Most people agree that this has been one of the mildest winters in history. It is not only a few states having mild weather but all throughout the US. This is great for us gardeners as there are so many things we can start on our gardens ahead of spring. For starters, if you live in the northern region and don’t have any snow in the ground, start to turn the mulch in your garden now.

Here in Florida where I live, the weather has been absolutely beautiful and my roses, vincas, pentas, hibiscus and other plants are still in bloom. Unlike last year where we had a cold winter and all my annuals died, this year I still have some and producing flowers. Winter months in some southern states can get very chilly weather and tropical plants and annuals sometimes don’t survive. When spring arrives, there is usually lots of cleaning up to do and new plants to buy.

But not this winter! Actually, I think I will save some money because some of my annuals still look beautiful. Let’s hope that the mild weather continues until spring. Right now, I have been able to clean up my backyard, trim some trees, turn the mulch on my gardens and even have fresh cut roses in the house.

So if you live in an area where the weather is mild, go outside and start gardening. If you can’t plant new flowers yet, start trimming some trees and maybe doing some yard clean up. I have lots of pine trees and pine cones come down in buckets. Before mowing the lawn, all pine cones must be picked up from the yard.

For some reason, those pine trees produced more pine cones this year than ever and I found myself filling up bags of pine cones to bring to a local craft store. Not sure if the mild weather has something to do with the trees producing more pine cones, but I am really loving this weather!

 

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"Search Results - "" Flower gardening."" | Brown University Library"
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You don’t have to wait until spring to enjoy gorgeous flowering bulbs. All you have to do is force some bulbs to bloom indoors. Forcing bulbs to bloom simply means inducing them to bloom when you want them and not when they are suppose to during their normal stage. Most bulbs go dormant in late summer with very little roots or shoot growth but as the weather changes and temperatures get cool, the bulbs automatically begin to grow and this process continues until the weather gets very cold.

When the weather changes in the spring and temperatures begin to rise, shoot growth starts again and this pattern continues until the bulbs flower. Once the foliage starts to die back, the bulbs return to a dormant state. So what does this mean? In simple words, by forcing bulbs to bloom indoors means that you basically manipulate their normal cycle.

You can basically choose any type of bulb to bloom indoors but the most popular ones are tulips, narcissus, crocuses and hyacinths. And don’t think that you need special containers to force bulbs to bloom. Just about any container is adequate for most bulbs and some garden stores do sell specially designed vases for forcing individual hyacinths. Bulbs like paperwhite narcissus can be forced to bloom in a simple shallow container of water and adding pebbles for support. It is that easy!

Choosing the best type of soil mix for forcing bulbs is very important. It is best if the mix contains equal parts of moss, perlite and spaghnum. Do not use regular potting soil that you buy in the store as that type of soil mostly contain just peat moss. Once you have your soil mix ready, fill about three quarters of a container with the mix. Place bulbs closely together on top of the soil and once this is done, add more soil mix around them. Be careful not to fill the container to the top as some bulbs like narcissus and tulips don’t need to be completely covered. Water your newly planted bulbs but don’t drown them. Watch the video below (courtesy of youtube) for more information.

 

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BBC - Gardening
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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.

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As I mentioned on my previous article about spring bulbs, you have until the first frost in your area to plant them. If you ordered and received your desired bulbs, it is time to plant them. You will notice that the bulbs you receive will be dormant which is normal but you should plant them right away in your garden. If you cannot plant them as soon as possible, open the package they came in and let them get some air, place them in an area without direct sunlight and make sure the room is cool at all times. Another idea is to place them in the fridge until you are ready to plant them.

Nutrient rich soil is essential for your bulbs to thrive but make sure there is good drainage also. Although bulbs, like any other perennial, need lots of water it is necessary for the soil to drain properly. Take a good look at the soil in your garden and if you see water that just sits there add some more soil to the area. You can also put in a layer of gravel below the surface of the soil to promote good drainage. All of this can be done for your spring flowering bulbs but summer blooming ones are not really fussy about the soil as long as the soil is loose and has enough nutrients to help the bulbs thrive.

One of the questions most people ask when planting bulbs for the first time is which end of the bulb goes up. If the bulbs you ordered have pointed tips, or sprouts on the upper sides, (tulips, daffodils, tubers and rhizomes are included here) be sure to plant them with the tips or sprouts on top facing upward. It is through those tips or sprouts that the plants begin to grow. If you purchased bulbs like anemones or poppy, you will notice that the bulbs are much smaller and don’t really have a tip or sprout. These bulbs can be planted in any direction. Watch this youtube video to see how easy it is to plant bulbs.

Many gardeners believe that planting bulbs in masses is the best method for outstanding results. I do agree with that theory because planting them in masses gives you a gorgeous display of flowers when in full bloom. Survey your garden area and space bulbs according to their size. For example, tulips and daffodils are considered large bulbs and should be spaced at least 3 to 6 inches apart. If you have small bulbs like snowdrops or crocus, space them 1 to 2 inches apart. If you are trying mass planting for an entire bed, you can spade the whole area and then dig out at least 8” of soil from the bed.

Once your bulbs are planted, be sure to water them as this will help the soil to settle and provide moisture. One thing to remember is that bulbs that are planted in the fall must root before cold weather hits your area. It is recommended that you plant your bulbs when the soil temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit at a depth of about 6 inches. Place the bulbs on top of the bed and cover them with soil. You can also plant small groups of bulbs by simply using a garden tool like a trowel and digging a hole a bit larger than the bulb and covering it with soil. For best results, do read the instructions that come with your bulbs!

 

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