Bulbs are often one of the first things to bloom in the spring. Fall is the best time to plant those bulbs for a beautiful spring show. Here are our tips for successfully planting your bulbs.
Colorful Tulips Really Say Spring
Choosing Bulbs
Many places sell bulbs in bulk bins. Pick the largest bulbs of the variety you want out of the bin because the larger the bulb, the larger the bloom. Make sure the bulbs you buy do not have any mold or cuts on them, as these bulbs may root in the ground. Decide whether you are planting each bulb separately or are doing a mass planting for more impact. We always like to plant in mass whenever possible.
Prepare the Ground
Bulbs are planted at a depth two to three times the size of the bulb. Dig the bulb bed a little deeper than that. Spread a fertilizer with lots of nitrogen and phosphorus in it on the bulb bed. Bone meal works well for this. Till the fertilizer into the soil to a depth of three inches or so.
Plant Bulbs Growing Tip Up
Plant the Bulbs
Bulbs need to be planted with the growing tip upwards. Planting the bulb upside down makes it spend more energy to reach the surface. Cover the bulbs with the dirt you removed to make the bulb bed. Do not compact the soil under the bulbs or water will not absorb well and it will be hard for the roots to grow. Water the bulb bed.
Seasonal Color
Once the bulb bed is covered, you can plant violas or pansies on top for seasonal color before the bulbs come out in the spring. Cover the soil with a three-inch layer of mulch to keep the bulbs from heaving out during the winter whether you plant seasonal color or not. The seasonal color will also help hold the soil temperature more constant, so heaving doesn’t occur.
After the Bloom
After the bloom starts to fade, deadhead the flower so the bed looks nice. The foliage will continue to grow for a while after the flowers stop. Let the foliage grow until it turns brown and withers. Right before the foliage withers, it sends all the food it has in it to the bulb. If the foliage is cut prematurely, the bulb may not have the energy it needs to grow in the spring.
The second year after planting the bulbs, dig them up and separate them. Replant the best bulbs and discard little ones and any with cuts on them.
Your Choices If We Plant Your Bulbs
We Can Help
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can plant your bulbs for you. We have several colors of tulips you can choose from. We plant a minimum of 100 bulbs. One hundred bulbs plant an area of about 20 square feet. The grouping can be split into sections. We will prepare the soil, fertilize, and plant the bulbs. After planting we will cover the bed with mulch. If you are interested in having us plant bulbs for you, simply call Jess at 816-631-0492 or email her at [email protected]. The deadline for ordering bulbs is September 15, 2024.
It is almost Mother’s Day and that means it is time for seasonal color. Instead of a bouquet of flowers that quickly wilts, you can give the mom in your life a planter full of seasonal color. We can even swap out the plants in the planter up to four times a year for year-round seasonal color. Here is what you can choose from for your planters.
Just the Right Size
We have four sizes for your seasonal color planter. Small is less than 16 inches in diameter. Medium is 17-21 inches in diameter. Large is 22-27 inches in diameter. Anything over 27 inches in diameter is considered custom. You provide the planter in the size you want, and we will fill it with potting soil, fertilizer, and plants.
Pick Your Pallet
You can pick the color pallet that you like from a selection of complementary colors, monochromatic, polychromatic, or analogous colors. Our plant specialist will design a planter with the colors you choose.
Container Styles
We have five container styles for you to choose from. The Dynasty planter has a classic, symmetrical evergreen plant in the center with annuals all around it. The Renaissance planter is asymmetrical and organic looking. It has an evergreen and annuals as well. The Noble planter has a wispy grass as the centerpiece surrounded by annuals. If you want something colorful from the tropics, order the Crown Jewel planter. The Chateau planter has both mounding and cascading annual. We can also custom design a planter in a different style for an additional cost.
Specials
When you order two containers, you will receive $25 off. For three or more containers, we will give you $50 off. If you sign up for a two-season swap you will save 10% while a four-season swap will earn 15% savings. Let us know if you want to set your properties colorful planters on Auto-Pilot with our subscription programs.
Watering Your Planters
Planters will need to be watered often, especially in the summer heat. To make keeping your planters watered and healthy easy, we can help install drip irrigation from your existing sprinkler system as an additional service.
Instead of giving the special person in your life a bouquet of flowers that will die in a week sitting on the dining room table. This year, consider giving them a whole pot of colorful living flowers that last all season long. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping experts will design a colorful planter just for you, come out and fill your container with potting soil and fertilizer, and install the plants. You may select the style and color pallet you prefer. With our seasonal subscription, you can give the gift of two- or four-season swaps so the planter doesn’t get old. What mother or wife wouldn’t love to come home to a new planter pot full of flowers to brighten the curb appeal of her home?
Designs
Our color planters come in five designs. Each contains a combination of thrillers, fillers, and some spillers. The Dynasty is a symmetric design that looks classic. It contains a formal evergreen and seasonal annuals. The Renaissance is asymmetric with an organic look. It contains an informal evergreen and seasonal annuals. The Noble contains a tall, whispy grass as the centerpiece surrounded by seasonal annuals. The Crown Jewel contains colorful, tropical annuals. Finally, the Chateau has mounding and cascading annuals.
Colors
You can choose from four types of color pallets. Complementary color sets contrast but complement each other. These color combinations are bright, punchy, and pop out and draw your attention. For example, you can choose blue and pink, blue and orange, purple and yellow, or pink and yellow. Monochromatic colors are one staple color in varying shades and tones. Polychromatic planters will include lots of color variety as available and suitable for the design you choose. Finally, analogous color planters have color sets that match and are similar in tone and feel, for a soothing, mellow look. Examples include pink and purple, blue and purple, and red and orange.
Sizes
Our planters come in four sizes. Small planters are less than 16 inches in diameter. Medium planters are 17 to 21 inches in diameter. Large planters are 22-27 inches in diameter. We can also design a custom-sized planter over 27 inches for you.
Watering
Flower pots can require a lot of watering, especially in the heat of the summer. We use a water-conserving potting soil to help retain moisture longer. We can provide instructions for a do-it-yourself watering system that fits on the hose spigot, or we can install a professional watering system and tie it into your existing irrigation system if you need help with watering.
Ideal Customer
We know that lots of people enjoy going to the nursery and shopping for the perfect flowers for their home or even for their Mother’s house in the next for weeks. This program is not necessarily for those folks. This is for those who want to do something a little more special and customized for their loved ones. The value that we offer is to have it all done for you as a white glove service to be able to gift it to your special someone. Why not collaborate with your siblings and invest in a repeating seasonal subscription? It is the gift that keeps giving all year round. Right when you need it we will be out in the fall season to swap them out and to look great until we come back again for the winter arrangements just in time for the holiday season. Then again in the spring, we will have them freshened up before Easter.
Specials
We have several specials until Mother’s Day. If we plant two containers, you get $25 off. If we plant three or more containers, you get $50 off. If you sign up for a two-season swap, you get 10% off. If you sign up for a four-season swap, you get 15% off.
Give Us A Call
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping is taking orders for these planters until Mother’s Day and will have the first planter out by the end of May. You can purchase a container from us or supply your own. You can see our flyer here for all the details. To reserve your custom-designed seasonal planter, call us at (816) 825-2524 or schedule a consultation. Remember, we need all orders by Mother’s Day, so contact us today.
