How to prep for beautiful blooms next spring

5. How should I store my bulbs until I am ready to plant them?
I often get into a situation where I can't get my bulbs planted as soon as I would like. In such instances I keep the bulbs in a cool, dry place, such as my garage or basement. Warmth and moisture will signal the bulbs to start growing. I check on them occasionally to be sure they aren't getting moldy or soft and plant them as soon as I can.

6. What should I do with the foliage after the blooms have faded in the spring?
Well if you are dealing with perennial bulbs such as daffodils and want flowers next year, you should treat the foliage with respect. It actually restores the bulb's energy through photosynthesis and helps the bulb prepare for blooming next year, so don't cut it back. It's okay to remove the spent flower but be sure to leave the stem intact.

After a while the foliage may begin to look a little rough but keep it in place for at least 8 weeks after the flower fades or until the foliage withers and dies back.

One solution to camouflaging the fading foliage is to over plant your bulbs with cool season annuals such as pansies or even perennials, which will emerge and begin to gain height about the time the foliage is beginning to appear unsightly.

This is also an excellent time to feed your bulbs. I just use about a tablespoon or so of a well-balanced fertilizer like 20-20-20 or triple 13 and sprinkle it around the base of the plants.

7. When can I transplant daffodils?
If you have daffodils that are in need of relocating, spring is a good time to transplant them. Because the foliage is visible you will have no trouble seeing them in the ground. Just remember the name of the game here is to keep the leaves green as long as possible to recharge the bulb for next year's flower. For the best results, wait about 8 weeks after the blooms have faded to move your daffodils. When you do move them, take care not to do damage to the bulb, and make sure that the bulb and foliage stay intact.

8. Are there any deer resistant spring flowering bulbs?
Believe it or not there are a few plants that deer tend to pass by. I've had the most success with daffodils, but alliums, crocus, chinodoxa, scilla, grape hyacinths and snow drops are all supposed to be deer resistant. But what I've found is that if deer get hungry enough, they'll eat anything, even these varieties. About the only full proof system is a very tall fence or a dog trained to keep deer away.

9. What do you recommend planting in addition to the standard tulips and daffodils?
I must confess that the bulbs I plant the most of are tulips. I guess I just love the classic bloom and wide range of colors available. However, for variety there are some other, less typical bulbs that I plant every year as well.

Allium schubertii: Large, spidery blooms comprised of purple star-shaped florets. These are great planted in drifts and make an elegant statement as a single cut flower in a vase.

Anemone blanda: I have to say that I don't actually grow this bulb, but have always appreciated its simple daisy-like bloom. They are great for forcing to enjoy indoors. I like the “Blue Shades” variety because, well, I like blue.

Arum italicum: This is really a three season plant. Good for gardens in zones 5-9, it produces mottled arrow-shaped foliage in the winter, chartreuse “Jack-in-the-pulpit”-like blooms in the spring and bright red berries in summer.

Camassia leichtlinii “Blue Danube”: This North American native plant produces tall spikes of blue star-shaped flowers in late spring or early summer.

Eremurus: The plume-shaped blooms are similar to a foxtail, giving it the common name of foxtail lily. The stature of this plant makes a statement. Depending on the variety, it can grow up to 7 feet tall.

Leucojum aestivum “Gravetye Giant”: The white bell-shaped flowers of this plant are edged with chartreuse green. I like this variety because the blooms are larger than other leucojums.

10. What bulbs are good for forcing to enjoy indoors?
The easiest spring flowering bulbs for forcing are amaryllis, paperwhites, hyacinths, muscari and large flowering crocus. Other bulbs that can be forced but may require a little more attention are tulips, miniature daffodils, lily-of-the-valley and freesias.
— By Mary Ellen Pyle

To learn how to create Allen’s tulip container packed full of bulbs, visit pallensmith.com.

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