Expert: Long Island Gardener - 9/7/2007

Question
I am going to plant spring flowering bulbs in the fall. I would like to know if I need to add the depth of mulch to planting. For example, if a bulb needs to be planted 4" down. Do I bury the bulb 4" down into the ground, and then add the thickness of mulch to it, and it does not matter hoe think the mulch is? Or I have to add the depth of mulch to the ground depth as a total, such as 2" ground and 2" mulch?????

Thanks


Answer
Good question.

Technically, mulch is part of the depth and you would include the thickness of the mulch as part of your measurements -- a tulip that goes down 6 inches underground is measured, from the tip of the bulb, upwards, to the surface of the mulch, and that would equal a total of 6 inches tip to top.

But in the real world, things work a little differently.  Of course when you are doing this the first few times, you want to follow all the instructions to the letter of the law.  As you get experience, you begin to see things are not quite that simple.  And here is where the art of gardening enters the picture.

Heavy soil dominated by Clay calls for more shallow planting to account for the extra hard work of penetrating up through the Clay to reach the surface.  Tulips planted in light, very Sandy soil should be set a few inches deeper.  Also, deeper planting protects bulbs from scavenging squirrels.  It also shields them from extreme Summer heat and moisture, supporting a more perennial performance.  And bulbs planted deep tend to last longer because they do not produce bulblets as readily.

Mulch is a very useful exercise if you put it down after a hard freeze.  A thickness of 2 inches will protect bulbs from heaving and alternate freeze/thaws during the Winter.  They also lessen the chance that bulbs will emerge prematurely during a late winter warm spell.

Finally, I'm a bit concerned about the timing of your question.  It is too early in most of the country to put spring bulbs into the ground.  You run the risk of the same premature sprouting by planting them before October.  It is important to give the bulbs time to develop a strong root system before it gets too cold, but it is not cold enough to trigger roots yet anyway.  Hold off if you can.  Preparing the holes is one thing, putting the bulbs into the ground is another.  Like we say in Brooklyn, keep your shirt on.

Thanks for your question, it was good to hear from you.  Hope this is crystal clear.  If not, let me know.