Plant Bulbs Now for Spring Color

Autumn has arrived, and with the new season comes a different gardening experience. This year’s extended warm, sunny weather prolonged an already-beautiful summer, but as we get into the shorter, wetter days of fall, it’s time to shift gears in the yard. As you begin to think of winding down your time outside, here are some tasks you can do to finish the season well.

First, October is a great month to plant bulbs for spring color. Tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths—there are hundreds of choices in color, texture and bloom time to meet your tastes. However, don’t think you can just plant them a few weeks before you want them to bloom–if you want to enjoy bulbs next year, they’ll need the winter to develop and get ready for spring.

Whatever types of bulbs you choose to plant in your yard, take note of the blooming time. Not all tulips, for instance, bloom at the same time. Likewise, crocuses bloom much earlier than many other bulbs, so plan your planting to enjoy a long season of color. As a suggestion, consider starting the season with crocuses and hyacinths—you’ll love the intense fragrance hyacinths provide in late winter—and then move into daffodils and later tulips. By utilizing all of these, you’ll extend the blooming time of your bulbs well into 3 months.

When planting, keep in mind that bulbs look better in groupings rather than as individuals. If you choose to plant just a few bulbs, you’ll appreciate the look of larger, less numerous groupings rather than single bulbs scattered all around. Additionally, you may wish to consider planting your bulbs in pots buried in the ground—that way when you’re finished with them for the season and want to plant spring flowers you don’t have to wait for the bulbs to die down first!

If you’re new to growing bulbs or want to check out what new varieties you don’t yet have in your yard, visit a local nursery or garden center to check out their selection this time of year and get advice on how to plant. Purchasing bulbs in person rather than online offers you the opportunity to inspect bulbs for size and firmness—a hollow or mushy bulb is worthless—and you won’t have to wait for them to ship, either!

Aside from planting bulbs, October is also a great month for replacing any shrubs or trees in your yard that may have died during our dry summer (or, admit it—even last winter). Most plants are starting to go dormant for winter, so transplanting is easier than ever. And as a bonus, once the steady rain comes, your watering is taken care of!

Finally, as your lawn starts to gear down for winter, now is also a great time to spread lime. Due to the amount of rain we get each year, our soils around here are notoriously “sour” or acidic, which allows moss to thrive and prevents your lawn fertilizer from working to the fullest potential. Using Lilly Miller Super Sweet at least twice a year will help keep your yard healthier and reduce the amount of fertilizer you need to spread to keep a healthy, green lawn. And if you have shade, using lime is especially important to keep your grass lush and moss at bay.

Soon enough, the incessant rain and wind will come and fall cleanup will begin. In the meantime, though, enjoy what great weather remains and make the most of October gardening!