Brian Minter: Want to make your fall bulb planting a big success? Here's how

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Fall bulb planting has changed dramatically. Gone are the days of picking up some bulbs, scattering them throughout the garden, and looking forward to a spring display.

Today it’s more about creating a specific look in a specific area for a specific time. There is a six-month window of opportunity and creative gardeners are doing some amazing things.

There’s also a great deal of competition for those bulbs. They’re great food for rodents, and squirrels are some of the leading culprits. Plan A is to avoid planting their favourites, and Plan B is being a lot more creative than they are.

Safe bets are the very large narcissus family, giving you many options in size and timing. The allium family is becoming very popular and offers great diversity in varieties. Since rodents are not fans of onions, they also stand a good chance of making it. Also not rodent friendly, the unique fritillaries are a good choice. They add a fun yet natural look to the garden. Surprisingly, snow drops, or Galanthus, are not on the rodent menu, giving us a mid-winter show to kick off our bulb display season.

Planted now, your snow drops should start to appear in late December or early January, depending on the winter weather. Planted around trees and shrubs, in among ground covers like sedums and the black mondo grass, and next to dark foliaged heucheras, they make for great combinations. More folks are planting bulbs in lawn areas where they can naturalize and multiply each year all nestled in a nice green blanket.

The vibrant colours of crocus can be used in the same ways, but you’ll have some competition for these tasty bulbs. The simplest and easiest way to protect them is by covering your plantings with a small weave wire mesh. It can stay in the ground year-round as the bulbs flower through the mesh and the leaves will come and go without anyone noticing. Another deterrent is strongly scented herb leaves like mint and chives, which, when sprinkled over the plantings and covered with soil, will help repel rodents.

Although not actually rodent proof, the whole family of muscari, or grape hyacinths, seem to have little attraction for our bulb eating friends. Muscari multiply and naturalize easily and planted among ground covers, evergreen perennials, and evergreen shrubs like dwarf azaleas and rhododendrons, they look quite stunning. The fact they are now available in shades of blue, white, and pink further broadens their appeal. The world’s number one bulb show garden, Keukenhof in Holland, uses them everywhere as an accent. They make a stunning display initially, and then improve as they multiply each year. I would simply scatter some chives and mint leaves around them when planting for some insurance.

The most impressive narcissus are the smaller varieties like the bulbicodiums and Tete a Tetes. Bulbicodium bulbs are about the same size as a crocus and can be used in the same way as companions to ground covers, evergreen perennials, and low broadleafed shrubs. Tete a Tete narcissus, while one of the smallest, are the most floriferous in the world and can produce from six to nine flowers per bulb the first year. They are also the best indoor forcing mini-daffodils for containers and pots, with great lasting qualities too. These would be my number one pick for patio pots, but they might need a little protection in cold winters.

Don’t forget the cut flower trend is still huge today and the late flowering narcissus like n. Cheerfulness, n. Yellow Cheerfulness, n. Geranium, and n. Bridal Crown are some of the most fragrant, longest stemmed, and latest to bloom.

Narcissus really do have so much to offer. Two of my favourite narcissus are n. Yellow Brick Road, a blend of early, mid- and late-season yellows that greatly extends the blooming season, and n. Reynfeld’s Early Sensation, the earliest narcissus to bloom. Depending on how mild the winter is, I have seen them beautify dark, chilly January days — a promise of spring well before its time.

Tulip bulbs are perhaps the most at risk from our rodent population. I would cover them all with a slightly wider mesh to not only protect them, but allow them to multiply and naturalize in place.

My favourites are the mini-botanical varieties. With bulbs the size of crocus they make a nice snack for those cute little squirrels so they also need to be protected with fine wire mesh covering and I would add some chives and mint as well.

The many families of tulips bloom in sequence, from the Greigiis, the Kaufmanniana single early and double early, the Triumphs, the Darwins, Darwin hybrid fringed, double Peony flowered, green flamed Viridifloras, and finally the lily-flowered and parrots. There are so many spectacular varieties out there, it is no secret that they are Canada’s number one cut flower in terms of numbers sold. Maybe splurge a little and pop just a few of the more spectacular varieties.

A special all natural, eco-friendly product called Bobbex, one we use on plants to deter deer and rabbits, is now available as Bobbex R. which is specifically formulated for rodents. Dip the bulbs in a solution of this and it will make a huge difference in the safety of your bulbs, especially tulips.

If you have never tried fritillarias before, plant few this year. They are not only unique and beautiful, but they, especially the fritillaria Crown Imperial, deter rodents as well.

Alliums have become the young gardeners’ dream plant because of their sheer size and the stunning round flower heads. They are outstanding pollinators as well. If you mix them with the newer perennial varieties, you can get them to bloom over most of the summer.

Don’t miss the opportunity this fall to spice up your garden with these fabulous spring flowering bulbs and don’t forget to protect them from the varmints.