Not so Crazy Old Time Tips for Planting Bulbs

What do I mean by not so crazy tips for planting bulbs? I'm famous for my off the wall gardening advice. I guess that's because most of my advice is kind of old fashioned. My Dad taught me a lot of tricks that today's modern gardeners might find crazy or unconventional. I'm OK with that, because his tips work. Plus, they're more environmentally sound than most. I take green to the extreme. I'd rather lose a whole crop than spray with toxic chemicals. So, how do I plant bulbs?

Insect proof bulbs with garlic. Most gardeners know, garlic keeps away common garden pests. Some plant rows of garlic in between other crops. Others use hot peppers in the same way. I do that, plus use a different technique. I plant garlic cloves with my bulbs. It keeps bugs, moles and other rodents from destroying them. Plus, I can divide my bulbs when I harvest my garlic each year. It saves me time and insures I maintain my flower beds.

Plant annuals among bulbs. This way, there's always something blooming in your bulb beds. Why have dead dry space once bulbed flowers are done blooming? You can have pretty blooms all year by planting annuals here and there throughout the growing season. They make great filler for other flower beds too. You can even use them to pretty up the veggie garden.

Bulbs do best when planted deep. That doesn't mean you have to dig to China. Place a garden bed box around your future bulb garden. Plant bulbs about 3 inches deep. Fill the box with soil. Now you have a nice deep garden bed for your bulbs without the digging. Plus, you have all that nice fresh soil on top. Amend it with fertilizer or compost without heavy tilling.

Plant spring blooming bulbs right in the lawn. Early spring flowers like crocuses usually fade before you mow your lawn for the first time. Scatter them randomly around the front yard. Plant them in groups in case you do have to mow early. That way you can easily skirt around them with the mower or trimmer.

Adapt to the rules. Sticking to high ground and planting early is good advice. Bulbs don't do as well in low lying areas where water collects. If your whole yard is a low lying area, you can still have bulbs. Simply put them in planters for a quaint look. The earlier you plant bulbs, the better. Make it simpler. Just remember to plant at least two seasons ahead of the bloom.

More from Jaipi:

Five Free Green Garden Fertilizers

How to Use Natural Methods for Keeping Moles Out of the Garden

Replacing Your Lawn with A Garden