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Learn which bloom bulbs occur back each year , which do n’t , and how to care for perennial varieties after flower to give them the secure chance of flowering again .

If you ’re new to this , seeHow to Plant Flower Bulbsfor more grow tips .

Flowering tulips in the spring garden.

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What to Expect from Flowering Bulbs

outpouring - flowering bulb can be irregular . Some blossom attractively twelvemonth after year , while others fade out quickly or never generate .

While it would be smashing to have a chart show precisely how many years each bulb multifariousness will blossom in your garden , there are thousands of different types and too many variables to make such forecasting honest .

In general , unbent species and simple hybrid incline to be repeated , while fancy hybrids often behave like annual — pop the question one beautiful display , and then they ’re done .

Flowering tulips in the spring garden.

But how do we even recognise which type we have?If   you have any detail about where you purchased your bulbs , check there first . You could also taste a rearward image lookup using Google Lens , but many of these flowers look very similar and are surd to describe accurately .

If you know nothing about your flowering bulbs , it ’s probably best to assume they ’re annual and consider any future tense blooms a incentive .

If you do n’t want to risk a inadequate showing the next yr , remove the electric-light bulb after their first florescence season and engraft something else in their place .

Early spring flowering bulb in garden.

If you do n’t take care surprise , leave behind them and see what happens .

Some of the most reliableperennialbulbs for reblooming include :

In dividing line , fancy hybrid tulip and daffodil — those breed for unusual colors or embodiment or dense , fluffy flowers — often behave likeannualsin the garden . They are bred for their unique appearance , put on one serious spring show , and that ’s it .

Blue flowering bulbs naturalized in a lawn.

Other bulbs , like snowdrops , English bluebells , and wintertime aconite ( which are rhizomes , not bulbs ) , are bang tonaturalize(spread ) , and will flower again each year .

Naturalizingsounds good until you see that some , like Siberian squill — which is still readily sell — are invasive in part of North America , and spread aggressively , outcompeting aboriginal or other hope works .

Related:20 Spring Bulbs For Pollinators

Spring-flowering bulbs planted in fall.

What should I do with my flowering bulbs after blooming?

If the bulbs areperennialand expected to blossom again next year :

If the bulb areannual(one - time fuckup ) , you could compass them up and compost them once bloom end . Or just forget them to decompose in the ground .

Related : How to Naturalize Bulbs in Lawn For a Sea of Flowers

Flowering bulbs ready for transplanting.

Can I dig up and store spring flowering bulbs until fall?

you’re able to — but it ’s not necessary and may even harm the bulbs .

Bulbs are better off left in the soil where they are less likely to dry out .

If they ’re in containers , supervise soil wet to avoid both rot and drought . I like to use a simplemoisture meterfor this .

Vegetable bed with a squirrel screen over top to keep critters out.

Is it ok to plant spring flowering bulbs in summer or should I wait until fall?

Yes , you could set spring - bloom bulbs in summer . There ’s no pauperism to waitress until fall and better to plant them early than late , permit fourth dimension for roots and stems to form underground .

The medulla will cool ( literally ) during the winter — which aid trigger spring anthesis .

Related:20 Flower Bulbs to Plant in Fall for Spring & Summer Blooms

The Pollinator Victory Garden book cover.

How often should I fertilize my flowering bulbs?

You do n’t require to fertilize flower lightbulb . Healthy bulbs have everything they need store inside and replenish through photosynthesis ( via their folio ) each year .

Can I transplant flowering bulbs?

Yes . The good fourth dimension to graft is after the leave-taking have full died back .

bust this rule , I also care to set out lightbulb in flock ( to avoid creature engender them ) and transpose them to the garden during blossom fourth dimension . So long as you handle with fear , it works out just fine .

relate : How to Transplant Flower Bulbs While They Are Growing

A Garden For the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee book cover

How can I keep my bulbs safe from animals?

There are no unfailing method acting , but a few strategy can help :

Related : How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Veggie Garden

If you have any more bulb questions , give them in the Comments below .

A Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region book cover

Resources

More Bulb Tips

Are store-bought bulbs organically grown?

It ’s unbelievable . If you need flowering bulb free of systemic pesticide and fungicide remainder , discover anorganic grower . Most of the world ’s bulbs are not organic .

Eco-Beneficial Gardening Books

I advocate these books because they get gardeners excited about ecologic gardening and the incredible relationships between plant and animals . Our future is in our hands !

1The Pollinator Victory Garden|Kim Eierman| succeed the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening ; Attract and Support Bees , Beetles , Butterflies , Bats , and Other Pollinators

2A Garden for the Rusty - Patched Bumblebee : Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators : Ontario and Great Lakes Edition |Lorraine Johnson , Sheila Colla| All the information nurseryman need to take activeness to support and protect pollinators , by produce habitat in K and community space , on balconies and boulevards , everywhere !

Bringing Nature Home book cover

3The Gardener ’s guidebook to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region|Rick Gray and Shaun Booth| Distills all the entropy essential for arise 150 mintage of garden - desirable aboriginal plants into a single , at - a - coup d’oeil guide .

4Bringing Nature base : How you may nurture Wildlife with Native Plants |Doug Tallamy

5Garden Allies : The Insects , Birds , & Other Animals that Keep Your Garden Beautiful and Thriving |Frederique Lavoipierre

Garden Allies book cover.

6The Humane Gardener : Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife ( How to make a Sustainable and Ethical Garden that boost Native Wildlife , Plants , and Biodiversity ) |Nancy Lawson

~Melissathe Empress of Dirt ♛

The Humane Gardener book cover.