All bulb plants need a good, long, winter’s rest. Like some animals and people we know, if they wake up before they are fully rested, they get kind a bit grumpy and then they don’t bloom well at all. In hotter climes, this doesn’t matter much, but in the cold regions, they must not emerge too soon.

Actually, what happens, is during a mild winter, the soil remains warm and the bulbs begin to awaken too early. They start to grow and once the tips emerge, above the soil, the plants are subjected to the colder conditions. After the bulbs have emerged, they tend to freeze and then they either don’t bloom at all, or produce a poor display.

Another reason for this happening, could be that the bulbs were not planted deep enough. Even if they were deep enough, when first planted, they could have moved. As the soil goes through the freezing and thawing processes, the bulbs can actually work their way up, in the ground. One way to keep the flower bulbs dormant, a little longer, which will protect them from freezing, is to mulch the bed, well in autumn.

In the autumn, apply a layer of well composted mulch, of about 75 millimetres deep to the areas around the bulb plants. This layer of mulch should help, with a couple of things. It will maintain a higher moisture content, in the soil, which is good, as long as the soil doesn’t become soggy. Well composted mulch, also adds valuable organic matter, or plant food, to the soil. Organic matter is an excellent replacement, for fertilizer.

The layer of mulch also acts as an insulator. It will prevent the soil from freezing, for a while and also prevent the bulbs from going through a series of short cycles, of freezing and thawing. When the temperatures drop below freezing and stay there for a while, the soil can eventually freeze. If this happens, the mulch will actually help with the opposite effect, by keeping the soil from thawing out too early. Keeping it in a frozen state, is actually a good thing, because the bulbs will remain dormant, for a longer period of time.

When they finally do wake up, in the spring and start to emerge from the ground, the danger of a hard freeze is over and they will not be damaged by the cold. If the plants are nurtured and prevented from freezing, they will flower beautifully. The extra organic matter will help to nourish the bulbs, once they finish blooming and then the whole cycle starts all over again.

Annual flowers can be planted in the same beds, as the spring bulbs. Once the danger of frost is over and it’s time to plant the annuals, the top of the bulbs will have died back and will be ready to be removed. The mulch that was added in the autumn, will help to nourish the annual flowers, as well as to improve the quality of the soil. Well composted, organic matter, should be added to the beds, to obtain the best benefits. The added organic matter must always be well rotted, as fresh material has no nourishment for the soil.

People living in warm countries like South Africa, may not have to worry much, about the impact of freezing winters, but for those who do experience the colder conditions, there is no reason why you too, cannot have beautiful, showy flowers in spring, from your bulb plants.

How does lazy gardening appeal to you? Find out how to have a lovely garden without any digging. Get the book Easy Gardening. It is one of the best sellers and a worthy guide to all serious gardeners. See more here. http://dersalsites.com/eg/

Sally Robson is an up and coming, South African internet marketer, with a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet. She and her husband Derek, have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. She also has a passion for gardening.

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