As the warm days of summer gradually turn into cooler nights, gardeners traditionally begin to anticipate how their garden will look next spring.
Planting fall bulbs has been a tradition for many years. Those flowering bulbs are the surest signs that spring has arrived. Some will start blooming even when there is snow on the ground. Nothing brings a more welcomed relief from a long cold winter.
Gardeners fondly remember the spectacular colour burst of past groups of tulip bulbs.
But after many years of successive blooming, some of those bulbs start to wane in their performance. They may begin to look overcrowded or blooms become stunted. Some may even fail to open.
Usually after four years of growth, tulips will start to decline in their overall size and vibrancy.
Once the bulb goes dormant (about six weeks after blooming) they can be safely dug up and divided, although, some gardeners may prefer to wait for the regular fall bulb planting time to divide them.
Restoring the vigour is a simple process of digging up clumps and separating larger bulbs from the smaller. That will give them much-needed space to grow freely, once they are sorted and replanted.
That process is essential to ensure that each bulb remains productive.
Divide the bulb bundles and replant separately. The larger bulbs should not be restricted by overcrowding. Smaller bulbs will regain the ability to flower once they grow larger.
Single full-size bulbs always grow bigger blooms. Bulbs must be at least 6cm to flower.
Large bulbs should be planted 8 to 10cm apart, smaller 4 to 6.
As with other plants, tulip bulbs also reproduce. Often, they will naturally split after flowering. New offsets (babies) will also be created.
Smaller offsets and the splits will need to be thoroughly inspected before they are replanted or stored. Discard the very small or dehydrated ones.
These are the very same “bargain” bulbs that are inexpensive to purchase, but can take three to four years before they fully grow and flower.
The amount of time and effort in planting is not worth the rewards of just having a single tulip leaf appear year after year.
Bulbs that have been in the same soil for some time would benefit from adding compost or well rotted manure before replanting. That amendment restores the soil so that larger blooms will eventually return. The process may take some time for the bulbs to rejuvenate.
Although it is very tempting to remove the leaves and stem once the bulb has finished blooming, foliage needs to die out naturally. When it has yellowed completely, it will easily separate from the bulb. If the green foliage is removed too early, the bulbs will not flower next year.
The foliage is required to produce nutrients through photosynthesis.
Some gardeners will plant annuals alongside or tie the long floppy leaves to disguise their unkempt appearance. It is best to wait until fall before removing or moving any bulbs although some gardeners prefer to complete the task once the leaves have fully dehydrated.
Planting cloves of spring garlic among the growing foliage will leave a natural marker to identify each grouping of tulips. In the fall, the bulbs and garlic can be easily harvested.
Groupings or collections of bulbs make for a powerful visual statement rather than a lineup or a single planting here and there. Groupings will always create a stronger effect especially when the same type or colour has been planted.
Planting bulbs in a filled in triangular or circular format will increase the visual appearance of the collection by actually using fewer bulbs, giving the illusion that more flowers were planted.
All tulip bulbs will go through this reproductive process. Newer hybrids and traditional varieties may be a welcomed reward to the gardener, whereas some varieties may be so prolific that alternate plans for their use may be in order. In any case, dividing large clumps is very necessary to restore them to their previous size and luster.
Tulip (Tulipa), daffodil (Narcissus), hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), crocus (Crocus), muscari (Liriope), allium (Allium) and snowdrops (Galanthus) are all spring flowering bulbs that must be planted in the fall or early winter. They require colder temperatures to begin the process of flowering.
Ron Stevenson is a member of the Fergus Horticultural Society
