Do you like to plan ahead?
Fall is a great time for planting ahead, especially spring-flowering bulbs.
Bulb planting season starts once your soil temperature reaches about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, you may wonder what am I going to do, take my soils temperature! Well, you don’t have too. There are other ways to gauge when it is the right time for fall bulb planting:
- Nighttime temperatures average between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit
- Fall foliage has moved just past its peak
- Crickets no longer chirp
- Squirrels are digging as fast as they can
- Birds start to group and depart
- The air smells of wood smoke
It’s not great to plant too early, but it really isn’t a big deal if you plant your bulbs a little late. Once your soil reaches that optimal temperature you still have a six to eight week window before your ground freezes hard as a rock.
Also if you can’t plant your bulbs right away- put them in a cool, dry place with good air circulation.
Here are some great fall bulbs to add to your garden for a spring flower show:
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Allium
- Crocus
- Dutch Iris
- Fritillaria
- Grape Hyacinth
- Snowdrops
- Bluebells
- Spider Lily
- Starflower
- Anemone
Written by Meghan Shomper, RLA – our newest licensed Landscape Architect
To learn more about our landscape design and planning services, contact Paul Lepard, RLA, PP at plepard@navenewell.net or 610.265.8323.