How to Prepare Beds to Plant Bulbs

Garden bed prep

Planting hardy spring bulbs in the fall prepares your garden for a profusion of brightly colored blooms in early spring. Although choosing a site that receives adequate light for the specific bulbs you are growing is essential, proper soil preparation is equally important to allow bulbs to develop strong root systems to support blooms in the spring. Without loose, well-drained soil, your bulbs are likely to suffer even when provides adequate light. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• Garden tiller
• Peat moss
• Compost
• Manure
• 10-10-10 fertilizer
• Bone meal

Instructions

1. Till the soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches. Some bulbs, such as large tulips and daffodils, require a planting depth of 8 inches. Loose soil beneath the bulb encourages root growth and allows you to add needed fertilizer beneath the bulb when planting.

2. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic matter. Well-rotted manure, compost or peat moss, or a combination of these products, provide a source of slow-release nutrients and improve the texture of the soil. They also improve aeration and promote drainage.

3. Mix the organic matter into the top 6 to 8 inches of the soil with hand tools or a garden tiller.

4. Dig a hole to the recommended depth for each bulb, spacing them according to their recommended spacing.

5. Add 5 tablespoons of 10-10-10 fertilizer and 2 cups of bone meal in the planting hole for each bulb, as recommended by the University of Illinois Extension. Mix the fertilizer into the existing soil.

6. Plant bulbs to their recommended depth. James R. Feucht and James Klett, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Specialists, recommend planting bulbs to a depth three to four times the diameter of the bulb.

7. Position bulbs so the flattened end rest in the bottom of the hole and the pointed end points upward. Dr. Leonard P. Perry, Extension Professor from the University of Vermont Extension explains that when planting bulbs, the top of the bulb should rest at the recommended planting depth.

8. Cover bulbs with soil and firm down with your hands to remove air pockets and secure the bulb.

9. Water thoroughly to moisten the soil to the root level.

Resources

• Read this Article in UK English
• Michigan State University Dept of Horticulture: Mail-Order Bulb Sources