Gardening - Planting Bulbs to Light Up Your Garden - By: Jay Benjamin

Bulbs can be some of the most rewarding plants to grow, producing masses of beautiful flowers year after year, for relatively little work.

Planting Bulbs

Bulbs can be planted in dedicated beds, dotted around your garden amongst other plants, or in containers. Whatever the location, bulbs need a well-drained soil, since they will rot if the ground is sodden. As a general rule, they should be planted at a depth two or three times the height of the bulb. It's a good idea to make a deeper hole and mix in some organic matter so the roots have good soil to grow into. You can also add some fertilizer, preferably one high in phosphorus, since this will encourage good roots and flowers. Plant the bulbs with the point upwards and the root plate downwards, press them down well into the soil to make sure the roots aren't suspended in the air, and fill in the hole, pressing down firmly. Make sure you water them in well. Adding a thick layer of mulch will help prevent weed growth and ensure the soil retains moisture.

Using Containers

There are many advantages to planting your bulbs in containers, as you have complete control over the environment your bulbs are growing in and can even move them around if desired. It also makes it easier to control pests (mice are particularly fond of eating bulbs). A carefully planned container garden can look stunning, and is a great option for those tight on space. If you choose this method, remember that the soil in a container will dry out faster than that in a garden, so you need to keep them regularly watered. Avoid overwatering though, permanently soggy soil is a recipe for disaster.

Maintenance

Spring and summer bulbs should be watered when the buds first start showing and from then on once a week if the soil is dry. They may need quite a lot of water in order for it to reach the bulb's roots, which are probably 6 or 8 inches down. Don't overdo it though, or the bulbs will rot. Deadhead the flowers as necessary, apart from making the plant look nicer, it will stop it from putting unnecessary energy into producing seeds. However, it's important not to cut back the leaves until they go yellow and die back naturally. This is because they are vital for the bulb to produce and store the energy it will need for the following year's growth.

About the Author

The author writes articles on health and other matters, both on- and offline. Take a look at her website about using surround sound wireless speakers and 7.1 surround sound systems.

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