Growing flowering bulbs in the landscape

Greg Bowman
I tell myself that one day I am going to take up a few new hobbies. I always would like to get into bird watching and believe I could enjoy gardening more with more free time. I really enjoy bulb plants.

There are a wide variety of bulbs that will work in Georgia. With flowering bulbs, you can get a variety of flower colors and even get some variety in the foliage. You also can use bulbs from group plantings to growing in pots if space is limited.

Today, I will be share researched based information from UGA Horticulturists, Paul Thomas, Gary Wade and Bodie Pennisi.

For the sake of time, I won’t go into great detail, but you need to have a basic terminology of bulbs and the other bulb-like structures that are associated with bulbs.

A bulb is an underground organ that will have a short, fleshy and mainly vertical stem axis bearing at the top a growing point or flower bud.

Within bulbs there are two types, the tunicate and the non-tunicate or scaly type bulb. A daffodil would be an example of a tunicate and a lily would be a non-tunicate type bulb.

A corm is the swollen base of a stem axis enclosed by scale-like leaves.

Crocus and gladiolus would be an example of a corm.

A tuber is a modified stem-like structure that develops on underground stems. For example sake, an Irish potato and caladiums would be tubers.

Finally, a rhizome is a specialized stem structure where the main stem of the plant grows horizontally below the soil surface or at the soil surface.

Iris and cannas would be rhizome examples.

If you want to get into or expand you bulb gardening, note that bulbs are sorted by several categorizing factors.

You can research bulbs based on size, time of bloom and their overall hardiness.

When thinking about hardiness, remember that tender bulbs do not handle freezing temperatures and mainly are planted in warmer areas.

Semi-hardy bulbs work well in milder situation, but can’t be counted on in colder climates unless you are going to protect them from the cold. A bulb labeled as hardy normally will handle cold climates. When doing your research, look for bulbs that will work in your area.

Just like the four seasons, you can find bulbs that will work in each. The spring flowering bulbs are planted in the fall and will bloom the next spring. According to Thomas, Wade and Pennisi, most spring flowering bulbs are completely hardy in Georgia.

Also for example, summer flowering bulbswill include hardy to tender bulbs that flower in the summer. In addition, some of the summer bulbs can even flower up to frost in some situations.

When deciding on bulbs, make sure you are planting the right bulbs at the correct of year and again that they will work in your part of the state.

Site selection for all landscape items is important. If you plant your tree, shrub and even bulbs in the wrong site, the landscape item may survive, but never reach maximum potential. Most spring flowering bulbs can manage in a light shade to a full sun setting.

You need to find a site that can offer 6-10 hours of direct light per day. According to Thomas, Wade and Pennisi, this need not restrict their planting to areas that are in full sun year around because many spring flowering bulbs bloom and produce foliage well before most deciduous trees leaf out.

The summer bulbs on the other hand need to be in a spot where the will receive more exact on the recommended amount of light. On the summer flowering bulbs, poor or less than the recommended lights hours can result in poor flowering.

Note also that too much or more than the recommended light hours can result in bleaching of flowering and foliage in some of the bulbs. This means that selecting the right bulbs for the right area including the sun light hours is a factor.

Bulbs like a soil for the most part that is moist, but is well-drained. Don’t underestimate the damage that a poorly drained soil can do. You can do your own soil drainage test prior to planting. You will need to dig a hole in the potential planting area about a foot deep and then fill with water.

The next day, fill the hole again with water and see how long the water stays in the hole. A well-draining hole should have the water drained out in 8 to 10 hours.

If the hole is not draining properly, you may need to amend the soil with items like bark, peat moss and compost for example to improve drainage.


Read more: Calhoun Times - Growing flowering bulbs in the landscape