Van Bourgondien

Garden Guide Bulb Dos and Don'ts

Always plant bulbs in borders or beds with good drainage. Planting bulbs in well-drained soil is vital and the most important instruction we can give you. Our guarantee does not cover losses from planting in poorly drained soil.

Do Not use strong commercial fertilizer or fresh manure when planting.

Always cut as little foliage as possible when cutting flowers from your bulbous plants. The leaves and foliage are essential for storing food for next year.

Do Not let the flower go to seed. Cut flowers as they fade and remove any seed pods that form. Leave the foliage to keep the bulb strong.

Always let the foliage die back on its own in the garden before trimming it back or digging up the bulbs. Do not trim back healthy green foliage or the bulb will not perform well next year.

Never dry bulbs in the sun, always in the shade in a well ventilated area.

Always store bulbs in a dry, well ventilated area to prevent mold or mildew. Do not store them in an air tight container.

Do Not grow tulip bulbs year after year in the same place. Sooner or later they may be attacked with a fungus disease called fire blight, which affects both foliage and flowers. Either change the soil or the location; follow the principle of crop rotation.

Always label the bulbs as you plant them. Use labels that are big enough so that 2-3" of the label is below soil level. Smaller bulbs can get heaved out of the soil during winter freezing and thawing. Labeling prevents you from accidentally digging up bulbs out of season. Do not rely on your memory alone. Labeling is much safer.