- About Bulbs
- Landscaping Tips
- Planting & Care of Bulbs
- How to Prepare Your Soil
- How to Fertilize Your Soil
- Best Location for Planting Bulbs
- How Deep to Plant Bulbs
- How to Plant Bulbs, Which End is Up?
- Spread
- How to Water Your Plants and Bulbs
- Bulb Care After Flowering
- How to Stake Your Flowers
- How to Use Mulching in Your Garden Beds
- After Blooming
- Digging and Storing Bulbs
- Breck's Planting Guides
- Tips for buying Bulbs & Perennials
- Planting & Growing Instructions
PLANTING & CARE OF BULBS: DIGGING AND STORING
Most Bulbs prefer not to be disturbed and can be left in the ground for
many years. But beware of overcrowding. When too many bulbs try to occupy
the same space, they will be less vigorous and flowers will be fewer and
smaller, an indication that it's time to transplant them.
If you lift your Bulbs, they should be stored in a well ventilated place and replanted in the fall. Every five years Daffodils and Crocus should be dug and replanted to prevent overcrowding. The first sign of overcrowding will be a decrease in the flower size, uneven bloom and uneven plant height. When this occurs, this is when you should dig up the bulbs, spread the bulbs out and replant them immediately.
Summer - Less hardy bulbs such as Dahlias or Begonias should be lifted each
fall. It is best to lift after frost has blackened foliage, gently spade
up the bulbs, being careful not
to cut into the bulbs/tubers and damage them. If you prefer to lift the
bulbs before frost has hit, you can dig your bulbs early and store them in
a well-ventilated, frost-free area until they are dry. Just let the leaves
remain on the bulbs until they become dry.
Most bulbs, including tulip bulbs and daffodil bulbs, should be dried for about a week before you prepare them for storage. Pull any loose any remaining foliage, shake the bulbs gently to remove any clinging soil, dust them with fungicide powder to prevent rot and place them in unsealed paper bags or old nylon stockings with some dry peat moss to keep the bulbs from touching one another. Store them away from sunlight in a cool, dry basement, cellar, garage or shed at 60° to 65°F. Avoid temperatures below 50° or above 70°F unless different instructions are given for a particular bulbs. Follow specific storing instructions for tender bulbs, such as Dahlias,Gladiolus and Begonias.
For more information on lifting and storing dahlias for the winter please see our blog article by clicking here: Lifting and Storing Dahlias in Winter.
Lifting and Storing Bulbs
If you lift your Bulbs, they should be stored in a well ventilated place and replanted in the fall. Every five years Daffodils and Crocus should be dug and replanted to prevent overcrowding. The first sign of overcrowding will be a decrease in the flower size, uneven bloom and uneven plant height. When this occurs, this is when you should dig up the bulbs, spread the bulbs out and replant them immediately.
Summer - Less hardy bulbs such as Dahlias or Begonias should be lifted each
fall. It is best to lift after frost has blackened foliage, gently spade
up the bulbs, being careful not
to cut into the bulbs/tubers and damage them. If you prefer to lift the
bulbs before frost has hit, you can dig your bulbs early and store them in
a well-ventilated, frost-free area until they are dry. Just let the leaves
remain on the bulbs until they become dry.
Most bulbs, including tulip bulbs and daffodil bulbs, should be dried for about a week before you prepare them for storage. Pull any loose any remaining foliage, shake the bulbs gently to remove any clinging soil, dust them with fungicide powder to prevent rot and place them in unsealed paper bags or old nylon stockings with some dry peat moss to keep the bulbs from touching one another. Store them away from sunlight in a cool, dry basement, cellar, garage or shed at 60° to 65°F. Avoid temperatures below 50° or above 70°F unless different instructions are given for a particular bulbs. Follow specific storing instructions for tender bulbs, such as Dahlias,Gladiolus and Begonias.
For more information on lifting and storing dahlias for the winter please see our blog article by clicking here: Lifting and Storing Dahlias in Winter.
