Spring Flowering Bulbs

Now is the time to start thinking about next spring. Yes, spring. How did your landscape look last February, March and April? Did you have a blast of color every few weeks or was your yard a colorless blend of shades of brown? You can easily extend your colorful landscape by adding spring flowering bulbs. Plan now, plant soon, enjoy later!

Planting time in the Denver Metro Area is between Halloween and Thanksgiving. You will hear that the ideal time to plant is September, but I strongly disagree. Bulbs need 8-10 weeks of cold in the ground before sprouting. In the Denver area, our September soil is still quite warm. You can plant as late as mid December as long as the ground isn't frozen.

Planning/planting tips:

1. Dig a large hole and plant many bulbs together. DON'T plant them individually. Think bouquet. You can plant different species in the same hole. Just pay attention to the planting depth of each species.

2. Use bulb food. You can purchase this where you purchase your bulbs. This will give your bulbs a good boost of energy!

3. Plant different species that bloom at different times for an extended display of color. i.e. Daffodils, mid spring Tulips, late spring Tulips, etc.

4. Plant them where you can see them. (Not on the side of the garage.) Plant them where you can see them outside a window you look out several times a day or at least every day. This will seem to extend their bloom time.

5. Plant bulb species that multiply or 'naturalize'. This means each year you have more blooms instead of having to plant more bulbs.

6. Plant perennials like Daylilies in front of the bulbs. The bulbs will come up first and won't be obstructed by the perennials and when the bulbs are dying back, the perennials will block the view of the yellowing foliage.

If you are interested in a customized bulb plan for your yard, contact Blue Iris.

Michelle@BlueIrisLandscapes.com
303.346.8115