Monday, March 15, 2010

Pot-first, Garden-second Flowers

Jump-start spring by replanting sprouted bulbs outside. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are popular, colorful options for the "pot-first, garden-second" method.

When you’ve had enough of winter and crave spring color, why wait? Ready-grown potted tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other spring bulbs are widely available during late winter and early spring at supermarkets, home centers, and other retail outlets.

Pick up a few, take them home, pop them out of their plastic pots, and replant them along the walk, the front stoop, your deck or balcony, or wherever you’d like an early dose of spring. For best results using potted bulbs outdoors, wait until local overnight freezes have passed.

Choose young bulb plants with tight buds. Acclimate the potted plants to colder weather for a day or so, keeping them in a cold protected spot such as an unheated garage or porch. Then transplant them into a large decorative pot or even into the garden if the soil is workable. Water the bulbs after planting. No other care is necessary.

Hyacinths have a heady fragrance, making them perfect to place near walks and entryways. Colorful tulips and bright daffodils are perfect anywhere