All the Dirt on Gardening

In zone 7 USA it is time to put spring blooming flower bulbs into the ground. This year I ordered some sale daffodils from Cherry Creeek Daffodils for our own garden, but did a large order (750 bulbs) from Colorblends for a few nonprofit organizations. We are adding several hundred daffodils to public spaces for the March 29, 2014 Daffodil Day in Muskogee at the Thomas-Foreman Home and at a new city garden.  Daffodil Brackenhurst Last year was our first year trying out the event and it was a stormy, windy day but we had 50 visitors and since no one could be outside we thought that was pretty good. Muskogee Garden Club had planted 1,000 daffodil bulbs and this planting will bring the total to 1,500. Next year we are doing the same event: for $10 Start at the Three Rivers Museum and tour it if you want to, park there and take a trolley ride to the Thomas-Foreman Home, enjoy the daffodils, tour the home and enjoy a tea provided by Muskogee Garden Club members. Everyone...

We are often told that the basic rule is to plant flower bulbs twice the diameter of the bulb. Well, except when we are told to plant them two to three times the height of the bulb. Maybe a general rule is sufficient since most bulbs are pretty hardy. Here are the general rules - Tulips are planted about 8 inches deep Small bulbs such as crocus and hyacinths are planted 4 inches deep The planting depth is measured from the bottom of the bulb. So, 4 inches deep means make the hole 4 inches deep rather than put 4 inches of soil on top of planted bulbs. Bulbs are planted nose up and basal root plate - the flat part on the soil. If you have sticky clay, you can add a bit of drainage material under the bulbs. I've used gravel from our driveway though I've read that sand works as well. Bulb trench - Rochestergardening.com Also, it is recommended that you dig a bed or trench to plant all the bulbs rather than using one of those bulb planters and putting them in one at a...

Our gardening continues! I dug and fertilized a new bulb bed today, planted bulbs in established beds and dug up and potted more tender perennials for the winter. One bag of Earth Smart composted chicken stuff was enough for the entire bed. A lot of the garlic is coming up, feeding those wonderful bulbs for next summer's harvest. After the first freeze kills them back we will give them a thick mulch. In the meantime they are taking advantage of our still 80-degree days. I'm watering, too. All the shrubs that have been planted this month have to be watered until the weather cools more. Don't neglect them; they are developing roots even though they don't look like they are doing much right now. Mothballs saved another bed from the marauding cats. $2 a box at the dollar stores; 2-boxes keeps them out of most of the vulnerable plantings. The neighbors' cats all hunt in our yard. I watched them falling out of trees yesterday as I sat at the kitchen table. They climb the ...