Mixed bulbs – Jonathan Wright, Chanticleer Garden
Put your sleeping pots to work this winter!
Nothing says “welcome spring” like the blooms of tulips, daffodils and hyacinth. Imagine how nice your patio, deck or front porch would look with a pot of seasonal color. If you’re planning to plant bulbs in your beds or landscape, why not hold some out and plant some bulbs in pots.
Easy to Do
Fill your container with potting mix (don’t use garden soil) and plant your bulbs as deeply as you would in the ground, for instance, 6 or 7 inches deep for tulips and daffodils, and 4 or 5 inches deep for smaller bulbs such as crocus. A good rule of thumb is to plant as you would in the ground, a a soil depth of twice the diameter of the bulb. Water your bulbs well after planting. The good potting soil will allow good drainage and the bulbs won’t sit in soggy soil. Water periodically during the winter.
Maximum Impact
Planting only one type of bulbs per container gives you the maximum impact. Tulips are great because of their simple form and the wide variety of colors. By choosing bulbs with staggered bloom times, you have have a succession of flowers in different pots from early March through mid-May.
In a 24 inch container, you could plant at least 30 large daffodils or even squeeze in 50 smaller flowered daffodils. Don’t be skimpy.
Planting More than One Type of Bulbs in Same Container
To plant a container with different species of bulbs, plant the larger bulbs first, then cover them with soil until it’s at the proper depth to plant the smaller bulbs. Fill the container with soil to just below the rim so there’s room for easy watering. At each layer in the pot you have soil-bulbs, soil-bulbs. In the spring, you’ll have a nice progression of bloom
Fine a Protected Place to Overwinter
If you have a protected place outdoors close to the house, and somewhat protected from the wind, you could leave your pot outdoors. Place some evergreen branches, maybe from your Christmas tree, around and on top for added protection. However, don’t forget to remove the branches when the foliage starts to emerge. Another location that works well is an unheated garage against the inside wall of the house. This basically acts as a coldframe. If they get too dry, water just a bit. Be careful about using terra cotta pots because they need the maximum amount of protection from the freezing weather. Frost-proof pots are best.
Spring flowering bulbs are a good investment: with a small amount of money and a little planning you can look forward to vibrant color next spring. Need help with your spring bulb planting in your landscape? Fall is the perfect time to take action. Contact us today and let Whitehouse Landscaping plant some bulbs so your yard is full of color next spring.