Guest Author - Kimberly Cassandra Cannon

There is always a feeling of excitement while waiting for spring to come but what tops that feeling is the anxiety for those lovely much anticipated spring bulbs. Especially, for me an avid gardener in the south.

It is with much anticipation I look eagerly once, twice, maybe several times a week, for a peep of what is to come. Nevertheless, until then, fellow gardeners take a moment to jot down these ideas in your gardening journal on what to do once they begin to start the show.

It will most surely begin without you even knowing because no matter how often we look for any sign of green, it is in the deep of the night, that things really gear up for making an appearance. It’s as if Christmas Eve is present in our garden and the bulb elves work overnight to push them on the scene on a day we least expect it but welcome with delight.

These tips are specifically for the cold climate gardener:

1) Should you decide to maintain spring bulbs in the planting bed, to exceed one year, it would be advantageous to those bulbs if a supply of additional fertilizer be given them. Once shoots appear above the surface, this is a good time to repeat fertilization. (However, it is not necessary to fertilize again once they have begun blooming).

2) Warm climate gardeners need not worry about this next tip. That is, unsightly bulb foliage once the bulb has completed its blooming stage. Though unattractive, it should remain until the foliage has begun to yellow and then will die back. Why? Because this is nature’s way of storing essential nutrients for next season. The foliage will manufacture food (energy) that will be stored in the bulb for the following year’s bloom. Should the foliage be cut before this process takes place, the next season’s flowers may be much smaller or even less flattering.

Therefore, though spring bulbs are a warm, colorful way to invite spring, understand, that once the show is over, there will be an “ugly” period to endure to insure blooms for next year. Here is a suggestion to direct attention away from “the ugliness” stage.

One of the best ways to hide them is with perennials. The temporary work horses of the garden. They usually begin producing at the time the last bulbs bloom. With all the choices of perennials we have to choose from, selecting a companion-planting, to work into your garden design will help cover the diminishing foliage of your spring bulbs should come easy.

A few sample creations will be given at the end of this article, so try one or two in your garden this spring.

3) Finally, a last detail. Although mulching helps flower beds deal with fluctuating temperatures and maintains the level of moisture level, once shoots start appearing, pull the mulch back slightly to initiate faster, flowering in the spring.

Allow the spring sun to warm the soil. However, removal of winter mulch should only be done once a hard frost as occurred (a signal is once the ground starts to thaw).

Now, in conclusion, here are a few design tips for incorporating perennials to hide ugly bulb foliage as it diminishes:

Try allium amongst any small shrub or even roses.
Try scilla with Spanish bluebells (a favorite in South Texas).
How about tulips with violas and alyssum?

The point to be taken: interplant with annuals and perennials and even shrubs to create a spring flowerbed that not only gives an appealing display but an awesome hiding exhibit too. Additionally, once shoots appear, watering is essential, especially, if the soil is dry. (Please no shallow watering). A little water here and there will never benefit your bulb garden neither your garden in general.

Hopefully, these tips taken will ensure you of small nuggets of useful information as you learn how to care for your bulb garden.