When we think about bulbs, we immediately think tulips but there are many varieties of bulbs that you can plant in your garden. Yes, tulips are a much loved flower that most people like and enjoy but if you want an awesome display of gorgeous flowers plant different varieties of bulbs. The beauty of planting bulbs is that once you plant them they will come back every year so it is cost effective and saves you lots of time.

 

If you are new to planting bulbs, here is a list of some of my favorites and some of the most beloved bulbs that you can plant. Fist, watch this quick video, courtesy of youtube:

Gladiolus

This type of bulb you can plant in mid-spring and continue planting more until about mid-July. And yes, you will get flowers all summer long. Bulbs that are planted in the spring require that you lift them up in the fall and store for protection. But you can also get hardy gladiolus and you can plant these in the fall for late spring to early summer blooming. With hardy gladiolus, there is no need to lift them in the fall but you will need to mulch over the winter months for protection.

Crocus

There are many species of crocus so do some research before buying some. These are known for being one of first spring flower to appear in your garden even when snow is still in the ground. Plant crocus in the fall in an area that gets some sun and part shade.

Alliums

These are very easy to grow and adapt well to any type of soil. Alliums are great because they continue giving you color in your garden way after the spring flowering bulbs begin to fade. Keep them in your garden while waiting for summer flowers to appear. By the way, alliums also make great dried flower arrangements.

Iris

This is one of my favorite bulbs and the Dutch iris should be planted in early fall. The bearded iris should be planted from July through September in order to allow enough time for the flowers to become established before the winter months arrive. The Japanese iris likes sunny locations and also high soil moisture so be sure to feed it throughout the growth period.

Hyacinths

Another favorite of mine and it belongs to the lily family. Hyacinths are very fragrant and easy to grow. For an awesome look in your garden, plant hyacinths near tulips, pansies, primroses and daffodils. These are also very easy to grow in pots and you can force them to grow and bloom indoors. Once you get flowers from your hyacinths indoors, be sure to transplant it into your garden.

Daffodils

Love these! Daffodils are known for being easy to grow and blooming for many years with little care and maintenance. These can be planted anywhere like hillsides, near trees, and empty fields. Just throw a whole bunch of daffodil bulbs in an area and wherever they land, plant them. They will come back every year and bloom beautifully.

Tulips

Everyone’s favorite! Perennial tulips are very special because they will come back every year. So when buying tulip bulbs, do look for the perennial ones and not a hybrid so you can have them for years to come. This is another bulb that can be grown in containers indoors. Just follow the instructions that come with your bulb purchase. Many gardeners plant their tulip bulbs in November in full sun but do follow instructions for best results.

Here are some other flower gardening sites that I found for you to browse. Thanks for visiting Best Flower Gardening!

Explore Cornell - Home Gardening - Flower Garden Design Basics
Flower gardening - Authorities & Vocabularies (Library of Congress)
AOL.com Search Video - Flower Gardening
Browse subject: Flower gardening | The Online Books Page
Shakespeare garden: Definition from Answers.com
flower gardening | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

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