Last Call: Fall-Planted Bulbs

I love the expression, "last call", makes me want to work in a bar and holler it out! Other than that (ahem) it's time to plant the spring-blooming bulbs. They're ready to go to work! Here are some choices:

These big bags of daffs are such a bargain. Plant them about 6" deep. Now.
(Read more about daffs here)

Commonly known as squill or bluebells, scilla are a bit iffy for our zone, preferring a colder winter. I suspect this one is S. siberica.

Plant these crocus for a quick reward of color ... per Sunset's Western Garden Book, the flowers will appear in days to weeks after planting!

This muscari bulb needs some moisture from the soil to really fire up that little shoot.

Spanish Bluebells blooming last April at the WPA Rock Garden in William Land Park. Gorgeous, and they like us!

Other bulbs that you can plant now, include aliums (ornamental onions), lily-of-the-valley, freesia, fritallaria, iris and the cute snowflakes with the green dot on each petal(leucojum). It's late in the game to be ordering from bulb companies, so see what the nurseries have on their racks.

What else can be planted, now that you're in the mood? Snapdragons, violas, pansies, primrose, cyclamen... take a look around the nurseries and see what's available, most anything you find will work. Nurseries stock up for the season at hand. While you're at it, throw some California Poppy seeds out there ...

Our own state flower was a great choice for California ... sunny, boldly colored, hardy, prolific, just like us!

If you'd like some help getting those bulbs planted, let me know, I'm available to help you or some lucky person who picks you for the gift exchange! Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help!
Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com.

Fall is for Planting

flickr photo by Tigerzeye

Fall is the season for planting most everything, especially in the Sacramento Valley where there's a long growing season. When plants newly get plopped into that hole you've prepared, the roots that bring in water and minerals and oxygen (so the plant can breathe) still have the shape of their old container. They dry out faster and can't really do their job to anchor the plant. Planting now allows the roots to get integrated into your soil before the low temps of winter settle in...trees (which soon will be in nurseries showing their fall color), new or reseeded lawns, shrubs, perennials, fall bulbs...can get a head start and by spring will be ready to take off. So, now is really the time! If you need some help, re-designing your garden or planting those bulbs or shrubs, send me an email.
Jeannie (Geno herself)