by Jeanne

It’s that time of year when the spring flowering bulb selection at nurseries and garden centers is at its peak. And while it may be too early to actually plant these bulbs in the garden in your gardening zone, now’s the time to shop for your favorite bulbs. Here are some tips to choosing the very best bulbs for your spring garden.

Ask yourself…

Where do I want to plant my bulbs?
All spring bulbs need full sun, defined as six or more hours of direct sunlight per day. However, many areas that are in dappled shade during the summer and fall are in bright, full sunlight in early spring. Areas under the spreading arc of deciduous trees, for example, may be perfect places to plant crocus or daffodils. Before you go shopping, look around the garden. Note where you want to plant your spring bulbs. If the areas are near the front of the garden bed, choose low-growing spring flowers. If you have broad expanses of lawn where you want a tumble of spring color, choose bulbs for naturalizing.

Are deer a problem in your area?
If hungry deer munch away all the flowers on your spring bulbs, you may have given up hope. However, some flowers are unpalatable to wildlife. Daffodils leave a bitter taste in the mouth of deer, and while they may chomp on a blossom or two they tend to leave them alone. Choose flowers such as daffodils and crocus for naturally deer-resistant flowers and avoid tulips and other tasty flowers, or plant such flowers in pots or very close to your home to discourage nibblers.

Consider planting a mixture of bulbs that bloom at different times.
Spring flowering bulbs bloom at different times of the year. Some bloom in the very early spring, even peeking above remaining snow drifts. Others wait until the long days of May have arrived and celebrate with riotous color. Look on the back of the package of bulbs at the planting information and note whether the bulbs are early spring, mid spring, or late spring. You can plant a mixture of bulbs in the same hole and have continuous blooms in one section of the garden throughout the spring. For example, I planted mixed crocus (early spring blooming), tulips (mid spring blooming) and Dutch iris (late spring – early summer blooming) together. I dug a hole about one foot in diameter and about 10 inches deep, setting the bulbs in odd-numbered clusters for a more natural effect. The result were little pockets of color in the flower garden starting very early in the spring and lasting until the rest of the perennials and annuals began blooming. You can do the same if you buy bulbs that bloom at different times of the year.

The bigger the bulb, the larger the flower.
I learned that tips from a third generation Dutch bulb grower many years ago who came to lecture at the garden center where I worked. She taught that the larger the flower bulb, the bigger the flowers. I use this rule of thumb when choosing my flower bulbs, particularly tulips, and I’ve never been disappointed. While I’ll pick small and economical daffodil and crocus bulbs, I love tulips, and the larger, more colorful the flowers, the happier I am.

Shop now for your spring flowering bulbs for the best selection. Wait to plant them, though, until the time is right in your gardening zone. Store bulbs in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to plant.