Layer Bulbs for Spectacular Spring Color
Extend Bloom Time and Conserve Space
The first crocuses of the season excite me, usually because they arrive during one of the many ice storms we have during March in Indiana. To see bright blooms of yellow, purple and blue emerge with the warming rays of the sun is an encouragement to any gardener weary of the winter doldrums.
The problem with crocus – or any spring bulbs, for that matter – is that their bloom time is short. The bed that was a spectacle in March looks tired by April, and absolutely wretched by May. You can extend the blooming season in your bulb bed by layering bulbs having different bloom times.
Typically, the earliest bulbs are the smallest – crocus, species iris, snowdrops, etc. Midseason bulbs are medium-sized, about 14-16 cm (hyacinths, daffodils, etc.) Finally, May-bloomers are the largest – late tulips, alliums, etc. This means that if you follow the bulb-planting rule of burying bulbs twice their height, you can use the same space for all three sizes.
Prepare your soil well, digging in compost and peat moss or other organic matter. Remove the top 8" of soil and place on a tarp next to the bed, or shovel into your garden cart. Begin planting with the largest bulbs, then add enough soil just to cover. Sandwich the mid-sized bulbs onto that layer, and cover with soil again. Finish with the smallest bulbs in your top layer. Use a random planting pattern for each layer. That way, there is less likelihood of having one bulb directly on top of another.
Sprinkle the entire bed with a good "bulb booster" fertilizer, water in, and be sure to mulch well after the ground freezes.
By spring, you'll see foliage emerging from the beds. It may appear very crowded, but because your bulbs will be blooming at different times, one species will be dying off before the next one comes into bloom. By late April or May, the entire bed can be overplanted with annuals or covered with mulch to make it more attractive.
Layered beds may have to be dug and divided more frequently than single-bulb beds, but the rewards of extended bloom and the ability to disguise ratty dying foliage of the earliest bulbs make the little bit of effort worth the work involved.
About the Author
Jean Fritz is a farmer, freelance writer and cat lover. She operates KittyVista Organics, a small organic farm located east of Indianapolis which specializes in growing heirloom, open pollenated and unusual varieties of vegetables and flowers. The KittyVista website can be found at http://clik.to/kittyvista.
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