Van Bourgondien

Garden Guide Where to Plant

The most important rule when planting is to choose an area that is well-drained. Most bulbs will rot or deteriorate quickly where soil is constantly damp. Most bulbs thrive in full sun, or at least 5-6 sunny hours daily. Some, like Fritillaria and wood hyacinths prefer filtered shade. Others, like tuberous begonias and caladiums, do best in partial shade.

Soil Drainage

Most bulbs, perennials and many other garden plants require ‚well-drained‚ soil in order to thrive. Areas that often have‚ sitting‚ water or constantly soggy soil can quickly cause roots to rot and deteriorate, especially over winter.

Testing for Drainage

Dig a hole 1-foot deep by 1-foot wide. Fill the hole completely with water and record how long it takes for the water to completely drain. The ideal time is between 10 and 30 minutes. If it drains in less than10 minutes, the soil is drought-prone and most suitable for plants that need dry or very well drained soil.If it takes 3 to 4 hours, your soil is poorly drained,due either to a large percentage of clay or due to compaction or an impermeable layer of minerals below the surface that blocks water movement.

Improving Soil Drainage

Any soil is improved by working in lots of organic matter, such as manure, compost or peat moss.Thoroughly till or double dig the area to a depth of10-12". If your soil drains too quickly, organic matter will help it hold moisture. If your soil is poorly drained, organic matter will improve the texture. Very poorly drained areas may need to have drainage tile installed or you may need to garden in raised beds.Raising the soil level by just a few inches greatly improves drainage.