The Lazy Gardner....

Want to know a way to make your yard look beautiful year after year?  Plant bulbs.  Yes it's that simple.  Not only do these little wonders come up every year, but they multiply all on their own so your garden gets fuller each year.  There is only one trick with bulbs, you have to think about planting them in advance.  For example, spring bulbs need to be planted in the fall and summer in the spring.  Normally you can find bulbs in abundance at local hardware stores or superstores as well as places like Costco at the time of year you should be planting them.  There isn't much maintenance to these little guys either.  Fertilize them in the spring with a bulb fertilizer when the snow melts and then again in the fall before it starts to snow.

Once you have decided to plant your bulbs, find a spot in your yard that has quite a bit of full sun and that doesn't have drainage problems.  Work the soil a bit with some potting soil and or fertilizer so that it is soft and nutrient rich.  If you live in an area that has a lot of clay in the soil you may choose to add some compost or clay buster to help soften the soil.  Next, dig a hole between 5" and 8" deep depending on the bulb (follow the directions on the back of the package).  Place the bulb point up (not the flat side) so that it will grow up out of the ground when the time comes.  Cover with dirt but don't pack it down to hard as to avoid damaging the bulb. Fertilize and let them be.  In the spring you will see your little bulbs emerge.  Keep in mind that not all bulbs have the same growing season so you may want to plan out your garden area so that you have several types of bulbs coming up in the same area so that you don't have any empty spots.  For example, daffodils bloom before tulips so if you place them near each other, as one dies back the other will be growing in.

After the blooming has stopped I recommend letting your bulbs die back a little.  Don't just go out and whack them all down.  They need the nutrients from the plant in order to grow again the next year.  Once they have dried out and turned brown, then you can remove the excess leaves and such my gently twisting to one side and pulling to release.  Don't pull too hard though or you will have to replant your bulb.

If you aren't sure when you should plant bulbs or what type will do well in your area, check out this handy reference.

In the meantime, enjoy springtime and happy planting.