Where did the Spring Go????

Are you as cold as I am? Where did those 60+ degree days go?

My daffodils, muscari and scilla are up and blooming and look wonderful against the not-quite-ready shrubs in my yard. They don't seem to mind the cold and the double daffodils look bright and cheery in the occasional hail we've gotten lately.

When the Master Gardeners sold spring-flowering bulbs a few years ago, we were sometimes asked what would happen if it snowed on the bulbs. Luckily, not much, I've found.

These crocus are ready to pop open, despite the snow

If you're growing bulbs in your yard, now's a good time to mark where they are.  I've used a couple methods: maps, digital photos, plastic stakes near the stems (not too close so the bulb isn't injured). Years past, in late Summer, I pushed my trowel in the flower bed and came up with HALF a bulb , not realizing I was in the Daffodil bed! It was very painful, knowing that the bulb is trash because I was too lazy to mark the spot.

So, learn from my sad example & somehow mark your bulbs - you'll be grateful next summer.

By the time June finally arrives,  you'll look out at that same Daffodil bed and have just floppy green stems & leaves with shriveled, dried flowers on them (unless you cut them to bring inside back in April). Can't you cut back those ugly leaves?

In a word, no. Sorry.  That was not the answer you were hoping for, right?

You have probably heard that the leaves are building up the energy for the bulb to produce a gorgeous flower next Spring. To help the bulb you can sprinkle some balanced fertilizer (all 3 numbers are the same) around the leaves; it'll help build strong roots and boost the nitrogen in the stems and leaves. Even tying or bundling the leaves is not a good idea but you can easily hide them.

Here's how to mask the old leaves:

• Plant annuals around the bulbs and allow the bulb leaves to flop between the plants.
• Carefully surround the bulbs with plants whose growth will happen after the bulbs bloom. 
• We've found that hostas begin to leaf out just as the Daffodils fade. As the hostas grow tall, the Daffodils flop between the plants. 
• We've done the same thing with Alliums planted amongst Asters. 
• Bleeding Heart, True Geraniums, Ornamental Grasses will all hide the stems.
• Plant taller annuals or perennials in front of the bulbs - when they bloom, you'll be distracted and won't care about the ugly flopping bulb leaves in the back.

I like this photo of Daffodils hidden among Centaurea montana (perennial Cornflower). Color for every season!

  

I'd love to hear what's worked for you - let me know in the comments.

Check out these sites for ideas: http://ucanr.edu/datastoreFiles/268-547.pdf  and  http://tinyurl.com/nj5nt65