Planting Tulips and Daffodils Feeds the Soul
How to Make a Garden with Spring Flowering Bulbs
Sep 5, 2009
It’s never too late to plant spring bulbs. It all has to do with the ground temperature. Higher up in the Northern Hemisphere, you only have to get your bulbs in the ground before the hard frost. In more temperate conditions like in Ireland and the UK, and in states like Maryland that is not the case. The general rule is, the colder the climate the earlier you plant.
Bulbs are Living Plants
Daffodils should not be planted into warm soil. Because bulbs are living plants--no matter what--they will try their best to bloom as long as they haven’t dried out too much. There’s nothing easier to grow than spring bulbs, even for the absolute novice gardener. Daffodils in particular are far and away the most obliging flowers. All they need is a bit of soil, a dash of water, some cool weather and by next spring you might see a carnival of color outside your door. In the case of daffodils, they will continue to multiply, year after year.
Here are a Few Tips to Bear in Mind When Planting Spring Bulbs
Plant into soil with good drainage to a depth of a least twice the size of the bulb. (Three times the depth is even better.) A little dressing of compost would be ideal. Plant smaller bulbs like grape hyacinths and dwarf varieties of iris and narcissus in front of the taller tulips and daffodils. Never plant in rows unless all you have is a sidewalk patch or a window box. Clusters of flowers and groups of flowers are more designer friendly.
Throw Bulbs into the Air and Plant Where They Land
The old gardeners simply threw the bulbs into the air and planted them wherever they landed – it’s called naturalizing. Daffodils are best for this and are best sown where their tall leaves can fade into the growing grass of a meadow. Crushed oyster shells are supposed to work well as a slug deterrent but if you have enough money for oysters you can probably hire a gardener to do the planting. Otherwise stick to broken egg shells.
Mrs. Henry Luce III Gave Her Daffodils a Bath
You don’t have to do what the infamous Mrs. Henry Luce III, the grand dame of New York did in preparing her daffodils prior to planting. She placed them in warm bath water with baby shampoo, mouth wash and instant ice tea granules. Nor do you have to have 33 varieties of tulips as in the Rose Garden at the White House. Your little patch of spring flowers doesn’t have to be so grand, and as one garden writer says, Imperialis Fritillarias are somewhat pernickety so stick to the humble daffodil.
The Irish writer Padraic Colum, urged his countrymen to plant flower gardens, reminding us that beauty is an essential part of our lives. He suggested parting with our spare resources to buy daffodils. He quoted the prophet Mohammed:
If thou of fortune be bereft,
And of the store there be but left
Two loaves – sell one, and with the dole
Buy daffodils to feed the soul.
 |
 |
