Gardening Tips and Highlights

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Bulbs for spring planting              

by Christine Yesko

It may be pushing the season a little but why not think about the many bulbs that can be planted this coming spring.

When many of us think of planting bulbs, the usual suspects come to mind- tulips, daffodils, crocus, and the rest of the spring flowering beauties that help usher in warmer temperatures and sunnier days.  But there are a number of other bulbs that, if planted soon, will add pops of vibrant color to the summer gardens and will serve as a welcome pick-me-up later when perennials may be flagging.  Here are a few to get your summer garden growing:

Dinner Plate Dahlias:  Available in various heights, colors, and sizes, they are easy to grow and bloom consistently from summer right into fall.

Canna Lilies:  They transport you into the tropics with their brightly colored flowers and their eye-catching foliage.  They love the heat and full sun and mulch plants and water deeply once a week to keep the soil moist.

Asiatic Lilies: With their trumpet-shaped flowers and fragrant which make them attractive to bees, butterflies, and people too.  Bulbs are easy to grow and are relatively carefree, as long as they’re planted in well-drained soil with six to eight hours of sunlight.

Gladiolus:  Planted in spring, they will provide show-stopping blooms through the season.  They should be planted in full sun, and prefer well-drained, sandy soil.  They look great grouped in a vase with other flowers.

Caladium: Have a tough-to-fill shady spot in the garden?  Here’s the bulb for that.  They are hardy and easy to grow and are known for their elegant foliage, which comes in various colors.  These can be started indoors for a jump start to the growing season.

Now I know what you’re thinking about these bulbs, for our zone they will not tolerate our winter temperatures and have to be removed in the fall.  It isn’t that hard to over-winter these bulbs, just dig them up, shake off the dirt, and layer the bulbs in containers filled with newspaper, then store them in a cool dry location such as a garage or unheated basement. Don’t forget to label your bulbs.

 

In early spring you can start the bulbs indoors or wait till soil temperatures warm up, and plant the bulbs to enjoy plus you saved yourself some money.  Hope this gets your gardening juices started, think spring.   

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