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Daffodils Sprouting Prematurely
Can I Transplant My Spring Bulbs Now?
Squirrels Eating Bulbs : "How do I keep the squirrels from digging up and eating my newly planted bulbs ?"
"Squirrels consider tulip bulbs to be the equivalent of candy. There are several things you can try, but if there are a lot of squirrels where you live it may be better to plant daffodils instead. You can try: dipping the bulbs in a mole and rodent repellent just prior to planting; applying a repellent spray to the mulch over the planting area; watering the area repeatedly immediately after planting to settle the soil well; covering the area with wire mesh or old window screens to cage them out; or encase the bulbs in wire mesh cages before burying them."
Deer-Proof Bulbs : "We have lots of deer on our property. Are there any flowering bulbs that deer won't eat?"
"Unfortunately, deer seem to consider bulbs to be the equivalent of deer candy. In many cases, they devour the flowers of both spring- and summer-blooming bulbs just as they open, if not sooner. Deer often avoid daffodils, as well as the little chionodoxa, and sometimes they'll leave crocus alone (although chipmunks often get to those). If you really want bulbs, you should consider a fence or caging arrangement for your bulb garden -- and for other plantings as well if the deer population is very high and they are in the habit of browsing in your yard."
Growing Elephant Ears : "Can you give me some instructions for planting elephant ear bulbs? Will I have to dig them up in the fall and store them till next year? I live on Cape Cod, Massachusetts."
"It can be difficult to tell which end is up on the bulb. Look at the tuber; one end should have a little more ""hairiness"" to it; plant the bulb with that end pointing down. Also, one end may be slightly more tapered/pointy; that end should face up. Plant so there's about 4-inches of soil over the top of the tuber. (If you're still not sure which end is up, plant the bulb on its side.) Elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) need protection from freezing weather. The plants grow best in a site that is situated in partial shade to full shade with good drainage. They do like a steady supply of water during the summer to grow those gigantic ears, just make sure the soil doesn't stay wet. Be sure to dig the tubers up four weeks before the last frost and store over the winter in a cool, dark, dry location (garage, crawlspace, toolshed, etc.)."
Daffodils Sprouting Prematurely : "Help! Our daffodil bulbs are sprouting prematurely. We are having a mild winter so far, but it will surely get cold soon. Will this kill the plants? Is there anything we can do to stop them from growing? Did we plant them too shallowly?"
"Don't worry, your daffodils know what they are doing. Unless they grow really tall and start to form buds out of ground and then you get a severe cold snap, I wouldn't worry. Mother Nature will slow them down if necessary. If you want to help, you can mulch your daffodils with a 4"" layer of hay or straw to keep them cool and convince them it's still winter."
Companions for Spring Bulbs : "How long do the leaves of daffodils continue to grow after blooming? Can I plant large annuals on top or around them for summer color? How about a flowering ground-cover?"
"Daffodil leaves usually begin to die back within several weeks after bloom. It's best to grow smaller annuals around the daffodils, such as alyssum, calendula, small marigolds, nasturtium, salvia and dusty miller -- their shallow, fibrous roots won't disturb the deeply planted bulbs. A flowering perennial groundcover, such as vinca, would also be a great companion."
Perennial Tulips : "I bought hundreds of perennial tulips last fall from a mail order company. I have since been told there is no such thing as a perennial tulip. I was told to plant them 11 inches deep for my zone 5 garden. Please let me know if I was given to believe something that is not true."
"There are so many kinds of tulips that it gets confusing. Climate makes a difference too as some will be perennial in one region but not another. Many are truly perennial, and hopefully, these are the kinds you planted. In general the large-flowered hybrids are less likely to be perennial than the smaller-flowered species or wild types. Some of the best hybrids for naturalizing include the following: Single early types: 'Keizerkroon', 'Christmas Marvel', and 'Couleur Cardinal'; Triumph types: 'Don Quichotte', 'Golden Melody', 'Kees Nelis', and 'Merry Widow'; Darwin hybrids: all Darwin Hybrids in red, rose, orange, yellow, and two-tone colors. Fringed tulips: 'Burgundy Lace' Lily Flowered Tulips: 'Aladdin', 'Maytime', 'Ballade', 'White Triumphator', and 'Red Shine' Large-flowered but short-statured tulips that naturalize well include: Kaufmanniana hybrids such as 'Johann Strauss' and 'Stresa' Fosteriana hybrids such as 'Candela' and 'Red Emperor' Greigii hybrids such as 'Plaisir' and 'Red Riding Hood' Small flowered wild or species tulips that naturalize well in cold climates like yours include: Tulipa bakeri 'Lilac Wonder' T. eichleri T. tarda Regarding planting depth, we recommend planting 6 inches deep, or so that 4 inches of soil is above the top of the bulb. Planting deeper, to 8 inches does place the bulbs out of the range of pests such as voles."
"Bulbs to Plant in Lawns : I'm looking for bulbs with blue flowers that I can plant right in the lawn. Can you recommend some?"
"Three that come to mind are Scilla nutans (English Bluebells), Scilla siberica (Spring Beauty) and Muscari armeniacum (Grape Hyacinths). These bulbs should be planted in the fall. They will flower in early spring and the foliage will ripen before you need to start mowing."
Forgotten Bulbs : "I just found some bulbs that I forgot to plant last fall. They've been in a cool spot in my shed. Can I plant them in spring, or keep them until next fall?"
"If the bulbs are tulips, hyacinths, or crocus, I'd toss them out and buy a fresh batch next fall. Daffodils or lilies might still have enough in them to survive, if not flower this spring. You can also plant them in spring, just to see what happens. Consider it an experiment. If they grow and flower, great. If they grow but don't flower, you might chose to leave them and see if they'll flower the following spring. Most likely they'll neither grow nor flower in which case they'll simply disappear into the soil."
Care Of Amaryllis : "I would like to know how to care for an amaryllis plant after it has flowered. How should I encourage it to go dormant? Should I trim the leaves?"
"Right now, your bulb should be growing healthy green foliage. You want to encourage the foliage so it can build the bulb's strength to flower again. Later, in the fall, you will force it to rest by gradually reducing watering. Then, when the leaves dry up, you can remove them. Here are the basic instructions for amaryllis. The amaryllis bulb should be planted so that about a third of the bulb stays above the soil. Use a soilless potting mix and a six inch pot. Next, or if you have purchased a bare bulb already in a pot, water it lightly and set it in a cool bright location until it begins to grow. Once it begins to grow, turn it regularly to keep it growing straight and continue to water it lightly. After it blooms and the flowers fade, remove the bloom stem at the base being careful not to damage any leaves. Continue to water the plant and feed it occasionally with a water soluble fertilizer according to the label instructions. The leaves will grow and refuel the bulb so it can bloom again. You may set it outdoors in its pot for the summer or plant it in the garden for the summer. Select a spot with morning sun or dappled sun all day if it is in a pot, or if in the ground it may be planted in part to full sun. Next fall, the bulb will need a rest period. Dig it up if it is planted in the ground, or bring the pot indoors and withhold water until the leaves yellow, then set the bulb and in a cool location (about 45 to 50 degrees) for eight to ten weeks. When the leaves shrivel, remove them. Finally, bring the bulb into a warmer bright location, replant if needed, water lightly and begin the cycle again."
Can I Transplant My Spring Bulbs Now? : "I'll be moving within the next few weeks and want to take my tulips and hyacinths with me to replant at my new home. They have already started to come up (just the green tips of the leaves). Can I uproot them, or will it damage the bulbs? I want to take these bulbs for sentimental reasons and don't want to run the risk of damage by uprooting them improperly. Can you give me some advice in this regard?"
"You can transplant them while they are growing or blooming if you do it carefully. Prepare the new planting area ahead of time and water the bulbs the day before you move them. Dig them up, keeping as much of the surrounding soil as possible intact so that you have not only the bulb itself, but also the root system around and beneath it. Replant immediately into prepared soil and water them in. If you have taken enough of the root ball, they won't even know they've been moved."
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