Let's Beautify the Town with Daffodils Next Spring

October 19, 2020

Plant Bulbs Now

One way is to plant daffodil bulbs now for a splash of color in early Spring next year. Everyone loves to see flowers in bloom. Here is an opportunity for all of you gardeners and flower lovers to show off your skills and help beautify the town this coming Spring.

To motivate residents to dress up their flower gardens, the Economic Development Committee (EDC) is planning a Daffodil Days event for next Spring when daffodils and other Spring flowers start to blossom.

Register Now

You should register your home now. Contact the EDC. In the Spring, the EDC will announce the registered homes that residents can visit.

You can plant bulbs anytime before the ground freezes, so get out to your local garden shop, get some daffodil bulbs and plant them! For those who are old hands at this, here is a chance to get some recognition for your efforts. You probably already have your bulbs planted. The one requirement is that your garden must contain a decent number of daffodils. Tulips and other Spring flowers are OK.

Next Spring

Once Spring arrives next year, the EDC will make an announcement. That will be your cue to drive around town, visit all the flower gardens, and then vote for Best Flower Garden. We are still fine tuning this activity so we'll have more details depending on how many residents sign up.

Guide to Growing Daffodils

To help you enjoy a successful garden in the Spring, here are some tips to make your fall planting successful.

Time to Plant - Plant daffodil bulbs in the fall at least two to four weeks before the ground freezes. Here in the third week of October, the forecast is for temps in the 60s for the coming week.

Site for Planting - Choose a site that is in full or partial sun. They do not do well in shade. Soil should be moderately fertile and well drained. The bulbs will rot if the soil stays too wet.

Planting Depth and Spacing - Dig holes three times the height of the bulbs. For bulbs that are about two inches tall, dig holes about six inches deep so that four inches of soil cover the tips. Place the bulbs with the pointy end up. Position the holes no less than six inches apart to avoid crowding them.

Arrangements - Some people like their flowers planted in neat rows, but irregular spacing as in the foregoing photo adds a more natural look.

Tools and Equipment - Save wear and tear on your hands and knees by using a spiral auger and an electric drill to dig the holes. Get an 18-inch auger, which should have a 3/8-inch shaft for a 3/8-inch drill chuck. A drill with a 1/2-inch chuck is better.

Also, use a 100-ft extension cable so you can reach flower beds far from the house. A cordless drill might work as long as you have a spare battery on the charger. Wrap tape around the auger six inches from the tip for consistent hole depths.

Final Tips

Avoid pushing hard on the drill. If you hit a rock or a root, the drill could twist right out of your hands.

Plant all the bulbs before you cover them up, otherwise you may lose track of where you planted them.

Sprinkle some low nitrogen fertilizer (for example, 5-10-10) over the planted area.

Water the flower bed after you are done and think of Spring.