tuberous
root variety of bulb, and they are best planted during fall or early spring.
Daylilies should be planted between ˝ inch and 1 inch deep and space between
2 to 2˝ inches apart in the garden. As with other varieties of bulbs, it is
important to water daylilies on a regular basis during their growing season.
Hyacinths (Dutch Hyacinth)
The Dutch hyacinth is one of the most instantly recognizable, and most
popular, of all the varieties of bulb plants. The Dutch hyacinth blooms in
the spring and features the well known foot high spires with their small bell
shaped and very fragrant flowers. Hyacinths come in a wide varieties of
colors, including red, pink, buff, white, blue and purple. The Dutch hyacinth
grows best in colder areas, and it can last from year to year. In these cold
water climates, the hyacinth is best planted in September of October. It is
best to plant hyacinth bulbs four to five inches deep, and to space them from
four to five inches apart as well. Hyacinths grow best in full sunlight, and
they benefit from regular watering, especially during their blooming and
growth periods.
Iris
The most frequently seen variety of irises are the bearded varieties. Bearded
irises are striking plants, and they appear in a dazzling array of colors and
combinations of colors. Irises appear in a variety of sizes as well, with
very small varieties and very large ones as well. Irises should be planted in
July or August in cold climates and in September or October in warmer areas.
Irises are actually rhizomes, and they should be spaced from one to two feet
apart, with the tops placed right below the surface of the soil. Irises grow
best in full sunlight or light shade, and they benefit from a regular
watering schedule during their growing season.
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Copyright by Lee Dobbins
Lee Dobbins writes for Backyard Garden and Patio where you can find
more articles on gardening, garden ponds, garden decor and much more.
Article
Source: http://www.freegardeningarticles.com
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