Fertilizing Spring Bulb Flowers

 Spring will be a glorious season with many flower blooms provided you fertilize.  Fertilization will make sure that the flowers grow strong and thrive in your gardens. 

 

AI created by Sgolis / spring gardening 

My spring bulbs are established in my garden with no new plantings in the fall.  However, I always fertilize in the fall after the flower beds are cut back to the soil line and all weeds are removed from the bed.  I will fertilize with bonemeal. And apply it to the soil where I have planted my spring bulbs. I will top the fertilizer with a layer of soil and water. Then before winter comes I will add a layer of mulch.

 

Then in the spring when I remove the winter season debris and any remaining leaves, and mulch/ If I see that the spring bulbs have broken the soil line I will give the flowers a spring growing boost by fertilizing them with bonemeal topped with soil and replace the mulch around the spring bulb stems to help retain hydration and to prevent weed growth. 

 

Care for your spring flowers by letting the foliage die back naturally.  Do not prune the leaves as the leaves are a way for the plant to replenish energy and nutrients for next spring's blooming season.

 

I use Espoma Organic Bone Meal Fertilizer 4-12-0. An All-Natural Plant Food Source of Nitrogen and Phosphorus and I bought it at Amazon.  bone meal is a slow-release fertilizer that takes 4-6 weeks to start working so apply it as soon as you see new spring growth in early winter so the mid-spring blooms will be beautiful. 

Fertilize Flower Gardens (How To)

Flowers that grow from bulbs are easy to care for provided you give them what they need.  Plant them in full sun and well drained soil and every spring when they start to come up  feed them with organic fertilizer and bonemeal. 

Attribution: Freerangestock.com

The best way to fertilize your spring bulbs is to mix the fertilizer in your wheelbarrow. Mix 8 lbs of compost with 3 lbs of bone meal and if you have a fire pit then add some wood ash to the mix.  

Take your shovel and mix all together well.  Use your shovel to add the fertilizer to the bulb gardens and then rake gently to spread over the entire bed. 

This fertilizer mixture will provide nourishment to an 80 foot flower or spring bulb garden. Water after you add the compost fertilizer to the garden. 

Tips

1. If your spring is dry then water your spring bulb garden once a week. Provide the plants with 1 inch of water and the roots will be hydrated.
2. After your spring bulbs bloom do not cut off the spent blooms, instead allow the bulbs to collect the nutrients that they need and die back naturally.  Bulbs usually collect nutrients from the sun and soil in the spring and die back in early summer.
3. Spread this fertilizer around your spring blooming shrubs and plants.  Your lilacs and peonies will benefit from this spring fertilizer.