Gardening is a constant evolution of colors, patterns and trends. One trend that has recently been gaining traction among gardeners is the use of naturalizing bulbs. Also known as naturalizing flowers or naturalizing plants, these bulbs provide a yearly burst of color to gardens, creating an organic and harmonious spread of flowers season after season. Let’s explore what’s needed to understand and embrace this gardening trend.
What Are Naturalizing Bulbs?
Naturalizing bulbs are types of flowering plants that grow and spread naturally, year after year. Once established, they require virtually no further effort on your part, allowing you to revel in their annual floral display as nature takes its course. The beauty of it is, with each passing year, the spectacle grows as they produce new, small bulbs, leading to an increasing number of flowers.
It’s important to note that there’s a difference between perennializing and naturalizing. While all naturalizing bulbs are perennial, not all perennial bulbs naturalize. Perennializing means that the bulb will return for several years, whereas naturalizing bulbs not only return but also multiply and spread, giving gardens the enchanting appearance of a wildflower meadow.
Choosing the Right Naturalizing Bulbs
To cultivate a picturesque garden filled with naturalizing plants, selecting the right bulbs is of the utmost importance. Here’s a brief guide to help you choose what to plant:
- Types of Bulbs: Some bulbs are just inclined to thrive in a naturalized setting. The most recommended options include daffodils, crocus, snowdrops, muscari, alliums, Siberian squill and Fritillaria meleagris (aka Guinea hen flowers). These bulbs are often champions in resisting pests and adverse conditions, making them ideal candidates for naturalizing.
- Complementary Blooming Times: A garden that blooms in rhythm is always a sight to behold. To ensure this continuous dance of colors, pick naturalizing flower bulbs that harmonize in their bloom times. By mixing varieties that flower early, late or somewhere in between, you guarantee a prolonged display, making your garden an enchanting spectacle throughout the season.
- Colors and Sizes: Think of your garden as a canvas and the bulbs as strokes of paint. Complementing and contrasting colors and sizes can enhance the overall visual appeal of your green space. Pairing tall bulbs, such as some allium varieties, with shorter ones, like snowdrops and crocus, can create a multilayered effect, adding depth and intrigue to your garden layout.
Where to Plant Bulbs That Naturalize
Naturalizing bulbs tend to spread and blanket areas, making them perfect for adding many colorful blooms to large spaces. Consider planting these bulbs in expansive areas like wooded terrains, meadows and even lawns. Over time, they can transform these spaces into captivating flower beds, echoing nature’s own design.
How to Plant Naturalizing Bulbs
Once you’ve chosen a moist, well-drained area to plant your bulbs for naturalizing, it’s time to get started. Some gardeners, believing it creates a more natural look, simply scatter their bulbs onto the ground and leave them to grow in place. Others prefer using a trowel to dig holes and place their bulbs individually into the ground.
Make sure the holes are deep enough for the bulbs to be completely covered by soil and are at least several inches apart, depending on the bulb type. When planting bulbs, make sure the pointy end is facing up and the flat end is facing down. Next, backfill with soil and then gently press down on the bulb mound to secure everything in place. Repeat this process until all bulbs are planted.
Finally, add enough water to the soil to give your bulbs a good soak. You may also wish to add a slow-release fertilizer to help the bulbs set properly and begin to thrive. With proper care, your naturalizing plants will establish and spread over time.
Caring for Naturalizing Flower Bulbs
Though naturalizing flowers are tremendously self-sufficient, a little plant care can go a long way toward ensuring their longevity. After the blooms have had their moment in the sun, it’s vital to tend to the fading flowers. One golden rule is to leave the foliage intact until it turns yellow. This allows the bulb to store enough energy to ensure a magnificent return of blooms in the subsequent season.
Turning Your Garden into a Masterpiece with Naturalizing Bulbs
In essence, naturalizing bulbs offer a beautiful blend of nature’s spontaneity with a gardener’s touch. By understanding their nuances and caring for them just right, one can employ naturalizing plants to transform a garden into a living masterpiece. K. van Bourgondien offers a wide selection of naturalizing bulbs including naturalizing Crocus, naturalizing Daffodils, naturalizing Alliums and naturalizing Muscari. Find the perfect flowers for your garden today!