Planting bulbs is an excellent way to grow a colorful garden.  With bulbs, you typically have hardy plants that will thrive year after year.  For many gardeners, planting flowers bulbs is the one aspect of gardening that they absolutely love.  Although tulips are the most popular of all flower bulbs, you will have a wonderful variety to include crocus, daffodils, and others.  Additionally, most flower bulbs produce incredible flowers with unique shapes and color.  Other bulbs to consider include:

• Hyacinth – Camassia
• Windflowers – Anemone blanda
• Snake’s Head – Fritillaria
• Guinea Hen – Fritillaria meleagris
• Persian – Fritillaria Persica
• Bulgarian Ornamental Onion – Nectaroscordum siculum

Just remember when planting flower bulbs that if they are put in the ground first, adding other plants without disturbing the bulbs would be a challenge.  Therefore, when planning the garden design, you want to put the actual plants in first and then add the bulbs.  Another consideration is to leave adequate room.  Too often, people will become a little carried away with bulbs, forgetting that the flowers produced need room to grow.  Therefore, make sure you place the bulbs the appropriate distance recommended, keeping smaller bulbs one to three inches apart and larger bulbs up to six inches apart.  Other valuable information includes the following:

• Consider the type of flower bulbs that will complement any nearby perennials along with spring-flowering shrubs.  This would include time of bloom, color of bloom, and the height of the plants.

• Choose a display that will have a huge impact in the springtime.  By planting numerous bulbs in one specific area close to the house, you will create an impressive grouping of flowers more than, if you planted bulbs in several different places.  The result is a strong bouquet that is gorgeous and more dramatic.

• Be sure you plant a variety of bulbs together or perhaps in layers.  This creates depth and variety, keeping the flower garden interesting.

• The way in which the bulbs are position will also influence the final look.  You might try planting the bulbs in a triangular pattern, keeping the point to the front.

• Plant the flower bulbs in September through October, or about six weeks before your typical first frost.  This gives the plant time to establish its roots before the winter.

• Try to choose the largest bulbs possible, as these are mature and will produce larger flowers and plants

• If you were not available to plant the bulbs for a few days after purchase, then you should store them in a dark, dry, and cool place such as the basement, garage, or perhaps a closet.  You can even use the vegetable crisper in the refrigerator but make sure any ripening fruit is kept elsewhere or it will cause the bulbs to burn from emitted gas.

• The spring-flowering bulbs will thrive in both partial and full sun.  Regardless, the bulbs will need good drainage, not allowing them to become soggy.

• Finally, do not be shy with the number of bulbs you plant.  You will have a much more beautiful garden by planting more bulbs than fewer.  For small gardens, plant from six to twelve bulbs and for larger gardens, plant up to twenty-four bulbs.

• As the ground begins to cool, sprinkle about three inches of mulch on the soil’s surface.  This could be manure, compost, shredded leaves, or fine bark.  The purpose is to help keep the soil from drying out and to help winter temperatures maintain during the winter.

• Do not apply fertilizer when you plant the bulbs since they have already been fattened for blooming.  Now, after the bulbs have been in place for a couple of seasons, you can then use manure or organic compost, applying about three inches directly on top of the soil.