How to plant bulbous flowers in the fall: planting times, features

Autumn is full of work for gardeners, besides harvesting, including planting flower beds and other winter-season plants. It's a mistake to think this is an easy process that requires no knowledge or skill. Improper planting can slow growth and even cause death. Planting bulbous flowers is crucial for proper growth and healthy plants. Knowing how and when to plant bulbs is crucial, and step-by-step instructions are helpful.

Benefits of Autumn Flower Planting

You can plant flowers in the spring, but planting bulbous flowers in the fall offers more advantages:

1. Gardeners plant flower bulbs after harvesting and cleaning up their garden. These processes are not rushed, but rather done gradually and deliberately. This isn't possible in the spring, because in addition to planting flowers, they also prepare the soil and grow seedlings.
2. Planting material is sold at a discount in the fall. Prices are much higher in the spring.
3. In autumn, stratification occurs in natural conditions; there is no need to additionally simulate winter cold.
4. Plants thrive when planted in cold weather. When frost sets in, pests disappear, but the soil remains warm for a while. This helps the plant establish and develop roots before the ground freezes deep.
5. Bulbous flowers planted in the fall germinate earlier than other flowers in the spring. They also bloom sooner.
6. In autumn, heavy rainfall occurs, the soil becomes well-moistened, and plants thrive. This eliminates the need for additional watering.

What bulbous plants can be planted in autumn?

At the end of the gardening season, gardeners divide their shrubs and plant bulbous flowers for the winter. These include:

• lily;
• crocus;
• Adonis;
• Echinacea;
• astilbe;
• peony;
• tulip;
• lupine;
• hyacinth;
• sedum;
• aconite;
• evening primrose;
• rudbeckia.

If bulbous plants are planted at the right time, annuals will bloom more abundantly and for longer. This occurs due to the natural process of stratification.

When to plant flowering bulbs

For proper development and dense flowering, root bulbs require cool, calm conditions after planting. Therefore, gardeners plant fall bulbous flowers from mid-August until the second half of September:

• crocuses;
• hazel grouse;
• daffodils;
• phloxes;
• astilbe;
• muscari;
• Chionodoxa;
• rudbeckia.

Tulips and lilies are planted by the end of September. It's not recommended to purchase low-quality planting material, as it won't germinate. It's better to spend more money to buy good quality material from trusted sources. If you collect the root bulbs locally, discard any diseased or small ones, leaving the largest and most intact ones.

Selection of location and soil

Bulbous plants are planted under trees because they bloom before the branches have leaves. Scilla, crocus, and bluebells fit beautifully into rock gardens and alpine beds.

For vigorous growth and abundant blooms, bulbous flowers require nutrient-rich soil that doesn't retain excess water. If the soil is clayey, add sand. Dense, heavy soil should be brought to a proper balance. Fertilize and water the soil before planting.

Landing features

Before planting bulbous flowers in the fall, carefully inspect the tubers. If any are damaged, they are treated with potassium permanganate, and bruised areas are treated with brilliant green. These measures promote better flowering in future plants. Bulbs that are even slightly rotten should not be planted. They will infect the remaining rhizomes, eventually infecting all plants immediately after planting.

Soil

In the fall, bulbs strengthen their root system to better survive the winter and bloom profusely in the spring. To achieve this, the soil is prepared and fertilized. Preparation begins several months before planting. Compost is added to adjust the soil's acidity. Bulbs prefer neutral or slightly acidic soil. Moisture-retaining and soil-loosening substances are also added.

It's not recommended to replant root bulbs in the same spot. Bacteria and pathogens remain in the soil. Even roots treated with fungicides risk becoming infected and dying. Therefore, to preserve the bulbs, they are replanted in a new location each year.

Bulb planting technology

Depending on the plant variety, gardeners vary in planting depth. However, a rule of thumb for bulbous flowers planted in the fall is to plant them at least three times the diameter of the bulb. If the diameter is 2 cm, add a 6 cm layer of soil on top.

A suitable place for planting bulbs is a lawn. Remove the sod layer, and place the bulbs in the soil. Cover with the same sod.

Some soils become compacted by heavy rainfall. In such cases, add sand or another lightweight soil to the bulb hole. This should be done so that the hole's depth remains the same. In dry autumns, the bulbs are watered generously after planting and mulched. Fallen leaves, wood shavings, or peat moss are used as mulch.

Leave a gap of approximately 15 cm between adjacent bulbs. Larger roots require greater planting depth, which is achieved by covering them with a deep layer of mulch.

Flowers that are too sensitive to cold and moisture quickly rot. Therefore, newly planted plants are covered with greenhouse film. However, this must be removed promptly in the spring, otherwise the bulbs will rot and die.

Pruning bulbous plants

Bulbs also require pruning. This stage occurs after flowering. Therefore, it's important to know the proper pruning techniques:

• After the plants have finished flowering, the ovaries are cut off. This is done so that the flower does not waste energy on seed formation;
• The stems are left because they help accumulate nutrients;
• do not cut off the leaves of faded plants or tie them up so that they dry out faster;
• The bulbs are harvested only after the leaves have completely dried out.

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Digging up and drying bulbous plants

You should dig up and dry the bulbous plants in the following manner:

• the bulbs are carefully dug up, the soil is shaken off, extra roots are removed, and then they are dried in a shaded, well-ventilated room;
• crocus, pushkinia, and leucojum bulbs are stored in the same room until planting;
• Crocus, muscari, snowdrop, leucojum, and erythronium are not dug up every year; they grow in one place for 6-7 years.

What months should you plant bulbous plants?

Depending on the plant type, the timing for its winter planting varies:

1. September. At the beginning of the month, gardeners divide their bushes and replant plants such as rhododendrons, phlox, and astilbe. They also plant small-bulb flowers such as scilla, pushkinia, crocus, and muscari. Daffodils are planted toward the middle of the month, followed by hyacinths 5-7 days later. Tulips are planted in the last week of September. It's important to follow the correct timing, as getting it all wrong will prevent the plants from developing strong roots.
2. October. Planting tulips and hyacinths can be delayed until mid-October if winters arrive later in your climate. planting hyacinths Cover with plastic to prevent the soil from absorbing excess moisture during autumn rains. "October" tulips are more resistant to viruses. Cool, moist soil is ideal for these bulbs.
3. November. If the autumn was warm, with temperatures not dropping below 3°C, tulips can be planted in November. However, caution is needed, as if the temperature conditions aren't met, the flowers will slow down or even die.

If tulip bulbs are purchased late, they are planted indoors in a special container. This will be safer for the planting material and will prevent the plant from freezing. Proper care is crucial in this case, as it is essential to ensure they bloom on time. In the spring, the now-strong, mature plant is planted outdoors.

An overview of flower growers' preferences and the most popular varieties

Different varieties of bulbous plants require specific soil types, sunlight, and moisture. Planting depths also vary. The most popular varieties require:

1. Muscari. These flowers thrive in loose, well-drained soil. Muscari prefer sunny spots, so avoid planting them in the shade. The bulbs are planted to a depth of 8 cm, with a 10 cm gap between plants.
2. Crocuses. These flowers prefer well-drained soil and sunlight. They are planted in the same way as muscari.
3. Daffodils. These plants bloom well in both sun and shade. They prefer well-drained soil. Planting time: August-October.
4. Tulips. These flowers are the most undemanding of all bulbous flowers. They don't require any special conditions, yet their diversity is astounding. Varieties differ not only in color but also in shape. They have the longest fall planting period and can be forced indoors.
5. Lilies. The soil for planting lilies is fertilized and well-drained. Different varieties require different planting conditions.
6. Fritillaries and fritillaries. These flowers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. They are planted at intervals equal to two bulb sizes. The orange plants are visually very similar to lilies.

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When is the best time to buy bulbs?

The best option is to purchase bulbs shortly before planting. However, this isn't always possible, as bulbs for summer plants are only sold in winter. This means they need to be stored properly until planting time. Planting material purchased ahead of time should be placed in peat or sand and stored in a room with a temperature of approximately 5-7°C.

Conclusion

Bulbous plants bloom beautifully and are a joy to behold. To achieve such a beautiful result, gardeners invest considerable time and effort into proper planting and care. Different varieties require specific soil preparation guidelines, and it's important to know these. But the effort will be well worth it. Bulbous plants amaze with their stunning blooms and wide variety.