Early Fall Bulbs

Average time to read: 1.4 minutes

The “Hungry Gap” refers to the time of year when winter-stored foods are mostly gone and springtime foods haven’t grown yet. Wildlife can struggle at that time of year, especially in urban environments where habitat is already in short supply. One way you can help your local wildlife make it through the hungry gap is by planting early-blooming fall bulbs.

Early-blooming fall bulbs are planted late in fall, just before the ground freezes up. They stay dormant during winter and are among the very first flowers to bloom when the weather starts warming up in early spring.

Fall bulbs are usually planted directly into the ground, but this can be done in pots as well! Head to your local garden centre to shop their fall bulb selection. Crocus, Snowdrops, Tulips, and Daffodils are great choices, but they may have others too.

Choose a large container made of a material with some insulating properties, such as clay or wood. Plant your bulbs pointy side up and at least 3 times as deep as the bulb is wide. You can also get fancy and arrange them into layers that will bloom and fade in succession, without competing with each other for space. It’s your garden, make it as simple or elaborate as you want!

Water them lightly and cover the surface with horticultural grit like coarse sand, perlite and vermiculite. Keep it sheltered by pushing it against a wall or under a covered porch or balcony. Depending on the local conditions, you might consider wrapping the container in an insulating layer of burlap.

Water the container lightly about once a month throughout the winter and then push it into the sun on the first day of spring.

Enjoy your beautiful early spring garden and keep an eye out for napping bees! In early spring when the weather is cold and food is scarce, they’ve been known to snuggle into crocus blooms to rest.

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