The fall season means that many garden enthusiasts are pulling out plants, clipping back hostas and getting their garden ready for winter. Planting tulip and daffodil bulbs before the snow starts falling or the ground freezes will ensure that they will be ready for early spring flowering. Ideally fall planting should happen about 6 weeks before the ground freezes.

Here are some facts and myths about planting bulbs.

Fact: Many bulbs should be pre-chilled before they are planted. Check at your garden centre when purchasing, and if they have not been pre-chilled, put them in a paper bag and chill them in the fridge for a few days before planting.

Myth: Bulbs need to be fertilized before planting. Actually, bulbs come with all of the food that they need for the first growing season. Many gardeners want their bulbs to re-bloom annually, so mixing fertilizer in with the soil when planting will ensure a longer life of your bulbs. Choose a balanced, control-released bulb food – your Art Knapp Surrey garden expert can help you choose the right product.

Fact: After blooming, bulbs will have dying foliage for about 6 weeks. Letting them die back is an important part of the process, as the leaves contain food for the next growing season. Although dying foliage is unsightly, it is an important part of the growing and blooming process. Some gardeners plant bulbs in pots, which they then place in the ground, and move them to a different location when the leaves become wilted.

Myth: Wildlife doesn’t like bulbs. On the contrary, tulip and crocus bulbs are favourites of squirrels, so it is important to take precautions to keep the critters away. Placing chicken wire over the ground where bulbs are planted can deter squirrels if they become a nuisance. Also cleaning up any paper bits after planting will help to hide the fact that bulbs are in the ground below.

Planting bulbs in the fall will ensure a colourful garden in the Spring. The staff at Art Knapp Surrey can help you choose the best assortment of bulbs for planting your garden this season.

And if you are on a tight budget, you can great great deals on crocuses and other fall bulbs with our seasonal coupons