Nothing brightens up your classic wooden Adirondack chair like big beautiful outdoor planters 
filled with brightly colored bulbs! Although the skies are grey and the leaves are falling from the trees and in most parts of the country we are preparing for the long winter months, it is not too late to start to prepare for spring! This is one chore that I add to my list when I prepare my garden furniture for the winter months. At times I have planted my bulbs as late as the first week of December and still have beautiful results. With a little bit of careful planning you can welcome spring with these beautiful planters filled with bulbs seated next to your classic wooden Adirondack chair or outdoor bench.
Select Your Container Carefully
Planting bulbs in containers is extremely easy, but keep in mind the success to this project depends on choosing the correct container. Investing in the right container now will provide you with many years of successful blooms. There are three things you need to consider when choosing the correct container:
• It’s all about the size! Bulbs need space for their roots to grow. Select a container that is deep and large enough to allow for extra room for your bulbs. If you live in a climate that reaches below 32 degrees you will need to use a container that is large and not window boxes as the bulbs will become damaged by this extreme weather. A smaller container can be used but it will need to be housed in a shed or garage during the harsh winter months to protect the bulbs.
• Terra-cotta containers are the ideal choice. They can endure the cold winter months without cracking and will insulate your bulbs. Plastic containers may crack and offer little insulation from the cold winter weather. Your bulbs will need drainage to prevent fungal diseases. The ideal container should have drainage holes, but if they don’t you can drill holes into the bottom of the container. In addition, add some gravel or stones to the bottom of the container to facilitate drainage and prevent the soil from clogging the drainage holes.
If you are using a container that was previously used for planting, make sure that you sterilize the container prior to using it with 1 part household bleach and nine parts of water. Dry pots overnight before planting.
Planting Your Bulbs
If this is your first “bulb container” venture you may want to plant only one type of bulb until you become more experienced. Daffodils tend to do the best and last the longest. However, if you want to venture into color combinations then choose an assortment of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses. Your bulbs will do well with the use of potting soil instead of garden soil. Since garden soil does not drain well this will rot your spring bulbs. The depth of the planting is determined by the size of the bulb. Larger bulbs such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths require 8 inches while smaller bulbs such as crocuses and grape hyacinths require only 5 inches. Spread the soil over the bottom of the container and plant the larger bulbs first and space them closer than you normally would in a garden environment. When planting the bulbs make sure the pointed side is upright and the part with the roots is placed firmly into the soil and that they don’t touch the sides of the container. Cover your first layer of bulbs with a good quantity of potting soil ( approximately two inches) and then plant the next layer of bulbs being careful not to plant these bulbs on top of the others. I use straws to identify where the first bulbs were planted since they are easily removed at the end of the project. Once your bulbs are planted water them well and provide some plant food for extra nutrients they will need. Bulbs will need a few weeks to establish their root system and this will occur prior to the time your ground begins to freeze. Planting bulbs after this period of time will result in a flowerless container in the spring! Remember, it is the amount of soil in your container that provides the insulation for these delicate beauties!
Last fall I planted over 50 bulbs of red and white tulips in each of the two containers I had placed next to my classic wooden Adirondack chair. When spring arrived I watered the bulbs as they began to bloom making sure that the soil never dried out. This clustered grouping of tulips created a breath taking display to my great outdoors! Don’t delay, tackle this easy outdoor garden task and when spring arrives you will be delighted at the beautiful setting you have created for your outdoor furniture!
To watch a demonstration on how to plant garden bulbs click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBc25IZqhMs
