Flowering Bulb Care

Bergen County in the springtime – Bulbs of every color are blooming all over. If only they would last longer, these “heralds of the growing season”…

So what do you do when they are finished with their spectacular display?

After the blooms from the flower bulbs have faded, “dead-head” them by clipping off the spent blooms so that they won’t go to seed. However – DO NOT TOUCH THE LEAVES!!!

The main requirement for bulb flowers after they have bloomed is to keep their leaves so that the plant can put its energy back into its bulb for next spring’s blooming. The leaves give an energy charge to the bulb through photosynthesis and for this they need to keep their leaves! This energy or food is stored in the white fleshy part of the bulb for use next spring.
Since each leaf needs to be exposed to the sun, it is important not to bunch, tie, braid or cut the bulb’s leaves during this six to eight week period. The bulb’s leaves can be unsightly but it is vital to your bulb’s health to leave them until they are completely brown and dead at which time they can be trimmed off.

Plant annuals or perennials in amongst your bulbs so that these will grow up and hide the yellowing leaves of your bulbs.

Fertilizing
If you feel you want to fertilize your bulbs, this should only be done about six weeks before they bloom. A fast release nitrogen fertilizer is the best thing to feed the bulbs with. Also ther addition of bone meal when planting bulbs give them a healthy head start.

Lifting Bulbs
Some people swear by it but all in all it really doesn’t improve the bulbs performance at all. Also leaving your bulbs in the ground will cause most varieties to multiply giving you even more bulbs next spring.

For more information of if you need some help with your bulb care either at home or at commercial properties;

Call APLNJ today at 201-389-6979 and see for yourself what many others at Angie’s List have already said. “almost PERFECT Landscaping” has won the super service award in many categories for five consecutive years straight” ( 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,2014 )

Now that’s service……….

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