Nothing is better than the heat of summer giving way to the crisp autumn air. Chilly temps mean it’s the perfect time to carve your pumpkin and plant spring flowering bulbs. My favorite bulb is the daffodil due to its endearing quality of resurrecting itself year after year with little or no maintenance. A forgiving bulb: what could be more inspiring in life than a daffodil?
Daffodil bulbs are perennials- the garden darling of a plant! They have a period of growth and flowering, which is followed by a period of dormancy when they die back to ground level at the end of each growing season. “Perennial” comes from the Latin word “perennis” which means to last the year through. It signifies lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring. This is much less work on the gardener looking for colorful flowers with less maintenance.
Planting time in North Metro Atlanta is October 1 to Christmas. These tough bulbs need the cold weather in December to February to hardily put on buds.
How deep to plant? This is so easy with daffodils! I’m sure you’ve seen a daffodil that has been forced to bloom in water! It’s easy to do and proves that the bulb does not need the soil for it to bloom. Planted in soil, the bulb has a permanent home and protection for many years, receiving rain and warmth so it will live happily for decades to come. Experts suggest that the bottom of the bulb be planted three times the height of the bulb (e.g., a 2” tall bulb should rest its bottom at 6” deep in the soil). This really makes sense when you see the bulb grow and know that its stem and leaves will need support to hold that lovely flower bud when it turns down and toward the sun and the blooms explode with color. As you plant, just look at the bulb in your hand and put it in the ground three times its…
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