As Weather Cools, Think Spring in the Garden

Newswise — April showers might bring May flowers, but so does fall planting, says Stephanie Cohen, director of the Landscape Arboretum at Temple Ambler. Now through the end of November is the time to start planning for "the glorious colors of spring" in your garden, says Cohen, who says crocus, daffodil, tulip and ornamental onion bulbs can all be planted, as long as the ground isn't frozen. "They come in a rainbow of colors and sizes, from the crocus at four inches to tulips, which can grow two feet or more." Cohen says it's best to mix things up when planting. "Don't plant in rows unless you're doing a very formal planting with hundreds of bulbs," says Cohen. "It's better to plant in a more naturalistic way. Throw them down and plant them where they land. I tell my students it's a form of exercise--bulb bowling." Mixing in some bulb fertilizer when you plant will allow you to get the most out of your bulbs, she notes. "The fertilizer is a very inexpensive investment, but it will increase the quality of the plants. And always remember when you plant your bulbs, its pointy side up."