Gardening With Gutner: Planting Bulbs
BOSTON (CBS) - While many folks begin to wrap up their gardening in the fall, there is still a very important piece of gardening to be done before the ground freezes: planting bulbs.
Flowers from bulbs are perennials, you plant them in the mid to late fall season and they will continue to bloom year after year. But there are a few important steps to follow to ensure a beautiful blossom in the spring.
(1) Choose a good location. Plant bulbs at least 5 feet from foundations in well drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Also keep in mind the spring sun which will be weaker and lower in the horizon.
WBZ-TV's Chief Meteorologist Todd Gutner reports:
(2) Dig a hole about twice the depth of the size of the bulb. You should also add fertilizer before replacing the soil.
(3) Best time to plant is after the first frost. You want the bulbs to stay cool throughout the fall and winter, any unusual warmth could trick them into thinking spring has sprung early!
(4) Biggest issue folks run into after planting: squirrels! This is why it is best to plant them after the first frost and after the ground has hardened a bit. Squirrels love to dig up the bulbs and eat them. It is a good idea to spray the bulbs with with a repellent spray before burying them.
