ASK OSU EXTENSION | Fall bulbs can still be planted

By eric barrett

OSU Extension agriculture educator

Q. I bought some bulbs a few weeks back — can I still plant?

Alice from New Middletown

Q. I saw some bulbs on clearance – will they still bloom if I plant them?

Sarah from Boardman

A. Yes and Yes! Bulbs can still be planted as long as you can dig into the ground. But results may vary slightly this late in the season.

Daffodils, for example, need more time for root development. I have personally planted them into mid-December without any problems. Be sure to dig down 6-8” to get daffodils to the proper depth. Most packages state 6 inches, but just a little deeper is all right. The depth on the label is to the bottom of the bulb.

A few years back, I purchased a handy bulb auger for my cordless drill. This is a big time saver.

Mulching the bulbs this time of year will assist with root development by prolonging freezing. Two inches of mulch will do the trick.

I often hear of folks frustrated by tulips fading after just a couple of seasons. These bulbs are less tolerant of our clay soils that retain water from fall through spring. For more success with tulips, try raised bed gardening for better drainage. Use sand as one of the amendments to further enhance drainage and to reduce disease pressure on the bulbs.

Our experts also offer some guidance to protect your bulbs from the playful squirrels, chipmunks and rodents in the garden. First, know that hyacinth and daffodil are not bothered by these animals. Thus, you can plant them without worry. These animals will dig tulips, crocus and other bulbs and enjoy them as a meal. To prevent the damage from these animals, you can use hardware cloth over the planting area before replacing the last inch of soil and before mulching. They will not be able to dig through the wire hardware cloth to get to the bulbs for feeding.

For details on bulbs and planting assistance, visit go.osu.edu/bulbs.

Eric Barrett is OSU Ext. educator for agriculture and natural resources in Mahoning County. Call the office hotline at 330-533-5538 from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Thursdays to submit your questions.