Bulbous flowers stand apart from all the others. They are planted before winter, so that in the spring, when the snow melts and the earth begins to warm up, these amazing creatures begin to delight gardeners with their colors and delicate aroma before anyone else. Their distinctive feature is their smooth, juicy and tender stems, which are not at all similar to the stems of later relatives in the kingdom of flora. Let's look at what bulbous flowers can be planted in September-October and how to plant them correctly in order to get results in the spring.
Small and large brothers
Let's start with small-bulbed flowers, which include snowdrops, scylla, crocuses and muscari. The time for planting them is in early September, but in the southern regions this time extends until October. These plants are not large in size, so the greatest aesthetic effect is achieved by mass planting of flowers. But individually, any of these species will delight you no less.
The bulbs of lilies, tulips and daffodils, which are planted later than snowdrops and scylla - at the end of September and until the end of October, are much larger.
The main condition for planting any bulbous flowers is to have time to plant them at such a time that the bulb can take root in the ground and acquire a good root system, but does not germinate before the first frost occurs.
It is not necessary to dig up fall flower bulbs after they have finished blooming. Next year they will definitely bloom again. You just need to take into account that varietal traits will be lost every year, so updating the colors will be necessary.
Lilies
Rarely does a garden today exist without lilies. They can be planted both in spring and autumn, but the second option is preferable. The only exception is oriental hybrids, which are not resistant to cold. In the middle zone, it is recommended to start planting between August 15 and October 15, when the soil is still warmed up to 10°C. The larger the bulb, the deeper it is buried in the soil, that is, the “triple height rule” applies here too.
To protect the stems of lilies from overheating, it is recommended to plant ground cover plants nearby: daisies, sedum, grass carnation, saxifrage. They also inhibit the growth of weeds. Lilies look spectacular in groups. But it is not recommended to mix several varieties in one area, since it will be difficult to separate the bulbs in the future.
Choosing a place and soil
Bulbous flowers begin to bloom when there are no leaves on the trees, so it would be logical to plant them next to trees and shrubs. They will also look good on an alpine hill, where scillas, also called scillas, and crocuses performed especially well.
Bulbous flowers love fertile soil in which water does not stagnate.
If the soil on the site is heavy and clayey, you can mix it with sand or even make drainage.
You need to prepare the soil for planting in advance - apply fertilizers, water it and, if necessary, compact it a few days in advance.
Hyacinth
Hyacinth is able to charm the most demanding “flower gourmets” with its aroma and variety of colors. In garden centers you will find white, blue, lilac, pink, peach, yellow, and purple representatives of this species. Don't pass by - buy a couple of bulbs for a flower bed or mixborder. Luxurious inflorescences will delight you with their appearance in April - early May.
Hyacinth loves warmth and sun, and its bulbs are sensitive to soil moisture and there is a high risk of rotting. Therefore, it is worth planting this beauty in a sunny area protected from the wind, preferably not too close to a pond.
The time for planting hyacinth is from August to October. The bulbs are quite large, so they are buried by 15 cm, and the distance between plants is left approximately the same - 12-15 cm. For smaller bulbs, the distance can be reduced. If the soil is light and loose, increase the planting depth by 2 cm; if it is heavy, on the contrary, reduce it.
When planting hyacinth, you need to make drainage from sand at the bottom of the planting hole and sprinkle the bulbs first with sand and then with earth. This will prevent rotting and avoid possible infections.
Rules for planting bulbous plants (video)
Before planting the bulbs in the ground, take a close look at their condition.
The bulbs should be smooth and free of signs of disease and rot.
If any are found, get rid of such bulbs without pity. It is better to lose one or two bulbs than to regret them and re-infect all the flowers in the garden. But if there are signs of damage on the bulbs, dip them in a solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect them. Damaged areas can be treated with brilliant green for greater effect.
Prepare the area for planting. The top layer of soil must be removed and fine sand sprinkled on the bottom. It is advisable to place the bulbs at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other (usually for large bulbs). Each bulb is pressed to the ground and covered with soil.
If the soil on the site is clayey, the best option is to mix the backfill soil with humus or peat.
In addition to good watering of the planting site, you need to mulch. Don't forget to mark this place with pegs so that you don't accidentally disturb the bulbs during spring digging.
The situation is much simpler on loose, fertile soil. There is absolutely no need to make drainage; you just need to make a hole in the ground, plant the bulbs at a certain distance from each other and cover them with water.
The situation is even simpler with a lawn. The layer of turf is removed, and the bulb is placed on loose soil, after which it is covered with the same turf.
Frittilaria
Fritillaria or hazel grouse are large decorative perennials from the Liliaceae family. The plant must be planted in the fall so that it is well established and blooms profusely in the spring. The requirements of hazel grouse for soil and illumination of the site differ little from other bulbous plants. But it is important to observe the planting deadlines - rooting takes a long time, about a month. The weather during this period should be warm, with stable above-zero temperatures at night.
Before planting, the bulbs need to be inspected, since damage affects germination. Roots over 5 cm are pre-cut. The bulbs are buried to 3 heights, which is up to 25 cm, and the distance between the holes is the same. Grouse grouse create expressive decorative accents, especially when planted in groups among lower plants.
Crocuses - the pride of iris
These flowers also love the sun and also soil that is well saturated and allows water to pass through. They need to be planted at the same depth as muscari, and the distance is maintained the same. There is no need to worry about planting depth, since these flowers are able to go deep on their own.
Crocuses also multiply well, so they will need to be replanted every two to three years.
Review of preferences of the most popular varieties
Mouse hyacinths or muscari (lily family)
They grow well in loose, well-drained soil and love sunlight. The bulbs are buried 8 cm into the soil layer, the distance between them is 7-8 cm.
Muscari are charming flowers that appear when the snow has not yet melted and continue to bloom when the trees are covered with foliage. Their graceful inflorescences are a real decoration of the garden.
Crocuses (iris family)
For these flowers, permeable soil and good lighting are ideal. The planting depth and distance between the bulbs is the same as when planting muscari.
Crocus bulbs reproduce well and need to be replanted every 2-3 years. There is no need to worry too much about the planting depth; these flowers go deep on their own.
Article on the topic: Planting, growing and caring for bulbous irises - the secrets of gardeners
Daffodils (amaryllis)
Can grow in partial shade and sun, in permeable light soil. Planting time is August-October.
Daffodils really do not like to live in soil fertilized with manure, swampy and highly calcareous soil. The soil pH is preferably neutral, but they grow well in slightly acidic soils
Tulips (lily)
Tulips are garden bulbous flowers that never cease to amaze with their perfection and variety of shapes and colors. In addition, they are unpretentious and do not require special conditions for flowering and growth.
Tulip bulbs are planted, depending on size, at a distance of 10-20 cm from each other towards the end of autumn, so that they do not have time to germinate
Lilies (lily)
The best soil for lilies is fertilized and drained. There are many varieties of lilies, so the time of planting and the distance and depth between the bulbs largely depend on the specific variety.
Lily bulbs should be dense, without sprouts; if there is still a sprout, it needs to be cut off and the bulb planted deeper
Grouse and fritillaria
Another representatives of lilies are not so often found in our flower beds. Orange-colored fritillaria are often confused with lilies. The main conditions for them are soil with good drainage and plenty of sun. The bulb is usually planted at a depth of twice its height. These plants are good because they look great either alone or in a group.
Fritillaria and fritillaria are essentially the same plant. Their variegated color always attracts attention, and drooping flowers look unusual.
- Author: Svetlana
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Tulips
Tulips, with their variety of species and exotic colors, have already become a must-have in landscape design. When planting in autumn, choose the first half of October. Tulip loves loose, fertile, organic-rich soil.
When forming a flower bed, several varieties or hybrids are used, thus varying the flowering time. Here everything depends on the gardener’s plan - whether he wants the flowers to open gradually, replacing each other, or to immediately form a lush carpet.
Tulips, especially Dutch ones, need winter shelter. Any mulch will do for this. Also, tulips are more afraid of humidity than frost, so they need to be planted in dry areas.
I have selected the most spectacular bulbous plants that need to be planted in the fall. With minimal care and attention, they will survive even the harsh winter to delight us with bright colors and delicate aroma in the spring.
What flowers are planted in autumn?
In the fall, bulbous flowers are divided, planted and planted. Among them:
- Crocuses.
- Hyacinths.
- Tulips.
- Muscari.
- Phlox paniculata.
- Pushkinia.
- Scylla.
- Lilies.
- Sedum.
- Astilbe.
- Peonies.
- Evening primrose bush.
- Adonis.
- Clematis.
- Aconite.
- Rudbeckia.
- Lupine.
- Brunerra macrofolia.
- Echinacea.
Annuals planted in the fall bloom better and longer in the spring. This is due to natural stratification in the soil.
