September. It’s a reminder that fall is just around the corner and another gardening season is winding down. But the truth is there is still planting to be done; bulb planting that is. Yesterday, I received my first package/box of bulbs I ordered last spring.

I love bulbs. Sure, you don’t see any results for at least six months but just knowing that the bulbs are there, waiting to signal the coming of spring, is exciting. Winter is my least favorite time of the year, so when February/March rolls around I am ready for some sign that the weather is going to improve and that I can get back outside and gets my hands dirty.

Planting bulbs is not difficult and not that time consuming. You don’t need any fancy tools or equipment. The main thing is the bulb itself. Right now bulbs are being sold everywhere; at your local grocery store, big box hardware stores, nursery/garden centers, and I’m sure many other places I didn’t mention.

Remember - you get what you paid for. At the grocery store you can get 25 bulbs for $3.99 and this sounds like a good deal. But is it really? All I can say is buyer beware. Who knows how the bulbs were stored, how old they are and what condition they will be in. Most likely only a third of the bulbs will be good - if you are lucky. They usually are small, shriveled, and even moldy. So just be aware of this when getting what looks like a good deal. At the local hardware store, the bulbs may fair better but you should still be very picky in what you buy. Your best bet would be at a nursery/garden center. At the nursery, most bulbs are not prepackaged so you can examine the bulb.

Personally, I purchase my bulbs from an internet site. I receive their catalogs in the spring and I start dreaming about what I will plant in the fall. There are many catalog/internet sites out there. Do a little research online and find one that suits your needs and budget (Breck's is a good one). I never have had a problem with my bulbs arriving inferior and most guarantee their product - something a grocery store won’t do.

In the case of bulbs, size does matter. The bigger the better. If you have the opportunity to physically examine the bulb, make sure it is firm, not mushy, etc., and choose the ones you like. Yes, it can be more expensive initially, but in the long run you are saving money because you don’t have to keep replacing bulbs that didn’t make it.

When choosing bulbs make sure you choose ones that are going to fit your needs. If you have limited space you probably won’t want to plant bulbs that will self-naturalize like English Bluebells. If deer like to chomp on your plants, plant deer resistant varieties like Lavender Mountain Lilies or Daffodils. If you just have window boxes plant Hyacinths so you can enjoy their wonderful smell. If you have a shaded area try Cyclamen. There is a bulb out there for every need.

When planting bulbs, the main thing is planting them at the right depth. This does a couple of things. It ensures that the bulb reaches the right temperature for blooming in the spring and it also makes it harder for squirrels and other pesky animals to get to them. Any bulbs you buy should have some info on the package or paper showing/telling at which depth to plant. Each variety of bulb has different needs. For instance, Daffodils should be planted 6” deep while Mountain Bells should planted at 3”

Keep in mind when planting that most bulbs need to be exposed to adequate periods of cold dormancy to ensure sufficient root growth for proper sprouting in the spring. That’s why autumn is the perfect time to plant them. I also don’t spend any extra dollars on bulb food; I just sprinkle some compost in each hole and call it good. Sometimes I don’t even do that and my bulbs come up year after year.

The thing I like the best about bulbs is even if I only plant a few, in the spring I am so excited to see them in the yard or garden that it doesn’t matter that there a bald spots or that the bloom never lasts as long as I would like. It’s color! And a flower! Which means spring can’t be far behind!