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Making Sure Bulbs Bloom Year After Year |
By James Klett, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Specialist, Landscape Plants
To ensure the long-term vitality of spring bulbs, try to site them in an optimum microclimate. Daffodils tolerate more shade and like more moisture. However, crocuses, tulips and alliums like lots of sun and heat. As with any perennial, bulbs do best in amended soils, in sites that are not too extreme in sun exposure, dryness or traffic. If your bulbs are not blooming prolifically after several years, they may need more nutrition. Add compost or commercial dry-bulb fertilizer when the bulbs are dormant. You also could fertilize the leaves with half-strength liquid fertilizer after flowering is done but before the foliage begins to turn brown.
Photos: Judy Sedbrook
