1. Spring and Summer Flowering Bulbs
BDHS Horticulture 2014

2. Class Goals Learn best management practices
Greater appreciation of the landscape
Enjoyment

3. Bulbs are used in the landscape for….
Massing – grouping of color.
Bulbs grow well in wooded areas
In Rock Gardens
With evergreen shrubs

4. What is a Spring Flowering Bulb?
Bulbs that are winter hardy.
Planted in the Fall and left in the ground over the winter.
Bring color to the landscape before other flowers are planted.

5. What is a summer flowering bulb?
Bulbs that are not winter hardy
Must be dug and stored for winter
Add beauty to the landscape
Large or small flower size
Used in groupings, cut flowers or specimens
Some need to be staked

6. Bulbs True bulb Corms Tubers Tuberous roots Rhizomes
Bulb is any plant that stores its complete life cycle in an underground storage structure.
Types of Storage Structures
True bulb
Corms
Tubers
Tuberous roots
Rhizomes

7. True Bulb
Five Major Parts

8. True Bulbs Tunicate bulbs (paper-like sheath) Tulips Daffodils
Hyacinths
Alliums

9. True Bulbs
Imbricate bulbs
(no papery sheath)
Lily

10. Corms
A swollen stem base that is modified into a mass of storage tissue.
Does not have visible storage rings when cut in half
Gladiolus and crocus

11. Tubers
Buds are scattered over the tuber surface from which shoots and roots develop.
Caladiums, oxalis, anemones, potato

12. Tuberous Roots Nutrient reserves are stored in an actual root
instead of an enlarged
stem.
Dahlia and
tuberous begonia

13. Rhizomes Iris, lily-of-the-valley, cannas
Grow horizontally under the soil surface.

14. Fleshy Roots
Not bulbs
Peonies and daylilies

15. Bulb Selection Size Larger bulbs produce larger blooms
Smaller bulbs are good for naturalizing
Firmness
Select bulbs that are firm and free from soft or rotting spots; disease free

16. Bulbs bloom at 2 different times
Once planted you need to give them time to grow roots and then start
VEGETATIVE growth

17. Spring Flowering Sometimes bloom before snow is gone.
Most common since they give the landscape some color before other flowers are planted.
Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinth

18. Planting Time Summer Flowering Bulbs
Hybrid lilies, dahlias, gladiolus, calla lilies, caladiums, cannas
Plant in the spring after danger of frost is past.

19. Soil Preparation Soil drainage and aeration are essential
Add compost, peat moss or some source of organic matter
Work the organic matter into the top 12 to 18 inches of soil
pH between 6.0 and 7.0

20. Fertilization
Incorporate fertilizer when preparing the soil in the spring:
- 3 lbs of a complete fertilizer (i.e ) per 100 sq. ft. (1.5 tsp. per sq. ft.) or
2 lbs of blood meal per 100 sq. ft (1 tsp. per sq. ft.)
Repeat applications at half rates every four to six weeks through mid-August

21. Planting Bulbs Rules of thumb The pointed end goes up
Planting depth is the distance from the bottom of the bulb to the soil surface
Size of the bulb often dictates the depth; the larger the bulb the deeper the depth
Remove air pockets around the bulb (proper watering – deep watering)

22. Summer Maintenance
Foliage should not be removed until it turns yellow and dies back naturally
Interplant the bulbs with annuals or perennials
Mulch the bulbs to minimize temperature fluctuations and conserve moisture.
Dig and divide crowded bulbs to increase flower size

23. Digging and Storing Dig when leaves turn yellow
Use a spading fork to lift the bulbs from the ground
Leave the soil on the bulbs or wash?
Store in clumps on slightly moistened layer of peat moss or sawdust.
Place in a cool, dry basement, cellar or garage
Watch for decay and discard those bulbs

24. Digging
Loosen soil with fork or spade several inches back and all around plant.
Avoid breaking, cutting or damaging the fleshy skin.
Disease enters through cuts and decreases storage.

25. Cleaning Gently remove excess soil Washing will remove soil
Glads best left unwashed

26. Curing Allows excess moisture to be removed
Warm, dry location out of direct sun
60 to 70 degrees ideal
Remove old corms
Few days to several weeks

27. Pest Management Rot can be a problem
Check often and remove decaying bulbs
Dust with fungicide if you wish

28. Storing Label bulbs 40 to 50 degrees 50 to 60 degrees
Place in sack and label
Write on the larger bulbs or stems
40 to 50 degrees
Canna, dahlia, freesia, glads,
50 to 60 degrees
Begonia, caladium, call lily, Peruvian lily, tuberose