As temperatures begin to cool and summer comes to an end, we enter the optimum time for planting spring blooming bulbs. Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocus, plus many others need to be planted now for spring color. But where you decide to plant the bulbs can be a very important decision.
Not only do larger bulb plants, such as Tulips and Hyacinths prefer sunny locations, digging the larger holes needed to plant these bulbs under the canopy of a tree can harm the tree’s root system. Keep these big, beautiful bloomers for open areas. Crocus, Spanish Bluebells and Siberian Squill are smaller bulbs that are less intrusive under a tree. For a bold showing in the spring, plant them in large quantities, no matter where you decide to place them.
If you do decide to plant bulbs under a tree’s canopy, select bulb varieties that return year after year without the need to dig them up every year. This minimizes tree root disturbance.
Finding the proper location now for your bulbs will offer years of colorful spring seasons and happy trees that provide much needed summer shade.