| - As soon as the earth is workable, begin planting | | | | workhorse of the family," which returns faithfully |
| late spring and summer bulbs. Always plant bulbs | | | | year after year. |
| six to eight inches below the ground to prevent | | | | - Tulips stop blooming after a few years. Some |
| spring freeze damage. | | | | gardeners dig the bulbs up every year and wet |
| - Try planting leftover Christmas amaryllis bulbs | | | | them rest for a season, which is a waste of time. |
| outside. You need to put them along the side of | | | | I suggest simply planting a few dozen |
| your house, about eight or nine inches below | | | | replacement bulbs in the fall. |
| ground, as soon as the soil is workable. Some | | | | - Bulbs should be fertilized with bone meal and |
| might never come up, Amaryllis is such a | | | | bulb booster when they are planted. For bulbs |
| hit-and-miss thing. There is a saying at many | | | | already in the ground, sprinkle a little bone meal |
| flower shows that I don't agree with: 'Grow them, | | | | and bulb booster around the shoots and work into |
| show them and throw them.' But we can't just | | | | the soil. |
| throw a live plant away." | | | | - Mulching is a good idea, too, especially during a |
| - If you discover that a lot of spring bulbs were | | | | dry spring. |
| lost to the cold, make note to replant in the fall. In | | | | - Ultimately, just enjoy them. They're one of the |
| fact, I think it's a good idea to add bulbs every | | | | most enjoyable parts of your garden. The first |
| fall, because most varieties won't last forever. | | | | breath of spring. |
| The one exception is the daffodil - "the | | | | |