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"Want to wake up to a flower-filled garden? Then get digging now and plant your bulbs! Most require little, if any, maintenance once they&amp;#039;re planted. And hardy bulbs can safely be left in the ground year after year. For the best results, plant your bulbs according to the package&amp;#039;s planting times. In general, early-spring bulbs \u2014 daffodils and snowdrops, for instance \u2014 should be in by late summer or early fall. Late-blooming tulips can be planted through November or until the ground freezes. Can&amp;#039;t get to your gardening immediately? Rich Obal, a horticulturist at Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service in New Brunswick, N.J., suggests removing new bulbs from the bag and storing them in a dry place to prevent mold or mildew (a tray filled with peat moss is a good temporary haven). Also, keep unplanted bulbs in temperatures above 40 degrees F. Ready, Set, Dig When scouting your yard for the best place to grow bulbs, look for spots where the soil isn&amp;#039;t constantly damp (excessive moisture can cause them to rot). Avoid areas near your hose or sprinkler system. And plan for height. Small snowdrops, for instance, are ideal for front borders, while giant tulips and allium should be placed toward the back of your garden. To plant, dig out the soil to the recommended depth and loosen the surrounding dirt to improve drainage and help root development. If the soil is very dry, water so it&amp;#039;s workable. Mix sandy soil with peat moss or leaf compost to fertilize. For claylike soil, add sand or peat moss. Avoid using strong commercial fertilizer or fresh manure.  Place the bulbs firmly into position with the pointed side facing up and follow the package instructions for spacing. (Leaving larger spacing than recommended between your bulbs won&amp;#039;t harm them, but it doesn&amp;#039;t offer the best effect.) Cover the bulbs with soil and water. In cold areas, layer two or three inches of mulch on top. Just be sure to remove the mulch in early spring when the first foliage shoots emerge. &amp;quot;If you don&amp;#039;t clear away the mulch, it generally slows down blooming,&amp;quot; warns Obal. If you&amp;#039;re preparing a flower bed, dig out the entire area with a shovel. This will ensure that all your bulbs bloom simultaneously. To plant individual bulbs \u2014 those with large flowers that make their own showcase or in spots with tree roots that you don&amp;#039;t want to disturb \u2014 dig one hole at a time with a trowel or bulb planter.  How far to dig? Each bulb species has its own planting depth. Follow the directions on the bulb packaging or use this rule of &amp;quot;green&amp;quot; thumb: Bury each bulb about three times as deep as its diameter. If you&amp;#039;re planting bulbs in extremely cold areas, go slightly deeper, &amp;quot;but make sure the subsurface area is well-drained,&amp;quot; adds Obal. Measure the depth from the soil&amp;#039;s surface to the shoulder of the bulb.  Bulb After-Care Most bulbs can be left underground all year or stored inside after they&amp;#039;ve bloomed. After your bulbs have flowered, don&amp;#039;t remove their leaves while they&amp;#039;re still green; always let the foliage die back on its own. Bulbs gain their strength from their foliage, helping them grow and produce new flowers next year. This process continues for weeks after the flowers die and is the most critical part of a bulb&amp;#039;s life cycle. To camouflage withering leaves, try interplanting annuals. If you have long iris stalks, for instance, Obal suggests tying them up to reveal your annuals.  The best time to fertilize existing bulbs is the spring, when they&amp;#039;re sending out new roots. &amp;quot;But be very careful not to overfertilize,&amp;quot; warns Obal. Use compost or a slow-release fertilizer formulated specifically for bulbs, and apply it to the top of the soil.  To keep long-stem tulips and hyacinths hardy, lift up the larger bulbs and replant them the following fall. (If left in the ground, they&amp;#039;ll typically get smaller each year.)   There&amp;#039;s no need to wait until the leaves have turned completely yellow before digging up your bulbs for storage. Roughly 8 to 10 weeks after blooming, place the lifted bulbs with foliage attached in a cool, airy place. When the leaves die, store the bulbs in a basket or box in the garage or basement, and your bulbs will be ready to plant again next fall. Planting Pointers by Variety Allium. Blooms in the spring or summer. Most bulbs thrive in full sun (six hours or more of direct sunlight a day) and tolerate partial shade. Like most bulbs, allium requires well-drained soil. Anemones. Best in full sun or partial shade. Prefers well-drained, enriched soil. Crocus. This flower marks the arrival of spring and prefers full to partial sun. Early-blooming crocus can be planted right in your lawn. The flowers will bloom and die off before you&amp;#039;ll have to mow. And since most bloom before trees leaf and shade the garden, they can be planted under deciduous trees, says Obal. Daffodils. This hardy early- to mid-spring bulb thrives in full sun or filtered shade. Tip: If daffodils become overcrowded over the years, dig them up with a fork, divide them, and replant. Eranthis. Plant these early bloomers in the early fall. Soak the bulbs in water for a few hours and plant with the &amp;quot;eyes&amp;quot; facing up. This bulb, which prefers partial shade, may not bloom the first year. Galanthus. Also known as snowdrop, this small flower is one of the first to appear in spring \u2014 even when snow is on the ground. It&amp;#039;s easy to grow in full sun or partial shade and is great for borders. Hyacinths. Ideal for bedding. Be sure to wear gloves when planting, however; the bulbs may cause skin irritation. Prefers full sun.  Iris. Depending on whether they&amp;#039;re bulbous or tuberous iris, these can be grown in full sun or partial shade. Plant in well-drained soil. Muscari. Known as grape hyacinth, these bulbs bloom in early spring. They thrive in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil. Scilla. These long-living bulbs grow best in moist, rich soil and in full sun or partial shade. Tulip. This versatile bulb offers a range of colors and blooms in the early spring. For the most dramatic effect, plant in groups of at least five. Tulips thrive in full sun, but do well in partial shade. For the best bulb growth, &amp;quot;deadhead&amp;quot; the flowers by cutting them for indoor use or as soon as they fade. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/advice/a16109/guide-to-planting-bulbs/>