Smart Bulb Ordering: Fall Resolutions for a Spectacular Spring Garden

(Originally published August 12, 2009)

Every fall I'd over-order: 20 here, 15 there, 25 more, trades with friends—73 unrelated bulbs with no plan. By spring I'd forgotten what, where, and when. Plus the big-box impulse buys never planted. This year: different.

My Resolutions

1. Stick to a Color Scheme

I dislike yellow, so white daffodils complement my blue Dutch iris/orange species tulip combo. Husband's surprise purple tulips went far away. Plan colors before ordering.

2. Target Bloom Gaps

Catalogs arrive when gardens peak. Instead of perfecting August, visualize bleak periods: late August after sweet autumn clematis finishes? March between house and car? November? Choose bulbs for those moments. Tall Allium? Late Anemone? Verify bloom times before purchasing.

3. Respect Your Zone

Adorable freesia/ixia on covers? Not realistic for me. Invest in crocus, daffodils, chionodoxa, muscari, allium. (Greenhouse and full-time gardener not yet arrived.) Warm-zone gardeners: pre-chill tulips/crocus as annuals; freesia and amaryllis (Hippeastrum) may grow year-round.

4. Source Carefully

Research suppliers via Garden Watchdog. Prefer bulb specialists—they know storage/shipping. Cross-check catalog claims in PlantFiles: actual height, color, performance in your area. Resist "$25 free bulbs" lures from generalists.

5. Size Matters

Bulb size = stored energy = flower count. Catalogs list centimeters for #1 (top) vs #2 grade. Compare. "Jumbo naturalizing pack" could be anything. Know what you're buying.

6. Learn Before You Plant

Embarrassing lessons: anemone corms need soaking; tulip planting depth has limits (hope my error self-corrects). Research before planting.

7. Budget First, Bulbs Second

Should've been #1. Gardeners planting 500+ bulbs plan and budget, buy once for volume discounts, avoid sticker shock. My scattershot approach yields 75 bulbs and surprise totals.

8. No Homeless Bulbs

Every bulb needs a designated spot before purchase. Which among which perennials? "Darling in abstract" may look "dorky" around a dormant peony. No April panic with 10 gladiolus and no planting plan.

Start your credit cards. Bulbs from Holland await. Shop early but not often. Enjoy filling next year's garden.

Photo credits: LarryR, Cottage_Rose, raydio, Ulrich.