People who are new to gardening may not know there is a difference between spring and summer flowering bulbs. Even though they all look very similar in shape, spring and summer bulbs require slightly different care in order to produce healthy blooms. Here are 5 tips on planting summer flowering bulbs you can use for your summer garden.
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Cover with Mulch Once Winter Nears
If you live in either zone 4 or 5, then you might need to dig the bulbs up at the end of fall and store them somewhere cool for the winter. You don’t want them to freeze! Most other zones are warm enough that bulbs producing summer flowers can be left in the ground and covered with lots of mulch for protection against the cold.
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Use Fertilizer That is Rich in Phosphorous
The root development of your summer bulbs depends on the amount of phosphorus present in the soil. Bone meal is great for adding the proper nutrients to the soil when you are planting new summer bulbs. Add fertilizer to the soil the following spring as well.
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Plant at a Depth That is 2 to 3 Times as Deep as the Bulb is Long
Summer bulbs are easiest to plant by digging a trench that is the proper depth described above and then placing the bulbs in the trench at the same time. Be sure to leave a small amount of space between each bulb so they have room to grow.
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Water Regularly
It’s important that you don’t provide too much water though, so allow the soil to dry out between each watering. Bulbs need plenty of water to grow properly, but they are going to be more susceptible to disease and rotting if they sit in moisture for an extended period of time.
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Wait until the Ground is Nice and Warm
The soil temperature needs to be around 60 degrees before you start planting bulbs for summer flowers. It’s also a good idea to wait until the spring thaw has drained from the soil. You don’t want to set bulbs in soil that is completely saturated with water and the weather cool or you will end up with rotten bulbs.
I’m sure your summer bulbs will produce gorgeous blossoms this coming year. Do you think the tips listed above are ones you can put to good use this summer?
Top Photo Credit: DerSpie
