Wouldn’t it be nice to grow your own favourite bulbs for spring-flowering containers? Most first attempts involve planting the bulbs in containers in the fall, watering them and waiting for spring. With few exceptions, the result is a container filled with wet soil and rotted bulbs. What happened? Well, there is this natural phenomenon that shaped Canada’s landscape AND has … [Read more...] about How to grow spectacular spring-flowering containers
spring bulbs
Hepaticas: harbingers of spring
What garden event signifies to you that spring has really, truly arrived in your part of the country? Here in Atlantic Canada, we have had what has felt like an interminable winter, with so many snowstorms that we began to joke that if it was Wednesday, we’d have a snowstorm. Finally, however, all but the most determined snowdrifts in woods, ditches and fields have relinquished … [Read more...] about Hepaticas: harbingers of spring
Bulb planting tips
Planting spring-blooming bulbs can be as easy as tossing them into a shallow hole, throwing some soil over them and walking away. And it can also be frustrating to watch squirrels unearth the buried treasures and make a good meal of them. Just a few simple preparations will help you get the best from the bulb planting you do now for next spring’s show. When to plant Small … [Read more...] about Bulb planting tips
3 suggestions for lasting spring bulbs
I have unreasonable expectations about spring bulbs: I want to plant them just once and have them return every spring, forever. That’s a bit of wishful thinking, and I’d do better to focus on bulbs with reasonable, though not unlimited, longevity. I’d just like them to return for several seasons, with normal flower size and a consistent number of blooms. One way to encourage a … [Read more...] about 3 suggestions for lasting spring bulbs
Planning for spring bulbs
It’s time to think about ordering spring bulbs this fall. No, I’m not rushing things. Making bulb plans now, with the garden standing fully at its height, allows me to figure out where I can hide ripening bulb foliage next spring. Once the garden is cut down in fall, I forget how tall plants are, or where they are, and that means I plant tulips in front of the hostas (instead … [Read more...] about Planning for spring bulbs
