It's just beginning to feel like fall, and winter is around the corner... so why are we talking about spring?! Well, fall is in fact the ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs ~ like tulips, daffodils, crocuses & hyacinth.
A flower bulb is really an underground storehouse and flower factory. Within the bulb is just about everything the plant will need to sprout and flower at the appropriate time. All bulbs need is to be planted in the ground at the appropriate season of the year, given liberal water, and then sit back and let Mother Nature do the rest!
Nothing is more satisfying than planting dormant brown bulbs in autumn and watching them emerge in late winter or early spring with their fresh green shoots and colorful flowers. In order to take advantage of many spring favorites, their bulbs should be planted in the fall after the first frost (typically around October 15th in Hampton Roads). Bulbs require a long period of cool temperatures in order to bloom. It's vital to get bulbs planted before the ground freezes, so they can develop a strong root system.
So now's the time to start planning and purchasing bulbs, so you will be ready pop them in the ground as cooler weather sets in. You'll be in store for quite a rewarding show come spring!
Visit our friends at Dig.Drop.Done. for more information. http://www.digdropdone.com,
and as always, visit any of our knowledgeable gardeners at McDonald Garden Center.