Spring Bulb Planting

Plant Bulbs for Spring

Here is a good reference for bulb planting to keep in your garden files for next years planting season for bulbs.
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Step 1. Choose Your Bulbs
It's important to choose healthy bulbs. Avoid bulbs that are dry and withered or spongy and moldy. The best bulbs are firm and plump. As a rule of thumb, larger bulbs tend to produce more flowers.
Before picking your bulbs, consider the color scheme you'd like to create. If you want a natural and varied look, choose bulbs that produce contrasting colors and a range of heights. For a more uniform garden, choose flower bulbs that will bloom in shades of the same color. Check the plant's height on the package and plant low-growing bulbs in front of taller ones.

Step 2. Choose a Site
Since bulbs prefer full sun exposure, choosing the right gardening site is essential. Bulbs also need to be planted in rich, well-draining soil, which will help feed the bulbs underground, improving the quality of your springtime bloom. You must also have proper drainage in your garden because bulbs can easily rot in conditions that are too wet.
Helpful Tip: If you need to improve drainage in the area where bulbs are planted, add compost or peat moss to your soil.

Step 3. Ready the Soil
Bulbs need to be planted before the ground freezes so they have time to develop strong roots. Planting in autumn gives the roots plenty of growing time before spring. Use a garden tiller or trowel to loosen your soil. Remove any weeds or unwanted vegetation from the area using a Rototiller to splice the garden. Go over the area again crosswise to cut the soil up further.
When you're ready to begin planting, dig 8" holes for larger bulbs and 5" holes for smaller bulbs using a bulb planter. If you don't have a ruler handy, a good guide is to plant the bulbs twice as deep as they are tall. Check the bulbs' packages to determine spacing and exact planting depth. The larger the bulbs, the more space you should allow between them.

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