Q

+Can I grow bulbs in

•w a rm climates?

A : Yes. Choose bulbs that don’t

need pre-chilling to bloom, such

as jonquilla- or tazetta-type

N a rc is s u s .

You also can buy bulbs

that have been pre-chilled. These

will bloom soon after planting, so

tuck them in no earlier than

December to ensure they don’t

bloom until after the New Year.

Q

mOo

I need to

fertilize bulbs

when I plant?

A : Naturalizing bulbs, which

bloom year after year, benefit

from bulb fertilizer at planting.

Non-naturalizing bulbs that will

be discarded after they bloom

do not need fertilizer.

P L A N T IN G T E C H N IQ U E S

Several to o ls m ake e a sy w o rk o f b u lb planting. W h ic h o n e is best d e p e n d s o n

h o w y o u plant. R e gard le ss o f th e to o l y o u use, p lanting is easier a n d b u lb s will

g ro w b etter if y o u till the p lan tin g area beforehand.

\£ < a

If soil is

lo o se an d e a sy to dig, a

trow el is a s g o o d as a ny

to ol fo r p lan tin g bulbs.

F o r co n ven ien ce , so m e

tro w e ls are m arked

w ith inches.

Specialized b ulb to o ls

take the strain o u t o f

p lanting bulbs. Foo t-

p o w e re d to o ls are best

fo r hard soil; h an d to o ls

better fo r lo o se r soil.

P o w e re d by

a drill, a u g e rs easily

penetrate untilled soil.

T h e y ’re e a sy to u se in

tight sp ots, too, s o use

th e m to plant b u lb s in

betw een o th e r plants.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

O O O BER2008

121