BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Shop for Bulbs by Mail Order

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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For the most glorious flower display in spring, you need to order and plant great bulbs in fall. Mail-order catalogs provide the biggest selection. Here's how to shop wisely and get the best show possible.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Pencils

Step1

Send for two or three mail-order bulb catalogs. If you don't have favorites, look for ads in garden magazines or check books on bulbs.

Step2

Peruse the catalog, jotting down possibilities based on color, bloom time, height, ability to grow in sun or shade, and climate adaptation.

Step3

Make sure to note how close the bulbs can be planted (the catalog may say, but you might have to double-check in a bulb book) so you know how many you need for each planting area.

Step4

Select hardy spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, crocus and hyacinths, for fall delivery and planting.

Step5

Choose tender summer-flowering bulbs, such as begonias and gladiolus, for spring delivery and planting.

Step6

Double-check catalog information on delivery times. Make sure they're right for your area.

Step7

Fill out the order form as described in the catalog. If you have questions, call the 800 number.

Step8

Mail in your order or order by phone. Pay by check or credit card.

Tips & Warnings

Bulb catalogs generally start arriving in late spring and early summer. That's when you'll get the best deals and greatest selection - some varieties may be sold out later.
If you order bulbs like tulips and hyacinths, which usually need chilling, make sure they'll be delivered early enough for you to store them in the refrigerator for eight weeks before planting. Or order prechilled bulbs.
Bargain bulbs are not always as good a deal as they may seem. They're often smaller or lower-quality bulbs that don't bloom as well as more expensive choices.