Planning for Daffodils!
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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 look for at mail order bulb sources. 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 minis 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. However, daffodils do better if they are NOT watered after blooming. This may cause them to rot. This isn't always, possible, but you can also wait until the foliage yellows, dig them up, and store them in a cool, dry place until fall.
Creating Your PlanThe 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
Planting your bulbsWhen 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.Daffodils to choose from!:These are just a few of our favorite daffodils. There are many more!
Giant Yellow Daffodils
Tete-a-tete'
King Alfred
Rip Van Winkle |
