Diversity

There are dozens of different kinds of summer bulbs. Making your garden a place that everyone can enjoy requires diversity. A good reason to use a combination of the various kinds that will give you a range of flower shapes and plant heights. A good example might include dahlias, gladioli (Gladiolus), Pineapple Lily (Eucomis), begonias, calla lilies and canna lilies (Canna). Together, they create an inviting and casual atmosphere.

Warm colors

When you select summer bulbs in a range of closely related colors, you create unity in the garden. An example would be summer-flowering bulbs in warm natural colors such as orange, brown, red and yellow. To add a little excitement, add touches of pink and purple as accent colors. A garden featuring these colors simply begs to be enjoyed by young and old alike.

Planting summer-flowering bulbs

Planting summer bulbs is a nice little job, especially when it’s a shared activity. Locate a sunny spot in the garden since warmth encourages a profusion of flowers. Plant most of your summer bulbs at a depth equal to twice their height. The exceptions are dahlias and begonias that should be planted just below the soil surface. This way, the warmth of the sun will encourage them to start growing faster.

Tips

• Either submerge the summer bulbs in water for an hour before planting or give them lots of water immediately after planting. This moisture will speed up the rooting process that will result in good and rapid growth.
• Wait to plant summer bulbs until you are sure than any risk of frost has passed. They don’t appreciate cold temperatures.
• Summer-flowering bulbs are also suitable for planting in pots and flower containers. Perfect for this purpose are begonias, dwarf dahlias, the Pineapple Lily (Eucomis) and calla lilies.