Fall Planting of Bulbs
WHY SO EARLY?
A common characteristic of most bulbous plants is that their vegetation phase begins in early spring, followed by a dormant phase during summer, autumn and winter. Don't worry, almost all of them are frost-resistant, although there are exceptions that will be killed by frost, so you need to protect them at lower temperatures, for example in a winter garden. A typical example of a plant that must be protected from frost is the African lily.
Bulbous plants are thus a special type of perennial. When planting them, attention must be paid to depth. Small species need 5 to 10 cm, larger ones should be planted about 15-20 cm deep in the ground. A good rule of thumb is that hole depth = 2.5x bulb size. Don't forget that bulbs are always planted with the "tip" pointing down. This helps their roots to establish better.
If you don't want your daffodils or tulips to look "lonely" and want them to grow in beautiful clusters, plant their bulbs in small groups. Place smaller bulbs in holes in groups of 5, larger ones in groups of 6 to 7.
QUALITY SOIL? THE KEY TO SUCCESS
For bulbs to establish successfully, it's important to plant them in well-draining and nutrient-rich soil. If you don't have such soil, don't worry. Simply dig a sufficiently large hole and place gravel or sand mixed with soil at the bottom. Another great helper is cow manure, which provides the soil with a large amount of nutrients. An excellent option is Forestina manure, which you can use in your garden throughout the year, whether for greenhouse planting or for ornamental woody plants.
TREATING BULBS
A key step before actual planting is the so-called treating process. This involves soaking the bulbs in a special solution that cleanses and protects the plants against dangerous gray mold, pests, root necrosis, or diseases affecting the above-ground parts of the plant. Before we start treating the bulbs, we sort through them - we won't plant visibly damaged or rotten ones at all, as they wouldn't establish. We soak the rest for 20 to 30 minutes in the solution (the time may vary for different solutions). You can use, for example, FOLICUR SBM fungicide, which is suitable for all ornamental plants.
We place the treated bulbs into the holes, cover them with soil, and then comes another important step - we must water them so their root system becomes activated. Perlite could be useful for you, as it aerates the soil, stabilizes moisture, and works against molds and microorganisms.
Before the first frosts arrive, we cover the existing planting with fallen leaves or dry grass.
WHERE TO PLANT?
You can choose a location virtually anywhere. Bulbs are most commonly planted along pathways and garden paths, and irregular planting in lawns is also an option. If you choose this option, it's recommended to plant only plants that bloom at the very beginning of spring - before the first lawn mowing. If you were to cut off their green leaves, you would weaken them and they might not bloom the following season.