By Dan Rahn
University of Georgia
You know you look forward to the annual flourish of flowers in
the spring. Everybody does. But the brightest display of blooms
in your yard will depend on a little effort now.
“Most bulbs and perennials do better if planted in the fall,”
said Bob Westerfield, a University of Georgia Cooperative
Extension horticulturist.
If you don’t plan now and try to plant them in early spring,
they’ll grow a little and try to bloom. “But you won’t get nearly
the show you would if they had all fall and winter to grow a root
system,” Westerfield said.
Perennials and bulbs planted in the fall will spend the late fall
and winter developing hearty roots that will help them support
the stress of blooming in the spring. Those planted in spring
will give some blooms, but they’ll offer a bigger show a year
later, after those roots have had more time to develop.
Trees, too
The same is true for spring-blooming trees.
“Trees such as dogwood and magnolias form buds the previous
season,” said UGA Extension horticulturist Jim Midcap. For the
best roots, fall planting is best, he said.
Early spring planting is usually acceptable but not preferred.
“Crape myrtles, however, bloom on new growth,” Midcap said.
“Getting the trees established for summer blooming makes fall
planting essential.”
Midcap encourages planting all trees in the fall.
“Plant broadleaf evergreens, such as magnolia, hollies and
azaleas, in early fall,” he said, “because the soil is still
warm. The broadleaf evergreens need warm soil to develop a root
system.”
The key
Whether you’re planting bulbs or perennials, good soil is the
key, Westerfield said.
“The soil must be in good shape with plenty of organic matter,”
he said. “You also need to mulch them to help protect them from
cold. Mulch is good insulation. You need it to help the root
systems grow and protect them from the cold.”
For details on how to plant for spring flowering, contact your county UGA
Extension agent at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.
(Dan Rahn is a news editor with the University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
