Deer and Rodent Resistant Bulbs
Hey, remember all those pretty flowers you saw in mid March of this year thru April and into May. Some of them growing through the remaining late winter’s snow cover. Think about it, they were the “heralds of Spring” with their beauty and welcoming sight after a long cold winter. Well, now’s the time to plant them.
Bulbs are the closest thing there is to a sure thing – everything needed to produce a beautiful flower is inside one neat package. Being packed with so much energy it’s no wonder animals have a tendency to relish upon them over the winter months.
The earliest bulbs to bloom include snowdrops, crocuses, squill and winter aconite, all worth seeking out. Deer and rodents can do terrible damage to tulip and crocus plantings, but there are many bulbs critters don’t like, chief among them daffodils.
Below is a list of the bulbs we carry that deer and rodents generally leave alone. Only members of the Amaryllis family, which includes daffodils, snowflakes and snowdrops, are truly deer proof and rodent proof. They contain a bitter, poisonous substance called lycorine that no mammal will eat. The other bulbs in the list below are unpleasant to deer and rodents. Deer and rodents will generally avoid them but might take a bite if the plants are directly in their path or starvation gives the animals no alternative.
So What Is A Flowering Bulb?
To put in the simplest of terms, “fall” flower bulbs are planted in the fall, grow roots into winter, then sprout and bloom in the spring. These include favorites such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinth and others. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or planning your very first flower bed, bulbs should be a key part of your plans. There’s nothing easier to grow or more rewarding! With spring, summer, or fall bloom times, these effortless bulbs are sure to keep your garden and containers brimming with brilliant colors and intoxicating fragrances month after month, and year after year!
Shown below are deer and rodent resistant spring flowering bulbs that are planted in the Autumn.
Planting Spring Flowering Bulbs
If you wish for a display of spring bulbs, go to COLORBLENDS.COM and browse their selections, figuring the amount needed for your bed using the density information and save your order. Then call almost PERFECT Landscaping with your order and we will contact you and then take care of everything from there on out. We will give you an estimate on materials and planting..
Rule of Thumb for Dummies: If the bulb is big (eg. Tulip, Daffodil, Hyacinth), dig the hole about 6 – 8″ (15 – 20 cm) deep; if the bulb is small (Crocus, Snowdrop, Scilla, Dwarf Iris, Muscari, Bluebell), dig the hole about 4 – 5″ (10 – 12 cm) deep.
Step 1: Loosen soil in the planting bed to a depth of at least 8”. Remove any weeds, rocks or other debris. You can mix in compost, other organic matter 
or slow releasing fertilizer if your soil lacks nutrients.
Step 2: Depending on the bulb, follow the recommendation on the label for planting depth. As a general rule, plant big bulbs about 8″ deep and small bulbs about 5″ deep. Set the bulb in the hole pointy side up or the roots down. It’s easy to spot the pointy end of a tulip; tougher with a crocus. If you can’t figure out the top from the bottom, plant the bulb on its side, in most cases, even if you don’t get it right, the flower bulb will still find its way topside.
Step 3: Now that the bulbs are planted, back fill with soil over the hole, lightly compress the soil but do not pack it. Water to stimulate root growth. There is no need to water continuously unless you live in an area with low precipitation in the winter months.
Plant bulbs in clusters. If you plant one bulb alone, or make a long thin line along the walk, the impact is less desirable. Clusters give a concentration of color for greatest impact. Even if you don’t have enough bulbs for a big bed, small clusters can make a super spring show.
Plant low bulbs in front of high. This is a good general rule for bulbs that bloom at the same time. Of course there are times to break this rule. For example if the low growing bulbs bloom early and the tall bulbs bloom late, plant the tall in front.
Try a double-decker effect.You can plant small bulbs in a layer right on top of large bulbs. If you plant bulbs that flower in the same period you can create an interesting double-decker effect.
Layering
Or you can stagger the bloom time by planting mid- and late-season bloomers together, creating a spring display that blooms in succession, for a whole season of color!
For fall planting of bulbs, create and account and select your bulbs at Color Blends and save your list as your favorites. Call us at 201-389-6979 and email us the favorite list of your selected bulbs and we’ll provide you with an estimate of planting for Spring Displays. The open window for planting spring flowering bulbs is limited by nature to early October thru November. If you want them, get them while you can.
