Preparing your flowerbeds for planting spring bulbs

The season is moving along at lightning speed! Just yesterday we were watching the tulip shoots in the greenhouse, and today the anemones and ranunculus are already well and truly here, and the time to plant our spring bulbs has finally arrived!

For the first time this year we decided to hold a sale of these precious bulbs that we love so much, so we thought we could share some tips with you to help you have a flowery summer.

Preparing flowerbeds for summer bulbs and when to plant?

Spring bulbs that flower in summer (such as dahlias, gladioli, lilies, tuberoses, peonies, irises) will add color to your summer season, but it is important to give them special care, a little different from that given to autumn bulbs (such as tulips, daffodils, alliums, hyacinths, etc.).

Here's how to properly prepare your flowerbeds to welcome your precious bulbs and when to plant them for a colorful summer.

When to plant spring bulbs?

• From early May to early June, once the risk of frost has passed.
  
  

• These bulbs are sensitive to frost, so it is important to wait until the soil has warmed up (10–12°C minimum). In Quebec, we often talk about the last full moon of May to mark the “official” entry into the period of mild temperatures.
  
  

Preparing the flowerbeds: step by step

1. Choose the right location

• Most spring bulbs prefer full sun. This means a location where they will receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, even after flowering , to ensure abundant production the following year.
  
  

• Remove faded flowers and allow the leaves to yellow before harvesting the bulbs for winter.
  
  

• Plant them in well-drained soil. Avoid areas where water stagnates after a storm: standing moisture will cause the bulbs to rot.

2. Prepare the soil

• Loosen the soil to a depth of 25 to 30 cm.
  
  

• Incorporate:
  
  

• Compost to enrich the soil (here we combine compost and actisol)
  
  

• Coarse sand or gravel if the soil is heavy (clayey)
  
  

• Tip: A little wood ash, crushed horn or blood meal can improve flowering.
  
  

3. Plant the bulbs

Here are some practical guidelines:

Generally, it is recommended to plant bulbs at a depth equal to 3 times their size.

4. Watering

• Water moderately after planting.
  
  

• Once the shoots emerge, water regularly during dry periods, especially for gladioli and dahlias.
  
  

5. Mulching

• Mulch to retain moisture and limit weeds (BRF, straw, mulch, etc.).
  
  

• Avoid mulches that are too wet at the beginning of growth to avoid rotting the bulbs.
  
  

And in autumn?

• Most spring bulbs cannot tolerate frost:
  
  

• Dahlias, gladioli: dig up after the first frosts, clean well, dry, and store in a dry, dark, cool (around 5-10 degrees Celsius) and well-ventilated place.
  
  

• Lilies can be kept in the ground in regions that are not too cold, but the chances of flowering are still high.

For an even more flowery summer, we can also invite you to do as we do and start your direct sowing (which means planting the seeds directly in the ground). Many of our varieties can be sown directly, but our favorites would be:

• Sunflowers

• Poppies!

• Nigella

• Rudbeckia

• Amaranths

• Ammi

• Calendulas

• Centaureas

• Cosmos

• Didiscus

• Echinacea (in autumn)

• Monarda

• Forget-me-not

We wish you a beautiful gardening, a flowery season and above all Set The World On Flower!