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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 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 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.
Daffodils to choose from!:
These are just a few of our favorite
daffodils. There are many more!
Giant Yellow Daffodils
Grows in Zones 3 to 8
They are 16-20" tall!
Tete-a-tete'
A miniature daffodil
Also grows in Zones 3 to 8
Only grows to 6 inches!
These are lovely in groups!
King Alfred
An heirloom variety
Grows in zones 3 to 9!
A sunny, large daffodil
18 inches, and large blooms!
Rip Van Winkle
An heirloom variety
We love the name!
Easy to grow
6 to 8 inches tall
Bright sunny yellow!
About The Author
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer living on ten acres in rural Michigan with her husband and three kids. She is also editor of StandBesideHer.com and has a family friendly blog, On the Front Porch.
Sheila "I am a Christian Woman, a stay home homemaker and a Mom.
My interests: I love to knit, crochet, sew, embrodiery, and quilt. I play the piano, read music, I write Chrisitan poems and writings. I collect teddy bears, angels, hearts and butterflies."
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