Color Summer With Flowering Bulbs

One of the more popular ways of adding color to summer gardens is with annuals, perennials and roses. Another way of adding additional color is with summer flowering bulbs.

Spring flowering bulbs are different than summer bulbs. The daffodils, crocuses, and tulips that bloom from spring bulbs are planted in the fall, and can resist the cold temperatures of winter. Summer bulbs are planted now and bloom in four to eight weeks, depending on the species.

There are many varieties of summer flowering bulbs. The most popular is the gladiolus or gladiola, more commonly known as "glads".

They are usually two to three feet tall and come in almost any color. Gladioluses can be planted every two weeks until late July for color until the first frost. They make excellent background flowers in the garden and make for superb cut flowers.

If you would like a taller background, I suggest planting cannas. They grow from two to eight feet tall, have large green leaves, and produce bright red, orange, yellow, pink or cream flower clusters.

For damp, shady areas, try planting tuberous begonias. Plant them about 18 inches apart because they can grow to 12 or 24 inches high and become fairly broad.

Other favorite summer flowering bulbs include some varieties of tender anemones, lilies, dahlias, caladium, and freesia, as well as fall flowering crocuses.

The soil should be cultivated to almost twelve inches deep until it is light and loose. Mix in some canadium peat moss or compost as well. The bulbs should then be planted as deep as directed by the supplier.

If you plant summer flowering bulbs this early in the season, you will have beautiful color all summer long. Your local garden center or nursery offers an excellent selection right now.