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When to plant flower bulbs: a guide per month. Spring is finally here. And with it comes the joy of planting bulbs for your flowerbeds. If you’ve ever tried to decide which flowers to plant this year, then you know that there are so many options out there.
But don’t worry – we’re here to help. Here, we will give you a month-by-month guide on what type of flower bulb can be planted in any given season. We’ll even include some tips and tricks for getting the best results from your plants throughout the year.
The Flower Bulb Month-by-Month Planting Guide
January
There’s still plenty of time to plant bulbs this month, so let’s get started. You can plant tulips in January but I would suggest you already plant them in October or November before it snows.
We suggest planting them in pots or window boxes with rich soil for optimal results. In January, the soil is still fairly loose and easy to work with, so you can plant your bulbs quickly.
Plant this month:
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Narcissus
February
If you love daffodils, this is a great time to plant them. You can usually find plants in garden centers right around now. We suggest planting these in pots or window boxes if possible for optimal results.
It’s not too early to plant these, but you don’t want to wait too long because the soil will get harder to work with later in the year.
February is a good time for planting tulips as well. One of our favorite tulip varieties includes ‘Brownie’, which is a stunning amber color.
Plant this month:
- Daffodils
- Tulips
March
There’s still some time to plant tulips and daffodils this month if you hurry. You can also plant grape hyacinths this month. If it’s already too warm outside (tulips, for example, need the frost)
They’re an option for brightening up your flowerbeds, and they work well in pots and window boxes on sunny patios, as well as outdoor flower beds.
March also coincides with the beginning of Spring, so you can look forward to your flowers blooming soon.
Plant this month:
- Daffodils
- Tulips
April
We’ve officially entered Spring, which means that it’s time to plant your annuals. You can plant petunias this month, and they’re great for window boxes or hanging baskets at home.
Annuals are perfect if you’re tight on space because you don’t have to worry about them blooming again next year. They only last one year, which means that you can plant a fresh batch every year.
April also coincides with the beginning of the growing season, so you can expect your annuals to start blooming after about six weeks.
Plant Dahlia’s or start them inside or in a first if it’s still too chilly outside. Also, lily’s are great to plant in your garden but beware: they are poisoneous for many animals.
Plant this month:
- Dahlia’s (but only if there’s no more frost, it will kill your dahlia’s)
- Lily’s
May
May is a great time to plant your summer annuals and perennials such as garden phlox. It’s also a good time to plant ferns. If you’re looking for something bright and colorful, then we suggest planting zinnias or marigolds in your flowerbeds.
Dahlias are gorgeous for bouquets if you’re looking to cut some fresh flowers for your home.
It’s not too late to plant lavender, so if you love the smell of fresh lavender in your home, then now is an excellent time to plant it.
May is a time of year to plant sunflowers, so if you’re looking for something bright and cheery, then this is the month to add them to your flowerbeds.
Plant this month:
- Dahlia’s
- Zinnias
June
If you’re looking for something bright and colorful, then June is a great time to plant zinnias or marigolds in your flowerbeds.
It’s not too late to plant lavender, so if you love the smell of fresh lavender in your home, then now is an excellent time to plant it. You can also plant petunias and pansies this month.
It’s a good time to plant begonias and impatiens, but you’ll want to make sure that they get plenty of sun throughout the day. June also coincides with the middle of Spring, so you can look forward to seeing your flowers blooming soon.
July
July is a good month to plant sunflowers, snapdragons, or morning glories. These are great options if you want something that blooms quickly and looks fantastic.
July is a great time to plant basil, so if you love pesto, this is the perfect time to plant some fresh basil in your flowerbeds. This month also works well for planting marigolds, zinnias, and stock. Other options in July include lavender and snapdragon.
August
If you want to add a splash of color to your garden, then you can plant vinca vine in August. It has beautiful lavender-ish flowers, and it’s the perfect option for adding some color to your flowerbeds.
We also suggest planting zinnias and marigolds this month, which are great for adding color to your flowerbeds. You can plant sunflowers and morning glories in August.
This month also coincides with the beginning of autumn, which means that your flowers will be blooming until the first frost.
September
September is a great time to plant cool-weather flowers such as chrysanthemums.
Chrysanthemums are also gorgeous, and they look fantastic in your flowerbeds if you choose the right varieties. For example, ‘Mrs. Butterworth is a beautiful variety that has bright red blooms with yellow tips.
It looks great with almost any other color, and it’s perfect for cutting. In September, be sure to plant your bulbs. Bulbs are perfect for Fall gardens, and they’re also great if you want something that blooms in the Spring.
October
October is great for planting chrysanthemums or dahlias, depending on what you want. Dahlias are gorgeous for bouquets if you’re looking to cut some fresh flowers for your home.
Chrysanthemums are also gorgeous, and they look fantastic in your flowerbeds if you choose the right varieties. For example, ‘Mrs. Butterworth is a beautiful variety that has bright red blooms with yellow tips.
It looks great with almost any other color, and it’s perfect for cutting. In October, it’s a good time to plant pansies and violas, which are hardy annuals that look great in your flower beds. They’re also perfect to plant in containers on your patio or front porch.
November
If you have room, then plant sunflowers in your garden this month. They’re gorgeous, plus they attract birds to your garden.
You can plant some tulips or chrysanthemums, but you’ll want to make sure that the ground is nice and cold before planting them. If you’re looking for something smaller, then daffodils are also a good option this month.
In November, you can plant ferns and some hardy annuals or perennials such as daisies, pansies, and violas.
December
If you want to plant bulbs in your flowerbeds, then December is the perfect time to do it. You can plant daffodils, tulips, or crocus bulbs in your flower garden.
Keep in mind that you’ll want to make sure the ground is nice and cold before planting them. If you’re looking for something small, winter heather is also a good option this month.
Also, remember to plant some warm-weather flowers now and then. We suggest planting marigolds, zinnias, or petunias this month.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of great options for planting in your flowerbeds throughout the year. It’s all about figuring out what you want and when it blooms.
If you need help choosing some flowers for your garden, then we suggest visiting a local nursery and walking around the property to get inspired. Do not place flowers in full sun all day long they will wilt.
They need some sun, but they also need time to cool down in the shade. Be sure to put your flowers in a place where everyone can enjoy them.
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When to plant flower bulbs: a guide per month
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When to plant flower bulbs: a guide per month
Have you ever wondered what the right time to plant flower bulbs is? Wonder no more because, in this article, we will discuss the specific best time to plant flower bulbs within the year. From January to December, specific flower bulbs thrive within a specific month of the year, depending on the weather conditions.
1. January
January is an extremely difficult month for planting flower bulbs because of the weather. Most parts of the world experience snowfall, and the ground are frozen during this time. However, Tulip Bulb originates from the Dutch but is more environmentally friendly. The bulbs perform well when planted in autumn and can withstand the freezing conditions of January winter. During winter, they can also be planted by digging through snow and finding the loose and fertile soil underneath. Forcing Bulb is also important in Planting Tulip bulbs in January. Here, planting the bulbs in a well-aerated room with perforated containers helps ease water drainage. The tulips bulb will grow and blossom indoors throughout January into spring with this condition.
2. February
In February, the weather conditions become favorable because of the coming spring season. Several bulbs will perform well here, like the tulips, daffodil, snowdrop, hyacinth, and crocus. Daffodil is some of the most loved spring flowers because of the colors they display. They have different trumpet-shaped colors ranging from white, yellow, blue, and pink to stand out from the rest. Daffodils are the easiest flower bulbs to grow because of their hardy nature. At maturity, they grow between 6 and 24 inches. Snowdrops perform well when planted in early February. The tiny white flowers take the shape of a snow dropping can grow to between 6 to 8 inches tall.
3. March
Timing when to plant flower bulbs is essential, especially due to the environmental conditions. In late March, the winter is slowly fading away and giving room to spring, suitable for the flourishing of Daffodil and Hyacinth flower bulbs. However, it is important to note that for the bulbs to germinate, they require the soil temperature below 60°F. This is the best time to plant, especially after the fall, making them thrive in early spring. Daffodil is considered the best flower bulb to plant at this particular time because of its hardy and resistant nature. Daffodil is resistant to deer, squirrels, and birds, giving it higher chances of survival than Tulip and Crocus, which are more susceptible to squirrels and deer infestation.
4. April
Planning before planting should be on top of your list for a successful bloom and flowering. Considering the flower bulbs’ preparation process, it is important to understand the planting zones and the requirements. Planting in April requires zones 8 to 10 requiring refrigeration for 6 to 10 weeks. At this point, deciding to plant bulbs for summer blooming should be done at this particular time. Some of the flower bulbs that flourish when planted in April are Chinese ground orchids, Asiatic lilies and Hardy begonia.
5. May
In early spring, many bulbs planted in the fall start to emerge. At this point, the bulbs sprout because of the favorable weather conditions of early spring. Some of the most noticeable bulbs that blossom during this time include Allium, Tulip, Iris and Camas. Allium is a hardy plant that grows in 3 to 9 and requires well-drained soils. These spring-blooming bulbs require enough sunlight, and the most notable species is the giant onion that grows to over 4 inches in diameter. Iris also grows in zone 3 to 9 and is characterized by multi-colored flower petals.
6. June
In June, the summer conditions start setting in, and it is the right time to start planting the summer bulbs. During this time, it is important to know that the summer bulbs perform well in sunny and aerated areas of the garden. When preparing the garden for planting, ensure to plant in rich and fertile soil with excellent drainage. Dahlias are the most preferred flower bulbs to grow for summer blooming. Dahlias perform well in all garden soils, can be planted in pots and over the balcony, and require enough watering to blossom. Additional watering is important to ensure the flowers remain bright and fresh during flowering.
7. July
When we talk of July, this is the peak of the summer season, and getting the right flower bulb is essential. Summer bulbs are tender and perennial that can grow during spring and autumn. They can be grown annually or stored and planted at fall end with such conditions. The most common summer bulbs that perform well include gladiola, dahlias, begonias, caladium, elephant ears, pineapples lilies, nerines, and cannas.
8. August
At this point, it is good to plant flower bulbs that are weather resistant and can survive through the coming winter season. Tulips and Daffodils are the best flower bulbs to plant during this time. This is because the spring-flowering bulbs can withstand the cold conditions of the winter to blossom because of the strong rooting system they can develop. Tulips and Daffodils require long periods of cool temperature to develop and flower. It is also important to note that when the Tulips stop flowering during the cold season, you can perform the Head-dead operation, which will leave the leaves on and generate more energy stored in the bulbs for the coming spring season.
9. September
Planting spring-blooming bulbs at this time is essential because of the weather conditions. Some notable flower builds that can be planted during this time include the Tulips, Daffodils, and Crocus. At this time, it is advisable to keep the bulbs below 40 degrees for a period of between 12 to 14 weeks for successful germination. People living with US zone 1 to 4 should plant the bulbs towards the end of September before the fall season begins. If the ground is freezing, it is essential to plant the bulbs in a pot at the right depth to ensure faster growth.
10. October
This month is the best for planting bulbs for the spring season. At this point, the weather is conducive to preparing your garden for grape hyacinths, daffodils, tulips, and fritillaries. These bulbs are among the easiest to plant and take nurture to maturity. They require sunlight and well-drained soil for optimum growth and flowering. Once planted at this time, be assured that during spring, you will have your garden spectacular and shining with blossoming flowers.
11. November
November is among the best months to plant spring blossoming bulbs. Here, it is critical to prepare the soil well for optimum growth. The best bulbs for planting include Tulips and Daffodils planted when chilled. Ensure the soil has enough manure before planting the flowering bulbs. It is also essential to mulch the flower bedding to minimize moisture loss.
12. December
The winter weather starts setting in during this month, and specific bulbs can still perform when planted at this time. Tulip is regarded as the best suitable flower bulb for planting at this time. This is because they can withstand the chilling frosty weather of snow and develop strong roots for survival. Planting Tulips is easy and requires you to clear the snow at the point of planting, loosen the soil to get to the aerated soil, and mix some fertilizer before planting. Cover the area with mulching and compound manure to make the germination process faster.