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Planning for Daffodils
by Brenda Hyde
After winter we are all ready for the wonders of spring. One of the
cheeriest sights are the bright yellow faces of the daffodils.
However, late summer and early fall is the time we need to be planting and
nurturing our jonquils to make sure they are bright and healthy later.
Planting a bulb garden is a family project. You may either visit your local garden
center in early fall or start looking at mail order bulb sources now. Decide how
many you have room for, and let everyone in the family pick their own! Here are
the essentials you need to know as far as how much space they will take up:
Large daffodil varieties will need 5-6 inches of space between bulbs, and the
miniatures will need just 1-3 inches.
You must also leave room in front or behind the bulbs for annuals that
you will plant when the daffodils are no longer blooming. If you are planting in a bed that
already has existing flowers that come up every year, simply take note where
these plants are now and your bulbs can be planted around them as long as
you space around 6 to 10 inches to be safe.
Creating Your Plan
The key to all this is picturing in your mind the flower bed in the spring when the
only thing popping out are the bulbs you have planted. You can make groupings
in circles or squares. Think of it a little like a puzzle. Make your plan and
sketch it out on paper. If you have older children this would be the perfect job for
them! Give them a measuring tape, pencil, little wooden markers and paper.
They can plan the location of the bulbs, sketch it out and then mark it. This will
make them feel creative and satisfied when the plan is finished! A few things to remember as you are planning:
*The bulbs will be planted 3 to 4 times their height
*In the spring, you will be letting the leaves wilt on their own and dry
up. They shouldn't be cut because the sunshine needs to replenish them!
*If you mix short, tall and medium daffodils make sure they are planted
with the taller ones in back so the little ones are not hidden.
*They must have lots of sun in the spring, even if that spot is shady later in the summer.
*If your bed in just bulbs right now, plan on planting other summer flowers when they fade. A flat of Petunias would be great for this,
mixed with Dusty Miller. They are easily planted in front the bulb leaves and you will have color for the
rest of the summer. Simple plans are sometimes the best!
Planting your bulbs
When your bulbs arrive, or you buy them from the garden center, gather
everyone together, hand out garden tools and start digging. Make sure the soil
is loose and humus-rich. If the soil seems dry or a little hard, then add peat
and/or manure you can purchase at the garden center. Mix it in the soil until it's
loose and rich looking. Read the instructions on each bulb and plant at that
depth. Dig your hole, place in your bulb and fill the hole back up with the soil.
After your bed in planted, water well and place about a two inch layer of mulch
over the area. Mulch can be leaves that have been sitting and are moist and
starting to decompose, wood chips or shredded wood, even grass clippings
can be used! If you have a dry fall, it would help the flower bed if you
would water now and then when it hasn't rained. There are many other bulbs you can plant
to brighten your spring, but daffodils are simple, they multiply and the squirrels
and other rodents don't seem to like the taste very well. In most cases they
should leave your bulbs alone, and in the spring you will have a flower bed full of
welcoming sunny faces to greet you.
Related Articles:
Bringing
the Garden Indoors
Make your house as bright as
summer all year long. Here are a few tips for turning your house into
a garden.
Appetizing
Indoors Gardens
How to grow the ingredients for
your salad indoors.
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