| Naturalizing bulbs is
a long popular planting technique used to achieve a natural
effect in the landscape—as if Mother Nature herself had
planted them. Virtually all of the small bulbs and many of the
larger ones (i.e., daffodils, tulips) naturalize well. Instead
of planting the bulbs in a formal bed or border, you scatter
them in irregular groupings across an area of a meadow or
woodland, in areas under deciduous trees and shrubs, at the
edges of paths and walkways, or in a bed of groundcover. For the
most natural effect, try not to plant bulbs in straight lines or
discernible patterns.
You can plant bulbs directly in
the lawn for spectacular displays in late winter and early
spring. Choose bulbs where the foliage will mature and fade
before the grass grows enough to require mowing. This ensures
the plant will have stored all the food it needs in the
underground bulb to produce next year's bloom.
It takes lots of bulbs to make a
good show, but luckily, these early spring bulbs are relatively
inexpensive. Some bulbs that work great with this technique are:
- Squill—blooms in spring with
blue flowers; sometimes pink or white
- Snowdrop—the earliest of the
spring-flowering bulbs; single, white, nodding flowers
- Chionodoxa—or glory-of-the
snow, blooms a clear blue, often before the snow melts
- Spring crocus—come in a
variety of colors, including white, pink, lavender, purple,
yellow or orange. Crocus tommasinianus is
squirrelproof.
Large quantities of bulbs look
great planted in groups of like colors (drifts) or a playful mix
of colors and textures for a tapestry effect. If you're looking
for a more formal display, draw out your design on the lawn with
horticultural lime as a planting guide.
The traditional method of
naturalizing is to scatter bulbs across the area and plant them
where they fall. Alternatively, you can simply plant the bulbs
at random, avoiding any resemblance to rows or patterns. In
succeeding years, the bulbs will multiply and fill in the
spaces.
Where only a limited number of
bulbs are to be planted, you can lift the turf using a spade or
sod cutter, plant the bulbs and replace the turf. If you are
planting many bulbs, use a dibbler or small trowel, digging
through the turf, making sure to place soil back into the hole
once you plant the bulb.
Most bulbs
appreciate well-drained soil and sunlight. Keep in mind,
however, that bulbs that flower early in the spring will have
bloomed and faded long before deciduous shrubs and trees have
begun to leaf out. So think of spring-blooming bulbs much like
spring wildflowers.
In a few years, your lawn will be
welcome harbinger of spring, full of naturalized bulbs, and
adding an additional piece of interest to your home landscape. |
