Now is the perfect time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. Here are tips to do it right
This is a great week to buy and plant daffodil and other spring flowering bulbs. And it is not too late to add new trees, shrubs and perennials to your garden.
The advantage of planting in September or October is that the rains are more likely to do your watering for you. Plus the soil will still be warm from summer and warm soil encourages faster root growth.
Q. If I plant bulbs in the fall, do I have to go outside and water them all spring when I seem them coming out of the ground and flowering? I tend to forget about watering plants and then they die. — H.G., Tacoma
A. I love your honesty — and in most cases, no, you do not need to give your spring blooming bulbs extra water. This is because our Western Washington climate has wet winters and very damp spring weather.
Once tulips and daffodils flower in the spring, you can cut off the faded bloom but leave the foliage to turn yellow so it can make flowers for next year. Then remember that these bulbs like to be kept dry all summer — the perfect solution for someone who would forget to water them anyway.
Q. Our soil is full of rocks. Do I need to dig out all the rocks in order to plant tulips? I hear they like good drainage and the rocks in our soil (they are about as big as a fist and also many the size of walnuts) seem to provide good drainage. Also how deep do I need to dig for planting bulbs? — B.L., Buckley
A. Your garden may be a rock star, but you still must pull out the rocks that are in the way when you dig a hole for planting bulbs. I suggest you clear rocks down to a depth of 12 inches then fill with improved soil, adding compost or leaf mold to the planting hole.
The general rule of green thumb is to plant bulbs at a depth roughly three times the height of the bulb. So a typical daffodil or tulip bulb that is 2 inches tall should go down 6 inches or more into the soil. The deeper you place the bulb, the more protected it is from the elements. Smaller bulbs such as crocus or snowdrops that are just 1 inch tall can be buried with 3 inches or more of soil on top.
Q. We need shade in our new back yard as fast as possible. One idea we were given is to plant poplar trees as they grow so very fast. Now our neighbor says poplars are messy trees that will spread into his yard. Should we still plant fast-growing poplar trees? What do you think we should plant for fast shade? — B.B., Bonney Lake
A. I would not plant poplar trees. They do grow extremely fast and will even grow in damp areas, but they have roots that can clog drains and sneak into the neighbor’s yard. Poplars also have weak wood, so they litter the area with fallen branches.
A better option would be a fast-growing maple tree. Old favorites are the Summer Red Maple and October Glory red maple, but a visit to a local, full-service nursery will give you many more options, especially if you schedule an appointment to talk to the tree buyer. Meanwhile, add a shade umbrella for the back yard.
Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of several books. Reach her at binettigarden.com.
