How to Plant Crocus
Crocuses emerge in early spring, as soon as the snow has begun to melt and the ground thaws enough for leaves to burst from the ground. These delightful splashes of color often push their way through snow and ice announcing the arrival of spring in style. Growing crocuses involves planting crocus corms in the fall and waiting until spring to see the results of your work. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Choose a sunny location where the soil is not too soggy in the spring. Along foundations and near rocks that draw the sun in the spring are good choices. You can even plant crocuses under deciduous trees that shade your yard in the summer. Crocuses will emerge and bloom long before the trees leave out. Choose an area where you will be able to observe your crocuses from a window and enjoy their colorful display.
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Prepare the soil by digging to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. Remove any rocks, roots or other debris. Be sure to turn the soil well. Add plenty of well composted organic matter to increase air circulation and to improve water retention. Mix this in well with the existing soil.
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Add bulb fertilizer, following the manufacturer's recommended amount. Some prefer to add the bulb fertilizer after planting the bulbs by sprinkling it over the top of the soil and working it into the top 2 or 3 inches of loose soil. The method you use is up to you. Be sure the fertilizer is mixed into the existing soil to prevent damage to young roots.
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Plant the corms to a depth of 2 inches from the top of the corm. When planting crocuses, it is best to group in odd numbers for a more natural look. Groups of three, five or seven make interesting groupings. Crocuses aren't fussy about being overcrowded so fit in as many as you can to bring a bright splash of color in the spring.
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Water thoroughly to give the crocuses a good start. Cover with 2 inches of mulch, if preferred. Sit back and wait for spring and enjoy the results of all your work.
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Tips & Warnings
Crocuses reproduce by corms--small bulb-like stems. Each year the crocus will form tiny baby corms that can be found around the mother corm. These can be dug and planted for new crocus plants or left to spread on their own, creating a massive display of color within a few years.
