It’s easy for gardeners to let the fall season slip away after toiling in the garden all summer, especially with all the watering required during this dry season. They need a break, nothing wrong with that, but the excitement of spring gardening is only rivalled by the thrill of fall planting, for those who partake.
Trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and more are planted now.
The cooler temperatures and shorter days are conducive to root growth, not top growth. That’s why these plants thrive with fall planting and why gardeners should spend their time planting.
Bulb planting isn’t as popular as it once was, it’s not instant gratification, but when those bulbs awake in the spring, there’s nothing like it.
Tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinths are the most popular, but there are lots of other things to plant, with many varieties being deer resistant and long lived.
The easiest way to plant bulbs is by using a tool called a bulb auger. It’s a large drill bit that makes planting fun. When buying garden tools, purchase something that can be passed down for generations. The Power Planter auger is made in the U.S.A, built to last and is reasonably priced. You’ll find cheaper version online, but they are not made to the standards of the Power Planter. The 3”x7” is perfect when working alone and the 3”x30’ or longer is great when two people are planting. One gardener drills and the other drops in the bulb.
They are planted three times as deep as the bulb itself in average, well-drained garden soil.
If bulb planting is a new job for a gardener, choose daffodils. They are not bothered by varmints, are tough and will return for decades or longer. Most importantly, they announce the arrival of spring. Once they bloom, there’s no turning back and after another long winter, daffodils are the most welcome sight.
They are planted in drifts, not rows of soldiers. The informal planting style looks natural at bloom time.
There are 13 different types of daffodils, called divisions. Nothing wrong with big yellow trumpets, but there are many different shapes and sizes. Look for cultivars that bloom early, mid-season and later too. This extends the spring season, which could start in February and go into May.
‘Van Sion’ is an early blooming heirloom variety with a double yellow flower which is fragrant. ‘Jet Fire’ is the first to bloom in my garden as winter fades.
There are hundreds of different varieties, start at the local nursery and look online for unique varieties. As the season progresses, the bulbs will go on sale and can be planted until the ground freezes solid.
‘Tete a Tete’ is an early diminutive flower that is fun to add to a small vase.
When a breeder names a daffodil ‘Sir Winston Churchill’ it must be a superior variety. The late bloomer has multiple white flowers with yellow throats that smell like gardenias.
‘Tahiti’ is a division four variety with double yellow flower interspersed with orange. It’s a reliable bloomer and will continue to spread through the years.
There are many other easy to grow bulbs and many are small, so their planting hole does not have to be as deep.
- Snowdrops are one of the first things to bloom, sometimes as early as January. They will form a beautiful colony over time. ‘Flore Pleno’ has pretty double flowers.
- Glory of the Snow is deer resistant, blooming right after crocus. It multiplies easily over a few seasons.
- Alliums are also deer resistant and bloom in May.
- Tulips will bloom in May too. They are deer candy and aren’t reliable spreaders. They need to completely dry out during the summer.
- Deer love lilies too, but the summer garden wouldn’t be the same without their beauty and fragrance. ‘Stargazer’ is one of the most popular varieties.
- Everyone should grow hyacinths; their fragrance is unmatched.
Planting bulbs now creates a living legacy of ephemeral spring flowers that will provide beauty for years to come.
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Host of "In Doug's Garden" on CBS KDKA-TV Streaming
Host of the Talking Trees podcast for The Davey Tree Expert Company
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Columnist for Pittsburgh Earth Day's "The Green Voice"
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