September announces a transition, the next gardening season.
The annuals and perennials of our gardens have matured into glorious shows of colors. Accented with a backdrop of green trees and shrubs, soon these same planting beds will be framed with new backdrop color pallets of yellows, reds and oranges. Autumn – September 22 is fast approaching.
Exciting? Yes! We get to play, and work in our gardens again. The heat of the summer is waning and we are energized with cooler temperatures. Fall performing plants such as sedums, rudbeckias, and ornamental annual and perennial grasses just come into their glory of fabulous colors and textures. Plants favorable to cooler temperatures; ornamental kales and cabbages along with colorful garden mums, exude warm rich colors complementary to the autumn garden.
As we witness some annuals fading and finishing, we see opportunity - opportunity of gaining planting space. This space is perfect for planting clusters of fall bulbs. BULBS? Yes, tulips, alliums, daffodils (aka narcissus) and even garlic.
Tulips, along with the other bulbs mentioned must be planted soon - "planted in the season ahead of its growing/ blooming year" (plant them in the fall, then they will grow and bloom the following year). Planting takes place in the autumn while temperatures are still a bit warm, allowing a small anchoring or rooting of the bulb into the ground. All the bulbs should be planted in a well-drained location of the garden; best in sunny areas. Just take note: areas under some trees may be shady now but if they are deciduous or leafy trees (not evergreens) the early to mid-spring blooming tulips may grow and bloom in these locations because the leaves on these trees may just be forming and not creating its usual shade as of yet. Opportunity to plant bulbs – yes!
Partnered with existing plants in a garden, all of these bulb selections will accent existing plantings or become the focus of the garden in their blooming stage. Bulbs impact the garden when planted with selections which bloom either early, mid or late spring. This choice is yours when selecting the variety you want. Bulbs, like perennial selections come in a variety of color, height or texture.
Full color spectrums of tulips are available with color choices of yellows, blues, purples, reds, oranges, to varieties with blended combinations of color. Alliums and garlics bloom in shades of white, blue or lavender while daffodils whites, oranges, and traditionally yellows. Heights range from short, mid or tall in all categories providing the occasion to plant varieties in areas such as the front of the garden or to the back. Some allium varieties exceed the tulip heights by towering their orb shaped bloom up to 4’ high while others are petite and delicate. Daffodils too, like tulips have the same height ranges providing multiplicity in use.
Textured shape of the bulb is as unique as the color choice. Tulips, as much as they have diversity in color, have a range of bloom shapes. Tulip shaped, egg-shaped, peony shaped, lily shaped or exotic shaped with a feather type texture are also choices. Daffodil are described as trumpeted, cupped, nodding, split or scented. Alliums, spherical orb shape may be clustered tightly or more open or airy in form.
Planting depths of the bulbs vary. Alliums require to be planted at 4 times the size. Tulips and daffodil like to be planted 4-6" deep depending on the bulb size. It is best to plant them in clusters rather than in rows. Mass plantings make a statement. Combinations of colors or groupings may be used. Advice to use bone meal (an organic fertilizer) at the time of planting helps to feed the bulb benefiting its burst of growth in spring. Remember to plant in well-drained soil.
Which bulbs to plant? It may take time to browse the varieties. Much like a kid in a candy shop… which to choose?
St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre carries a diverse selection of fall bulbs. Open year round, St. Mary’s has all your gardening needs. "A Growing Garden Tradition". Visit them at 2901 St. Mary’s Rd (just 2km south of the perimeter) or visit them at www.stmarysnurseryandgardencentre.ca
Happy gardening this autumn.
