Winter Planting for Spring Blooms

When winter temperatures get closer it is difficult to arouse some enthusiasm for the following spring – but winters pass and winter is the time to consider what the garden will look like when the snow has melted and the frost is just a memory. Winter is the time to plant spring bulbs for glorious color in a few months time.

Getting Started with Spring Bulbs

When gardeners think of spring bulbs a few old favorites come to mind but before any bulbs are bought it is a good idea to search through some reputable garden catalogs for new names and varieties. Then it is time to start buying. There is a general rule that the bigger the bulb, the bigger the flower and this is true to each variety. Crocus and snowdrop bulbs are very small but selecting the biggest of these little bulbs will give bigger flowers. Size does matter.

Selecting a Suitable Bulb

Bulbs should be firm and of a reasonably uniform shape and color. If a bulb is soft, blotchy or squishy it should be rejected. When buying tiny bulbs it is not always possible to make such a thorough investigation of each bulb so be led by the appearance of the majority and the condition of the display and storage area in the shop or garden center. A final tip – always smell the bulbs before you buy. A scent of mold or mustiness will indicate a bad choice.

Planting Spring Bulbs

Some bulbs will grow in low temperatures similar to those found in U.S. zones 4-5, such as the common Snowdrop but the majority favor temperatures a little higher, zone 6+. Daffodils flourish in Florida and they also bloom in Europe from Belfast to Barcelona, especially the narcissus varieties.

Bulbs like crocuses, snowdrops and aconites will grow from 3 to 6 inches high so they should be planted at the front of a border. Hyacinths are slightly taller and then daffodils and tulips are the tallest in the general spring planting scheme so they should go at the back keeping a watch over the whole flowerbed. Of course there are exceptions to this rule and both daffodils and tulips are available in miniature varieties. A simple guide for planting bulbs is to bury the bulb about three times its own length with the tip pointing upwards.

Alternative Bulb Planting Schemes

A flowerbed in the center of a lawn for example is the perfect place to display a single planting of tulips, the bolder the color the better and an ideal choice is a lily flowered ‘Burgundy’ tulip. Tulips also look fabulous when planted with other spring bulbs in an informal, almost meadow like setting – especially if accompanied by evergreen shrubs. Informal planting can be very effective for enjoying spring bulbs and the sites are numerous, such as around the base of deciduous trees, random planting in grassy banks, in ditches and in any available old discarded containers. A clump of crocuses planted close by the front door in an old chipped favorite china bowl will add new pleasures and old memories to the day.

Winter Planting Results in Spring Blooms

A little planning in winter and choosing the correct bulbs will ensure that spring gardens bloom with;

• Colorful, daisy-like grecian windflowers, up to 3″ in height, with long lasting blooms.

• Red and purple anemones, up to 6″ in height.

• Goblet shaped crocuses, 6″ high and in many colors.

• Hoodlike blue and purple aconites, with erect stems up to 6″.

• Vibrant yellow daffodils, up to 24″ in height, heralding the onset of a new year.

• Multicolored stately tulips, ranging from 6″ to 30″ in height.

Also worth considering are Cyclamen, 6″, Larkspur, 8″, Lavender Mountain Lilies, 15″, and Bluebells, 15″. Bluebells are a favorite for late spring blooming especially in an informal woodland setting.