The Ultimate Albuquerque Landscaping Guide to Fall Bulb Planting

Summer is over. Fall is here and the temperature is going to drop, the leaves are going to turn colors and start falling, and many of us will feel sad because the gardening season is coming to an end. That is not the only option by any means! There’s more to fall gardening than cleaning the yard and getting ready for winter. By planting bulbs in the Fall, gardeners can get an early start on flowers that bloom in the spring. When the springtime temperatures rise, colorful blooms will open up, bringing new life and color to our yards.

Fall is the best time to plant bulbs. Albuquerque landscaping is the primary method for ensuring that the garden and flowerbeds have color in the early spring. Some flowers bloom so early in the spring season it’s nearly impossible to get them in the Ground quickly enough after they thaw (or warm up in general) to blossom in time. The flowering of many bulbs can be induced or encouraged by exposing them to soil temperatures below freezing.

When it Comes to Landscaping in Albuquerque, the Best Time to Plant Bulbs Is in the Fall

Let’s begin by discussing some of the most recommended bulbs for planting in the autumn. Some spring-flowering bulbs and a couple are blooming a little later in the season.

Daffodils –

Daffodils, which belong to the narcissus family, begin to bloom in various shades of white and yellow around the middle of March to herald the arrival of spring. Throughout history, the yellow daffodil has been used to represent rebirth and fresh starts.

Iris Irises are hardy, dependable, and simple plants to cultivate. Not only do they produce stunning bouquets of cut flowers, but they also help bring butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.

Tulips Although they bloom later than most other spring-blooming ornamentals, Tulips are still a great way to let people know that warmer weather has arrived. Most tulips hold off on flowering until after grape hyacinths and daffodils have made their debut in the garden.

Lilies –

Lilies are a common sight across the country and are prized for their heady fragrance. These stunning flowers bloom for several weeks during the summer, extending the season of color after other bulbs planted in the Fall have finished flowering.

Anemones are delicate flowers representing love and fragility; their appearance is comparable to that of particular poppies, but they are considerably simpler to cultivate. They come in a wide variety of flower patterns and colors and are excellent for use as cut flowers.

Crocus: This little flower, which can come in various colors, including purple, blue, pink, yellow, orange, and white, is one of the first to bloom. For a vibrant display of color, sow them by the dozens in your garden.

Grape hyacinths: From the beginning to the middle of spring, dense carpets of brilliant purple grape hyacinths cover the landscape like a blanket. They have an exceptionally fragrant scent. Tiny flowers grow to around 6 inches and can quickly spread.

Snowdrops are one of the earliest flowers to emerge in the spring, and their dainty white bells frequently have to fight their way through a dusting of snow to reach the surface. Because of this, their name!

Scilla is one of the few bulbs that will thrive in partial shade and can be grown under shrubs or trees. It blooms in early spring with waves of bright blue color. Scilla is one of the few bulbs that will survive in partial shade.

Aconite Another yellow beauty, the winter aconite, appears in late winter or early spring and grows to be only three to six inches tall. It blooms at the same time as the common aconite. They can withstand the browsing of deer and proliferate by the dispersal of their seeds.

Allium Onions, shallots, and garlic are all members of the same family of vegetables known as alliums. Your yard will benefit from adding rodent- and deer-resistant plants like ornamental allium, which require little maintenance and flourish in dry, sunny areas.

Making Selections Regarding Which Flower Bulbs to Plant in Albuquerque Landscape Design

It would help if you began with high-quality bulbs to get the most out of your collection of bulbs. Use these principles whenever you go shopping in your immediate area.

Look for full and firm bulbs without any mushy patches or scents that seem wrong.

Unless you are naturalizing (planting in informal plantings so bulbs self-propagate and spread freely), you should get the largest bulbs you can find. If you are naturalizing, however, you can purchase smaller bulbs.

Finally, before you buy any flowers, check to see if they are suitable for the hardiness zone where you live.

When Should Fall Bulbs Be Planted?

The optimal time to plant bulbs, like the optimal time to grow various types of grass, differs slightly from region to region within the United States, depending on which state or region you call home.

Mid-October through November is the planting window for bulbs in Southern climates like those of Albuquerque. If essential, you can plant them as late as December; however, the longer you wait, the less time the bulbs have to become established before the winter’s low temperatures.

How to Put Your Bulbs in the Ground Use a specific instrument to plant bulbous plants

If you are already familiar with planting other types of ornamental plants, such as perennials or annuals, planting bulbs seems to follow a similar process.

• Keep in mind, however, that bulbs are difficult to differentiate from one another. Because of this, when you are about to begin planting, make sure to keep the bulbs’ labels close at hand. This will ensure that your yellow tulips are kept separate from the red ones and prevent a stray daffodil from being planted in the middle of your irises.
• To begin, you’ll need to prepare the flowerbed, so the soil is loose and airy. Bulbs must be planted in soil with adequate drainage to avoid becoming soggy and rotting. If necessary, incorporate compost or sphagnum peat moss into the soil’s top 8-10 inches. This will increase organic matter and will make drainage better.
• Find out how deep you should plant each different kind of bulb. When planting flower bulbs, the general rule is to bury them at depths twice as great as the bulb’s height.
• Dig holes to the depth that is recommended for planting. Place bulbs in the bottom of the container with the roots facing downward and the pointy end facing upward. Planting bulbs requires specialized equipment, such as augur-style drills and tubular steel planters, both of which can be purchased online or at gardening supply stores. It is best to plant it on its side if you are unsure which end should be facing up. The roots of most bulbs will travel downward into the soil through a process known as geotropism, while the shoots will travel upward. This will happen while the bulbs are growing.
• The hole should be filled with soil, and it should be tamped down gently without being overly compressed. First, give the plant a good soaking, and then stop watering it until spring unless you live in a region that receives very little snowfall over the winter.

Growing Flowers from Bulbs: Some Helpful Hints

• When planting, plant in clusters or groups for the most visual impact.
• Choose spots in your garden or flower beds that get plenty of direct sunlight.
• To safeguard bulbs over the winter in colder regions, cover them with a couple of inches of mulch. Be sure to take it down the following spring.
• Keep rodents and other animals away from bulbs at all costs. It is possible to discourage animals from digging into the soil by covering it with a mesh or screen.
• Include in your garden a variety of companion plants that range in height and color at different times of year (early spring, late spring, early summer, and late summer). This will ensure that your garden is colorful well into the summer.
• Keep the leaves where they are until it changes color to either yellow or brown. This allows the bulb to store food in preparation for the following year.
• Dig up tender summer-blooming bulbs every Fall to prevent them from being killed by the cold temperatures of winter. These bulbs are also referred to as “spring bulbs.” They should be replanted in the spring. Canna, amaryllis, calla, dahlias, elephant ear, caladium, ranunculus, and gladiolus are all bulbs that bloom in the spring.