Plant Your Bulbs For a Fall Color Palette

Plant Your Bulbs For a Fall Color Palette
Just because the temperatures drop in the fall doesn’t mean your garden has to stop blooming. With a little strategic bulb planting, you can keep the flowerbeds blossoming well into the late weeks of the season. Let’s look at how you can create a fall color palette with bulbs and a few gardening tips.

Plant Your Bulbs for a Fall Color Palette

Prepping the Beds for Fall’s Show-Stopping Bulbs

Before planting fall bulbs, get the soil in order. The soil is the foundation of life. When it doesn’t have the right pH and amendments, bulbs can’t get what they need to thrive.
First, take a soil sample to the local nursery and get it tested. You’re looking for a pH of between 6 and 7 for the best results with your bulb blooms. The goal is to get microbial life going in the soil.
Anything you can do to introduce organic composted materials and natural aeration like perlite will benefit the soil structure. This will have a direct effect on bulb growth rate.

Creating Fall Magic: The Best Fall Color Palette Bulbs to Plant for Autumn Blooms

“Mums” (Chrysanthemums)
If you want a standout display of fall hues in your garden, planting “Mums” (Chrysanthemums), is a must for your flower bed. They come in a range of reds, oranges, and yellows that look simply stunning in a fall garden.
Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
These blossom in shades of purple, pink, and white to complement the reds and yellows in the Mums.
Fall-blooming daffodils (Narcissus)
These fall-blooming flowers boast blooms in white and yellow in defiance of the cold weather. Plus, can survive all the way up to the first frost.
Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus)
Producing vibrant purple blooms add texture to the fall landscape. You can harvest the plants stamens to make some traditional saffron to add to the herb selection for your Thanksgiving dinner.
Tuberous begonias
Another fall choice for bulbs that deliver bold colors similar to the Mums, are begonias. They have the additional advantage of growing well in partial shade and shaded areas of the garden.

Timing Is Everything: When to Plant Fall-Blooming Bulbs

Time your planting to make the most out of the blooming potential of your bulbs. When the late summer rolls around, it’s time to get busy planning and planting your fall garden. Waiting too long reduces the time you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You’ll miss out on the fresh-cut flowers at your holiday gatherings.
Depending on your climate zone, plant your bulbs in late August to early September. They’ll have enough time to establish a root system before the cooler weather sets in.
Fall is also the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. These flowers are the first signs of early spring when they peek through the snow. Crocus, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinth bulbs need to be planted in late fall before the ground freezes. This allows them to establish roots before the winter sets in.

Planting Depth and Spacing: Tips for Healthy Blooms

Plant the bulb at three times the depth in relation to its length. So, if you have a three-inch bulb, plant it at a depth of nine inches. Space them about three to six inches apart, and you’re good to go. This structure allows the plants to mingle, without overcrowding the flowerbed.

Companion Plants to Complement Your Fall Bulb Selection

Plant ornamental grasses like fescue or fountain grass to compliment your bulb garden. Autumn asters are another great companion plant. They bring a blanket of pink and red flowers to the palette mix for a multi-dimensional fall garden. Good luck!

Wrapping Up

Follow these tips on planting bulbs to create a garden that blooms through the seasons. Timing is key when planning your garden design. Fall planted bulbs along with spring bulbs can fill your garden with beauty.
For more information on planting bulbs for a fall color palette, a fresh spring garden or summer flowering display, contact your local garden center.
SOLMAUNA Creations & Landscaping Designs in Colorado
Our team of landscape designers brings a unique combination of landscape architecture education paired with extensive knowledge of plants to the table. Contact us today.

Plant Your Bulbs For a Fall Color Palette

Plant Your Bulbs For a Fall Color Palette
Just because the temperatures drop in the fall doesn’t mean your garden has to stop blooming. With a little strategic bulb planting, you can keep the flowerbeds blossoming well into the late weeks of the season. Let’s look at how you can create a fall color palette with bulbs and a few gardening tips.

Plant Your Bulbs for a Fall Color Palette

Prepping the Beds for Fall’s Show-Stopping Bulbs

Before planting fall bulbs, get the soil in order. The soil is the foundation of life. When it doesn’t have the right pH and amendments, bulbs can’t get what they need to thrive.
First, take a soil sample to the local nursery and get it tested. You’re looking for a pH of between 6 and 7 for the best results with your bulb blooms. The goal is to get microbial life going in the soil.
Anything you can do to introduce organic composted materials and natural aeration like perlite will benefit the soil structure. This will have a direct effect on bulb growth rate.

Creating Fall Magic: The Best Fall Color Palette Bulbs to Plant for Autumn Blooms

“Mums” (Chrysanthemums)
If you want a standout display of fall hues in your garden, planting “Mums” (Chrysanthemums), is a must for your flower bed. They come in a range of reds, oranges, and yellows that look simply stunning in a fall garden.
Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
These blossom in shades of purple, pink, and white to complement the reds and yellows in the Mums.
Fall-blooming daffodils (Narcissus)
These fall-blooming flowers boast blooms in white and yellow in defiance of the cold weather. Plus, can survive all the way up to the first frost.
Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus)
Producing vibrant purple blooms add texture to the fall landscape. You can harvest the plants stamens to make some traditional saffron to add to the herb selection for your Thanksgiving dinner.
Tuberous begonias
Another fall choice for bulbs that deliver bold colors similar to the Mums, are begonias. They have the additional advantage of growing well in partial shade and shaded areas of the garden.

Timing Is Everything: When to Plant Fall-Blooming Bulbs

Time your planting to make the most out of the blooming potential of your bulbs. When the late summer rolls around, it’s time to get busy planning and planting your fall garden. Waiting too long reduces the time you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You’ll miss out on the fresh-cut flowers at your holiday gatherings.
Depending on your climate zone, plant your bulbs in late August to early September. They’ll have enough time to establish a root system before the cooler weather sets in.
Fall is also the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. These flowers are the first signs of early spring when they peek through the snow. Crocus, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinth bulbs need to be planted in late fall before the ground freezes. This allows them to establish roots before the winter sets in.

Planting Depth and Spacing: Tips for Healthy Blooms

Plant the bulb at three times the depth in relation to its length. So, if you have a three-inch bulb, plant it at a depth of nine inches. Space them about three to six inches apart, and you’re good to go. This structure allows the plants to mingle, without overcrowding the flowerbed.

Companion Plants to Complement Your Fall Bulb Selection

Plant ornamental grasses like fescue or fountain grass to compliment your bulb garden. Autumn asters are another great companion plant. They bring a blanket of pink and red flowers to the palette mix for a multi-dimensional fall garden. Good luck!

Wrapping Up

Follow these tips on planting bulbs to create a garden that blooms through the seasons. Timing is key when planning your garden design. Fall planted bulbs along with spring bulbs can fill your garden with beauty.
For more information on planting bulbs for a fall color palette, a fresh spring garden or summer flowering display, contact your local garden center.
SOLMAUNA Creations & Landscaping Designs in Colorado
Our team of landscape designers brings a unique combination of landscape architecture education paired with extensive knowledge of plants to the table. Contact us today.