It's September 1st --Labor Day is just about upon us, the kids will be back in school next week if they are not already, and I hear that some people have even begun their holiday shopping!
But hold on! If you want to see some brilliant color in your garden in the springtime, then you must start planning now. The way to do that by planting spring flowering bulbs. It's still a too early to start planting them on Long Island, but you want to start planning and ordering what you would like to see.
Planting bulbs are easy. During the early weeks of September, look for sunny locations with good drainage to plant your bulb garden. If the bulbs you will be planting a large (for tulips, hyacinth, or daffodils), dig your holes or trench 6-8 inches deep. If the bulbs are small, (for Crocus, Snowdrop, Scilla, Dwarf Iris, Muscari, Bluebell), dig your hole 4-6 inches deep. Prepare the holes and trenches by adding limestone, then back fill to the depth you want for your bulb planting and water the area. By the way, if you don't have a place in your garden for the bulbs you can plant them in some weather-resistant pots or window boxes.
Early September is the time to order your bulbs. You'll find great selections at your local garden nurseries, but you may want to consider sone online sources as well such as Eden Brothers, American Meadows, and White Flower Farm.. Many online sources are having sales on their bulbs. Also, look for local civic associations, PTAs, etc, who may be having bulb sales as a fundraiser.
Begin your planting in very late September or in October. Groups of one color usually work best and planting an odd number of bulbs is usually recommended for design purposes. Plant the bulbs with the tips up. To prevent squirrels or deer from eating them, lay chicken wire over the trench filled with bulbs, or if you are planting the bulbs in individual holes, wrap each bulb in chicken wire. Believe me, laying the chicken wire is easier than wrapping. Another trick, if you don't want to use the chicken wire is to sprinkle some cayenne pepper over the bulbs. Fill the holes with dirt and water until the first hard frost. Then do nothing and just enjoy the bursts of beautiful color in the spring.
Here's an added benefit for your spring bulb planting. If you are thinking of putting your home on the market next spring, your home will be very welcoming with the beautiful blooming spring bulbs you thought to plant this fall.
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