Planting and Caring for Flower Bulbs


Getting the perfect garden requires work. The beautiful flowers you see starting to appear in the spring are the result of getting the planting right and looking after your bulbs.  Fortunately, it is easier than you think to plant and care for flower bulbs; as this guide will show you.  Planting and Caring for Flower Bulbs

But don’t forget there is more to the garden than just planting and caring for flower bulbs. To really appreciate the flowers and the shape of your garden you need to keep the grass cut, the borders well maintained and create a seating area to enjoy it all from.

You may want to take a look at the range of lawnmowers and other garden equipment available here at Sproutabl to help you with these tasks.

Get The Planting Time Right

If you have flower bulbs that are supposed to flower between January and March you’ll need to plant them in September or October. Equally if you’re hoping to have the flowers bloom in March, April or May then you need to plant them in October or November.

The flowering decision is not yours! Different bulbs flower at different times; you need to know what you’re planting and when they are supposed to flower. You can then create your planting schedule.

The Planting Process

You may prefer to install raised flower beds before you start planting. These are much easier to work with and are less likely to attract weeds. It is important to give the bulbs enough room; in general, this is approximately 6 inches but it does depend on what you are planting; be sure to check before you unpack the bulbs.

The first step in planting is to loosen the soil. This simply means using your fork to break it all up. It is advisable to loosen the first 10 inches of soil.  You can then position the bulbs in your desired locations. They should be approximately 6 inches below the soil. This allows them to stay warm and dormant until the weather indicates it’s time for them to flower.

The loosen soil will help them to establish their roots properly.

Mixing It Up

It is acceptable to simply scatter the bulbs into your flower beds and then cover them with soil; providing they have at least 4 inches of soil on top of them.  Scattering will create more of a wild garden effect than the organized planting option. It is even possible to plant the bulbs in the grass; just carefully remove the turf to create the hole and then put it back after the bulb is in position.

This will give you bulbs appearing everywhere!

It’s important to note that while depth is good for your bulbs, they should never be planted deeper then the depth of the bulb itself and every type of bulb is planted at different depths, be sure to check the packaging.

Looking After The Bulb

Once the bulbs are in the ground you don’t actually need to do a lot. It is a good idea to add fertilizer to the soil when they reach the growing season. However, this should be organic and in moderation; you don’t want to suffocate and weaken the plants.

It is worth deadheading the flowers once they have finished for the season. This guide to deadheading flowers will show you how, and it will help to return the nutrient to the bulb.

Annual bulbs should store all the nutrients they need for the following year it’s only perennials that will need fertilizers to get them started. You can actually leave the bulbs in and enjoy your garden throughout the year.

Gardening Tips:
Practical Principles of Gardening You Should Learn
Plants for Your Container Garden
7 Most Beautiful Red Flowers That You Should Add To Your Garden


About Karren Haller

I am a +70 Blogger that loves connecting with other women through blogging. A new recipe always intrigues, finding a new craft, creating bracelets occasionally and gardening is a favorite and writing brand reviews is a favorite for my readers. But most of all the connection to other bloggers. Creativity, simple life and getting things done