|
flowers mature and pass before the grass requires cutting. Bulbs, inorder to make some root growth in the fall, should not be planted verylate. Autumn-flowering sorts, such as the colchicum and the saffroncrocus, may be planted in August or early September, if well protected,but if planted in the spring should be set out after danger from frost ispast. Narcissi and hyacinths are planted preferably early in October,while tulips, particularly the late-blooming, may wait till November.If the ground begins to freeze hard before the bulbs can be planted itshould be kept warm by a litter of straw or leaves. Such a blanketspread over frozen ground early in the winter will enable the heatwithin the earth to thaw it out and permit quite late planting. Ifbulbs are planted late it is well to cover them with mulch at once inorder that root growth may be made before the cold prevents it. Ifthe bulbs are planted early in the fall, however, the mulch should beapplied only after the ground has been frozen to a depth of severalinches. Thus excessive top growth will not start prematurely.Gladiolus bulbs should be planted in the spring after the fro sts are over.The period required for such bulbs to mature is about ninety days.Therefore, a succession of bloom can be obtained by planting atintervals of ten days or two weeks. Under expert care, in well-drainedsoils and with sufficient protection, many gladiolus bulbs can beplanted in the fall and thereby insure a very much earlier bloom in thesummer. This should at first be tried only with extreme caution,and the plants will need protection from spring frosts. |
|||
|
