Spring is right around the corner, so it appears here in Texas. Regardless where you reside, the choices of bulbs from favorite nurseries impress us to give our landscape a burst of color using them. They scream out, "Hey look at me, I am beautiful, colorful and a sign of springtime!” However, before you go crazy with all your zany ideas for bulbs there are a few things you need to know. Whether planted in the summer or fall season and though beautiful, bulbs come with some challenges. On that note, grab a cup of tea, a pad and pencil and jot down these very important notes.

As if the selection process is not enough anxiety, there are creatures other than humans who like bulbs just as much, if not more. Squirrels, deer, rabbits, moles, you name it, can all cause many problems in your bulb garden. Hold on though. There are remedies. Some which were tried to no avail; however, there has been at least one that works. That would have to be the good ole' spices of red pepper. That’s right. A little, cheap, plastic bottle of red pepper from your local store is enough to keep the nose, sniffin’, tongue tastin’ critters way away. When preparation is being made for your planting area, once bulbs are planted in a desired design, shake several flakes of red pepper, then cover with dirt, and repeat the same procedure on top of dirt and/or mulch. This should keep predators who crave the taste of those luscious tulips, delightful crocus and aromatic anemones, one of their favorites, far away.

Next planting season, another resolution to try is planting the bulbs a few inches deeper and this should deter them from easy access of food as well. Though there are a few chemicals to use none has worked in my garden as a remedy. From experience, do not use bone meal (though it is an excellent organic fertilizer) in the same hole as the bulbs. Instead, apply to the top covering of soil. This scent seems to not only attract the above mentioned critters but your cute, little fuzzy, dog Rover as well. Though deer, squirrel, and all the others have their favorites they all can be annoying and will be challenging. Nevertheless, do not let this deter you from using bulbs in your garden. They’re just too beautiful to not at least try some of the preventative measures mentioned.

Although this next topic is not a typical ailment, it can be a problem. When the temperatures rise giving off an unseasonable warmth period, this can in turn cause many bulbs to start peeking through the soil before time. This becomes a concern when a freeze or frost occurs while the premature bulbs are making their way through the soil; they could in fact become drastically damaged and die but this is not always true. In other words, take this with a grain of salt during the times of unseasonable temperatures and this will happen more often now than ever before due to climate change. Your spring bulbs could take a hit of damage should a freeze stop by for a night or so, but they should survive. Take the necessary precautions when planting and be sure to mulch whether with crushed leaves, pine needles, straw, or whatever you choose as groundcover to keep the roots insulated. The roots survival is most important.

If anyone has any experience in this area, please stop by the forum and let us all know. Being in South Texas, we hardly see many freezes, if only a couple per winter season.

Finally, yet importantly, is the selection process. Be sure to select only top quality bulbs. They may initially cost more but are worth it. Nothing is worse than buying cheap bulbs that have rotted or are discolored giving off a very bad order. They will not be very productive and could bring parasites and unwanted fungi to your garden. So take some time to make sure the garden catalogs you order from are reputable as well as the nursery you shop at regularly. Some inexpensive bulbs may work hard while others are not worth the time and preparation.

Now that you have a bit of information on what to expect as far as the downside, still, there is no better way to welcome passersby than with a beautiful garden of spring color display. When the cold, brittle air of winter is rushing through and seems to sit comfortably, not ever seeming to leave, let your hard work show with an aromatic, charming display of spring bulbs.