It’s never too early to start thinking about your upcoming spring garden. In fact, November is the best month to plant your bulbs for next spring.
Flowering bulbs are usually the first sign that spring is around the corner. So, get out that spade and start planning where you’d like to have the first pops of spring color in your landscape.
There are many different flowering bulbs to choose from. The most popular garden bulb in Georgia is the daffodil (also referred to as narcissus), but maybe this year you’d like to branch beyond the most common choice and add some other bulbs, either instead of or alongside your daffodils.
Other attractive bulb varieties include crocus, muscari and hyacinth. A nice thing about all of these flowering bulbs is that they’ll come back every year after just one planting.
A long-time favorite for many people is the tulip. While tulips put on quite a show, they’re more of an annual here in Georgia. As long as you don’t mind planting them every year, tulips will brighten your garden. But be aware that the bulbs you plant this fall will only bloom one spring season.
There are many different companies you can order bulbs from online. Just Google “flower bulbs” and see how many options pop up!
Or you can visit your local garden center this fall when they start stocking them in the stores. Be sure to look for pre-chilled bulbs. This means they’ve already had a period of cooling and are ready to be planted.
If they’re not pre-chilled, you might need to put them in a refrigerator crisper for a month or so before they’re ready to plant.
Once it’s time to plant the bulbs, follow the package directions to find out how deep and how far apart to space them. It’s a good idea to mix bulbs that bloom at different time periods of the season so you’ll have a continuous show throughout spring.
As you’re toiling away on your garden this autumn, remember that all your careful planning, digging and planting will be worth it when colorful flowers pop up next year to signal that spring is around the corner!