Planting

Planting

Planting can start in April but should wait until the risk of frost is past. If cold winter temperatures continue long into spring, planting should wait a while. You can plant summer bulbs until the end of May.

Step 1

• Use a trowel to dig a planting hole or trench.
• Summer bulbs, corms or tubers are planted at a depth twice as deep as the bulb is tall. Begonias and dahlias, however, are exceptions since they should be planted just below the surface.

Step 2

• Loosen the soil and make the bottom of the hole or trench somewhat level but do not tamp it down.
• Arrange small varieties 10 cm apart; this is a good distance for them. The distance apart for dahlias is 12 cm, for begonias 25 cm, for lilies 30 cm and for dahlias even 40 cm.
• Put the bulbs gently into the hole with their ‘noses’ pointed upward.

Step 3

• Cover the bulbs with soil.
• Immediately after planting, summer bulbs should be watered generously to promote rapid rooting. During a dry spring period, the soil in the garden should be kept moist.