When is the best time to fertilize daffodils, tulips and other spring flowering bulbsGARDENING
It’s important to know those big fat bulbs represent all the energy and food the plants have stored up for next season’s bloom. When you first plant spring-blooming bulbs, the only thing they need to do that winter is to send down some new roots. To help the bulbs do this, you feed newly planted bulbs with a balanced fertilizer that has a good dose of phosphorous in it. That’s what “Bulb Food” is and why bonemeal is often recommended. Bonemeal used to be the recommended way to feed flowering bulbs, but current meat processing procedures tend to reduce the amount of phosphorus remaining in the bones, so a bulb food is not preferred. Phosphorous isn’t good at working its way down through layers of soil. To be effective, it needs to be added to the planting hole or worked into the surrounding soil, rather than just sprinkled on top.
When to Feed Established Spring Bulbs
After that, the experts tend to disagree. Some favor top dressing with fertilizer each fall. Others recommend an early spring feeding and still others say not to do anything until the flowers have faded. Some supplemental spring feeding makes sense for flowering bulbs, especially if you use a slow-release fertilizer. Although the bulbs are using their reserves for food, they are expending a lot of energy and will be pulling nutrients from the soil. It is recommended you fertilizer early rather than waiting until after the blooms have faded because spring-flowering bulbs have such a short growing season and you will want to make sure the fertilizer is accessible in time and that the plant has the opportunity to grow and store energy for as long as it can.
One Final Tip
One last thing to keep in mind is that most spring-blooming bulbs prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. This is the pH range in which the bulbs can access the most nutrients from the soil. Test and amend your soil if your bulbs are struggling, despite your best efforts at feeding them.
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Spring Bulb Planting Guide 2019!GARDENING
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BLOGTIPS & IDEASGARDENING
Our spring bulbs have arrived and our crews are busy planting these tiny beauties in plant beds, lawn areas and containers on many of our project sites. At this time each year we always get the same questions:
How deep should bulbs be planted?
Why is Keukenhof Gardens Famous?
The Keukenhof Gardens are known all over the world for their tulips. Each year, over 7 million flower bulbs are planted across the gardens’ 32 acres resulting in a stunning display of spring flowers. The riotous colors created by the tulips, as well as daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations, and hyacinths is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
Keukenhof also hosts an annual Tulip Festival between March and May which features flower shows, parades, musical events, and more. It attracts over a million visitors each year and is a highlight of the Dutch calendar.
Tulip Gardens
The Tulip Gardens are the most famous attraction at Keukenhof. They are open during the Tulip Festival in the spring. Each year, over 7 million flower bulbs are planted by hand in the autumn. And in the spring over 800 different tulips come into bloom. There are also flower shows, surprising inspirational gardens, unique artwork, and other events.
Indoor Flower Shows
Once you’re done walking around the tulip fields, step into the indoor pavilions brimming with flowering bulbs, cut flowers, and pot plants. Inside these pavilions, you can see over 500 growers presenting their prize blooms for leading flower arrangers to use in their unique shows. These include hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations, and irise
