Three Popular Flower Bulb Varieties To Plant This Fall

Daffodils:
 
Daffodils USDA hardiness zones 3-8. There are an estimated 13,000 varieties of daffodils.  They come in many colors including various shades of yellow, white, pink and orange.  They also vary is size from the popular tete-a-tete which stands just 6-8" tall to varieties such as 'Ice Follies' which reach two feet tall.  Plant them in a sunny or partly sunny location.  
 
Special tip: Purchase a variety of daffodil bulbs that bloom in early spring, mid spring and late spring. When planted together, it will allow for a rotation of blooming color throughout spring.
 
Added Value: Deer Resistant, Perennial, Good Cut-Flower

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Tulips:
 
With an unending amount of color selections, that you can mix and match, tulips are a gardener's crayon box from which to create opulent beds of lavish color swaths.  These luxurious bulbs were so prized in the 17th century; they created a frenzy of collectors, which led to the first financial bubble.  These bulbs grow in USDA hardiness zones 4-10.  Like daffodils, they bloom at various times during the spring season, so order them to stagger blooming from 4-8 weeks.  They come in SO MANY colors, sometimes striped or multi-colored, fringed or frilly, some fragrant and are generally range from 4" to 30" tall. Plant the bulbs 3 times the length of the bulb-so for most bulbs 6-8 inches deep, pointy side up.  They prefer full sun in the northern US, part sun in the southern states.
 
Warning: Deer love them too, Nom-Nom-Nom.
 
Added Value: Makes a good cut flower.  Tulips are generally considered perennial, however, often don't come back as full as the first year and continue to dwindle in numbers so you may want to plan on planting them annually.

Allium:
 
When these bulbs flower in spring, they put on such a show that customers would flock into my garden shop and ask, "Do you have those big purple ball flowers?" They would always leave disappointed when they learned that they needed to plant these showstoppers in the fall. Allium Giganteum is one of the most popular varieties of allium, with flowers that bloom 5" wide on 3-4 foot stems. They are hardy in USDA zones 5-9. There are several other varieties so if you love purple, you'll want to add these to your garden.  
 
Added Value: Deer Resistant.

Key Tips For All Bulb Planting:
1. If these bulb varieties grow in your zone, check to see the specific best time to plant        them.
2. Water well after planting.
3. Purchase bulbs from your local garden center or an online source like Colorblends.com.
 
Happy Planting!
 
View our demonstration on how to plant them: VIDEO

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