Make plans now for the garden color that you’ll be happy to see in the spring.
Ahhhh … fall is finally here. Crisp air fills the mornings even though the days are still quite warm. Leaves are starting to turn in the high country and soon, even the Front Range will be awash in rich autumn colors. Of course, this is all leads to dreaming of vibrant spreads of brightly colored blooms, right? Before you ease into pumpkin spice everything, make plans now for the spring color that you’ll be so happy to see in the spring!
Many colorful blooming flowers require months of root growth to produce blooms when the weather warms up again. In the fall, the soil is usually still warm and easy to work with. Tulips, daffodils and crocus bulbs, to name just a few options, must be planted before the ground freezes. Bulbs need a number of days below a certain temperature, which varies depending on the bulb variety.
Come spring when the temperature rises again, a chemical reaction is triggered in the bulb that makes it grow and flower. That’s why it’s critical for bulbs to establish their root systems before the necessary chilling process is underway. Like many aspects of quality landscape design, timing is everything when it comes to planting your bulbs.
LifeScape Colorado is your residential and commercial landscape design firm serving properties in Denver and across the entire Colorado Front Range. Whether you need landscape design ideas, general landscape architecture, construction, property care, or ongoing maintenance for your space, we’ve got you covered. At LifeScape, our team of landscaping professionals has the experience and professionalism to meet all your landscaping needs.
Expert planning makes the difference
Getting great results from bulbs involves several important factors. Choosing quality bulbs, selecting the right varieties, varying your bloom time, planting in well-drained soil in a location with proper sunlight, and other efforts can help ensure a successful garden and a beautiful landscape design.
The Lifescape team of landscaping and gardening experts can help make sure that your gardens are planned and planted for the best possible results. We’ll come to your property, carefully assess your landscape, and help you make the right choices so that you’ll have a colorful, and eye-catching spring.
Use a quality soil and properly water your bulbs
Healthy bulbs are most successful when paired with healthy soil. You can improve your soil with compost and other organic matter to develop a rich environment that is conducive to healthy plant growth. Your bulbs will also require water, so if it’s a dry winter or early spring, hand water your planting beds while your irrigation system is winterized.
Prep your Bulb Bed
To provide your bulbs with a safe and effective space to grow, you’ll want to properly prepare your bulb bed. For the best results, make sure you remove any weeds and loosen up the soil. It can also help to add compost for an extra source of nutrients. When prepping your bulb bed, you can also add elements like sand to help your soil drain better. Again, these choices will depend on the types of bulbs you’re planting.
Wait Until Spring to Fertilize
Once you’ve got your bulbs planted, they’ll stay dormant throughout fall and winter. This means you don’t have to worry about fertilizing your new bulbs until spring when you start seeing those first few shoots sprouting up. When the shoots appear, this is a clear sign that your bulbs are ready for additional nutrients.
Top five bulbs for Colorado’s climate:
Depending on your local climate, certain bulbs may thrive while others will find it difficult to even make it through a season. Additionally, the location of your garden will make a significant impact. Does your garden design receive full or only partial sunlight? How well drained is your soil? All these factors and more will determine the success of your spring bulbs.
But to help you get started, taker a look at our list of five bulbs that have proven to do well in Colorado’s climate:
- Tulips: The epitome of spring, tulip flowers are large, showy and are available in every color and size imaginable.
- Daffodils: These fall-planted bulbs will produce trumpet-shaped centers surrounded by petals in a vibrant yellow or white.
- Hyacinths: Known for being one of the easiest spring bulbs to create clusters of color and for being very fragrant, there are many varieties available in purples, pinks, whites and yellows.
- Crocus: These hardy yet small flowers help provide late winter and very early spring garden color, but they also naturalize, which means they are likely to come back each year.
- Allium: Also known as “ornamental onion,” the spherical shape and dramatic heights are an eye-catching treat late spring/early summer.
Conclusion – Spring for Bulbs with LifeScape Colorado
Knowledgeable gardeners, like the experts at LifeScape Colorado, know exactly when, where, and how to plant bulbs of different varieties to ensure that they bloom throughout the season. When planting your bulbs, be sure to properly prep the bulb bed, use quality water, maintain consistent watering, and know which types of bulbs will thrive in your local climate. With careful planning, you’ll have a garden come spring that will be the envy of all your neighbors.
For more than 44 years, LifeScape has been Colorado’s trusted, full-service landscape architecture firm. Our team specializes in landscape construction, maintenance, and complete property care. We offer beautiful and functional design solutions for Colorado landscapes to transform your outdoor space. From planting spring bulbs, garden maintenance, to complete landscape designs, we can provide you with the resources and experience to help bring your landscape design to life.
Contact Lifescape today or give us a call at (303) 831-8310 to prep your garden for big spring color!
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