Page 21 - North Haven Magazine Issue 15 Autumn 2020

Colorful hyacinths – a fragrant sign of Spring

Care of bulbs:
If you want your bulbs to live through the summer and blossom
again next spring, do not cut off the leaves after the blooms have
faded. The leaves must be left on the plant to feed the bulb in the
earth. They can be removed when they turn yellow. You can also
add some compost to the garden, and slow-release fertilizer to help
nourish the bulbs. This will help them to produce beautiful new
blooms for next spring.

Container gardens:
You do not need to have a large garden space to enjoy the beauty of
spring blossoms. Containers filled with bulbs can create a wonder-
ful garden full of color on a balcony, deck, or front porch. You can
plant the containers in the fall, and keep them in a protected loca-
tion (south exposure, or garage) for the winter so they do not get
too cold. Then in late February or early March, bring them out to
the place you want them to grow, and provide some water to stim-
ulate growth.

If your space is even more limited, or you want colorful spring bulbs
to brighten your home during the winter months, plant bulbs in
small pots and keep in an old refrigerator, or garage to provide the
period of cold. Then bring the pots into your home to let them grow.
You can do this in succession so you have some continuous blos-
soms.
So, now is the time to start planning your spring blooms that will
be produced by bulbs planted in the fall. Explore ideas through the
numerous websites, and then visit your local garden center. The ex-
pert staff at Bell Nurseries will answer questions and help you make
selections. Or, contact the Daytime Gardeners of North Haven at
203-239-1557 to talk with a member about growing with bulbs.

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