About Bulbs
Planting Depth
Have you ever received those planting depth charts with the bulbs you ordered them online? Neglecting the planting depth is the main reason why bulb borders fail.
If the bulbs are buried too deep, the shoots won't have enough strength to reach the surface in time. If you bury them too close to the surface, they'll come out too early or become easy prey for rabbits and squirrels.
The general guideline is to plant the bulb at a depth two or three times its height.
Tulips and daffodils should be buried 8" deep, lilies and hyacinths - 7", cannas, callas and dahlias - 6", gladioli and bulb irises - 5", scillas and ranunculus - 4", freesias and grape hyacinths - 3", crocuses and anemones - 2", and bearded iris and begonias just below the surface.
The ideal planting arrangement for bulbs is in nests of four or five. Before planting, add a generous amount of bone meal at the bottom of the hole. Remember to water and feed the bulbs during the summer and fall, after their foliage has withered.
Bulbs for Summer
Many beloved summer perennials are bulbs, from the lilies, whose varieties cover the entire season with their staggered bloom, to unusual specimen plants like yuccas and hot poker plants.
Don't forget to include these essential summer bulbs in your cottage garden.
With their dinner plate-sized flowers, dahlias are known for their vibrant colors.
Gladioli and irises add color and texture, creating variety in the flower border.
Lilies showcase their colors and fragrance, starting in May with the Martagon and Madonna varieties, and continuing into September with the late summer Asian varieties, Oriental, and Orienpet lilies.
For a captivating showcase of tall and impressive plants, experiment with callas, cannas, foxtail lilies, or black elephant ears.
The arrival of fall brings the beauty of liatris, lily of the Nile, and tuberoses.
Don't forget the shade, where tuberous begonias and caladiums thrive.
Care and Feeding
Aside from a good dressing of fertilizer at the bottom of the planting hole, bulbs need food and water like any other perennial.
Plant them sprinkled among herbaceous perennials where they won't get forgotten once their foliage dies down to the ground. The broad leaves of the other perennials will camouflage the unsightly yellowing leaves.