Oregon is blessed with a mild climate that allows gardeners to grow a spectacular array of spring-blooming bulbs. From delicate snowdrops poking their heads up in late winter to tulips in every vivid shade blanketing gardens in spring, bulbs provide welcome color after the gray days of winter. Knowing the optimal time to plant bulbs is key to success. With some planning and preparation, you can have bulbs flowering in your garden almost year-round.
Why Bulb Gardens Thrive in Oregon
Oregon’s climate is perfectly suited for growing spring-flowering bulbs. The Willamette Valley and coastal regions have mild winters with adequate chill hours to trigger bulbs to bloom. Bulbs need consistent moisture through fall and winter, which Oregon’s rainy season reliably provides. The relatively dry summer allows bulbs to go dormant once they have finished flowering.
Bulbs grow well in a wide range of soil types. However, excellent drainage is essential to prevent rot. Amending heavy clay soils with compost improves drainage. Most bulbs thrive in full sun, where they will bloom most prolifically. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and alliums all grow well in Oregon gardens. Even gardeners east of the Cascades can enjoy success with bulbs by providing supplemental water through the dry season.
When to Plant Bulbs in Oregon
Fall is the optimal season for planting most spring-flowering bulbs in Oregon. Bulbs need the cold, wet conditions of winter to initiate flowering. As a general guideline:
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Plant daffodils tulips hyacinths, and alliums in September and October. This gives them enough time to establish roots before the ground freezes.
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Plant small bulbs like crocuses and grape hyacinths in October and November. Their tiny size lets them easily push through frozen ground.
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For warmer southern regions, plant bulbs by late October to early November. Cool season bulbs need more chill hours to bloom properly.
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In Central Oregon, aim to plant bulbs from September through October. The climate is drier so bulbs need time to develop roots before winter dormancy.
Spacing and depth are also key. Plant bulbs at a depth 2-3 times their height, and space them appropriately for the variety. This prevents crowding and encourages large blooms.
Extend the Bloom Season
Creative combinations expand the bulb season in your garden:
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Winter – Plant paperwhites, amaryllis, and hyacinths in pots for indoor bloom. Underplant early bulbs like snowdrops with later varieties like daffodils.
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Spring – Mix early (crocus), mid (tulips), and late (alliums) blooming varieties together. Underplant bulbs with perennials like coral bells and bleeding heart.
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Summer – Lilies, gladiolus, dahlias, and other tender bulbs light up beds as spring bulbs go dormant.
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Fall – Autumn crocus, colchicum, and saffron crocus provide late color.
Staggered plantings over several seasons fill gaps and extend interest. Record what you plant each year to help plan rotations.
Caring for Bulbs After Flowering
Proper care of bulbs after blooming is essential for their health and repeat flowering:
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Allow foliage to die back naturally after blooms fade. The leaves produce energy bulbs need to store for next year’s flowers.
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Stop deadheading and cut back perennials and grasses growing around bulbs. Foliage needs sunlight.
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Continue watering bulbs during the growing season if rainfall is insufficient. Slowly reduce watering as foliage dies back.
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Lift and divide bulbs that bloom poorly after 2-3 years. Replant the largest bulbs and compost the rest.
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For pest prevention, remove all foliage in fall once it browns. Destroy infected bulbs and avoid planting in the same spot.
With proper selection, planting times, and care, bulbs will naturalize and provide a welcome sight each spring. A planned rotation also ensures waves of colorful blooms in your garden year after year.
Fall bulbs for Spring Color
After a cold, dark winter, spring flowers are a real treat. Snowdrops can even grow in the middle of a late winter snowfall. To welcome spring, mix happy flowers like crocuses, winter aconite, and snowdrops with Hellebores and andromeda.
Plant in the fall, when the days are still warm and the soil is soft from the first rains of the season. Beginning in mid-September, we carry up to 400 different varieties of bulbs.
We have almost 150 different types of tulips in a range of colors, heights, and bloom times. Tulips are one of the most popular flowers for spring gardens. Plant groups of early-blooming and late-blooming bulbs for fresh tulips throughout spring.
Petite, early-blooming, species tulips will return reliably from year to year. When they bloom, species tulips give any rock garden a soft, sweet look. They are also a great way to add perennial color to garden bed borders.
Plant spring-blooming bulbs under a group of colorful pansies for a colorful arrangement from fall to spring. The pansies will add color throughout winter, then the bulbs will emerge above them.
Tips for Fall & Spring Bulb Planting
The depth at which to plant each type of bulb is different, but in general, it’s about three times the bulb’s diameter. Prepare a planting hole a few inches deeper than the recommended planting depth.
In the hole’s bottom, mix together compost, pumice, and an organic fertilizer high in phosphorus, like bone meal or rock phosphate. Then, add enough soil to fill the hole to the right planting depth. Place the bulbs root side down, fill in the planting hole and water thoroughly.
Check out this handy bulb-planting chart; keep it on hand: (Click to download)
Remember to use bulb fertilizer and soil amendments like pumice and compost, or a bulb planting mix, to give the bulbs the right amount of drainage they need to grow well.
If mass plantings of bulbs are planned, check out our supply of bulb augers. There is a hand drill attachment for the augers that will help you plant bulbs without putting too much strain on your back, knees, or wrists.
In the middle of winter, there is something deeply uplifting about fresh flowers. One of the best ways to bring that beauty into your home is with Freesias, Paperwhites, and Amaryllis. Bring them inside, and their bright colors (and sometimes scents) will make you smile, even on the gloomiest days.
Some of these bulbs start coming in around the middle of September; the last ones to arrive are the amaryllis around the middle of October. Stop by and get some of these beautiful plants for the winter. Add them to a decorative container as a gift for friends, family, or for yourself!.
Amaryllis will bloom six to eight weeks after planting. Keep this in mind when preparing for gift giving and when decorating for holiday get-togethers. If you’re looking for unusual types of Amaryllis, come see us. We have both rare types and larger bulbs that will bloom more than once.
When To Plant Bulbs: planning for spring flowers in the fall | Oregon Garden Zone 8b | Spring bulbs
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