By Rosalyn Charland
This is the perfect time to check out your nursery catalogues and local garden centres for fall flowering bulbs and colourful chrysanthemums to brighten up your containers and flower beds for the fall months. At the same time, check out the tulip, daffodil and other small bulbs, as you will get first choice and can order or reserve your supply from your nursery. You will then be ready to plant from mid October to early November.
The wide variety of bulbs available in every price range makes tulips and other spring blooming bulbs a great addition to your garden. Try to get some early, mid and late blooming varieties so that you will have bloom over at least six weeks. You can also choose from a wide range of flower shapes and sizes and a complete palette of colours. Spring flowers have always inspired poets. Who has not heard of “A host of dancing daffodils”. If you are less poetic and a more practical sort, buy the species tulips and daffodils which are very vigorous. They will come back every year and multiply just like your old friends.
Plant your tulips and other bulbs pointed side up, in groups of five or more of each kind,. Plant a bit deeper than recommended on the packages, at least twelve inches for the larger bulbs, adding a handful of bone meal around them. Cover with soil and compost, if available, and sprinkle with dried red peppers flakes and extra leaves and twigs if you have pesky squirrels around. Bulbs can be grown in heavily shaded areas as they make roots in the fall and emerge before the leaves are out.
Keep your tulips moist if you have a dry spring and deadhead the stems but leave the foliage until it wilts ands dries up completely as the leaves must grow on to store food in the bulb for next year’s blooms.
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