USING PLANTS IN THE LANDSCAPE: BULBS SECTION 7: BULBS LANDSCAPE UNIT 32:

BULBS AND OTHER ROOTING STRUCTURES  Bulb – any plant that stores its complete life cycle in an underground storage structure –Usually perennials –Period of growth and flowering –Period dormancy

BULBS AND OTHER ROOTING STRUCTURES cont.  True bulbs (Figures 32-1) –Tunicate bulbs – contain a paper-like covering –Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths Offsets – new bulbs formed around the original bulb –Imbricate bulbs – lack a paper-like covering –lilies

BULBS AND OTHER ROOTING STRUCTURES cont.  Corms – swollen stem base modified into a mass of storage tissue (ex. gladiolus)

BULBS AND OTHER ROOTING STRUCTURES cont.  Tubers – lacks a basal plate and protective tunic covering –Caladium, oxalis, anemones, potato

BULBS AND OTHER ROOTING STRUCTURES cont.  Tuberous roots – nutrient reserves are stored the actual root – Dahlia, begonia  Rhizomes – horizontal stems under the soil –Iris, lily-of-the valley  Fleshy roots – store nutrient reserves in fleshy roots –Peonies and daylillies

SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE OF BULBS  Blooming season  Obtaining bulbs –Size –Firmness –Mail-order businesses –Local nurseries –Discount businesses

SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE OF BULBS  Preparing the soil  Fertilization  Planting location  Planting depth (Figure 32-2) –Two to three times the height of the bulb

SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE OF BULBS  Watering  Mowing foliage –Do not mow until foliage is yellow and dies back  Mulching

SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE OF BULBS cont.  Staking  Digging bulbs –Summer is the dormant period for bulbs –Dig bulbs when they are dormant  Storage (Figures ) –Dig in the fall to prevent freezing –Store at 50 o F and dry

STORAGE TEMPERATURES

USING BULBS IN THE LANDSCAPE  Uses in landscape –Foundation planting –Border planting –Perennial beds –Rock gardens

USING BULBS IN THE LANDSCAPE  Planning process  Uses in landscape –Lawn area –Containers –Steep slopes

USING BULBS IN THE LANDSCAPE cont.  Design considerations –Mass planting –Grouping bulbs –Bulb heights –Planting small spaces

USING BULBS IN THE LANDSCAPE cont.  Design considerations –Planting large spaces –Interplanting –Color considerations –Naturalizing

COMMON BULB PROBLEMS  Daffodils (Figure 32-4) –Overcrowding –Undersized bulbs –High temperature –Foliage removed too soon –Lack of cooling

COMMON BULB PROBLEMS  Tulips –Undersized bulbs –Foliage removed too soon –Lack of cooling –Overcrowding –No foliage growth

COMMON BULB PROBLEMS  Hyacinth –Short flower stems –Lack of foliage

SUMMARY  Bulbs and other rooting structures  Using bulbs in the landscape  Care of bulbs  Pests affecting bulbs