Column
Planting Spring Flowering Bulbs and
Emerald Ash Borer Update
By John Fulton
Send a link to a friend
[September 22, 2016]
Planting Spring Flowering Bulbs
- Spring bulbs may be planted through October. Particularly for
tulips, waiting a bit longer (some say after a frost and others say
when soil temperatures are under 60 degrees) might be a good idea
because of the aggressive growth pattern of tulips.
|
They will try to grow right away if it is too warm, and then the
green foliage will freeze off when it does turn cold. This
phenomenon isn’t usually a death notice, but it does take stored
energy out of the bulb, resulting in a smaller plant the
following spring.
When purchasing bulbs, the bigger the bulb the more expense, but
the greater the flower bloom size. Daffodil bulbs sometimes have
two bulbs together. Double bulbs may be pulled apart before
planting. Spring flowering bulbs generally need well drained
soil, and if planting under trees, they do best under deciduous
trees. They will be rather short-lived under evergreens.
Large bulbs, such as tulips and daffodils, should be planted six
to eight inches deep. Small bulbs are planted about four inches
deep. The rule of thumb is to plant bulbs at a depth equal to
two to three times the height of the bulb. Plant the bulb with
the point up. It is a good idea to map the location, or place a
colored golf tee above the bulb. Then mulch with three to four
inches of mulch, and water thoroughly after planting. If you are
planting a large bed, it is sometimes easier to actually remove
the soil to your planting depth. Then place your bulbs and cover
with the soil and mulch.
For more information on bulbs, check out the University of
Illinois Extension website called Bulbs & More at
http://extension.illinois.edu/bulbs/ Of course, an
internet search for Bulbs and More will also lead you to the
website!
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/ads/current/frontier_insurance_LDA_052814.png)
Emerald Ash Borer Update
The Illinois Department of Agriculture deregulated Emerald Ash
Borer (EAB) as an insect, and lifted restrictions on movement
within the state of firewood and other wood products which might
contain the borer. This was due to the number of counties with
confirmations of EAB, and the continuing spread of the insect.
Twenty-nine counties have been confirmed from 2014 to present.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture is still interested in
receiving samples from counties where confirmation has not
occurred. Samples from Logan, Menard, Sangamon, and other
counties confirmed are not requested. If you are interested in
more information concerning the treatment of ash trees for EAB,
please go to the online fact sheet containing insecticide
information:
http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/
Multistate_EAB_Insecticide_Fact_Sheet.pdf
[By JOHN FULTON, COUNTY EXTENSION
DIRECTOR SERVING LOGAN, MENARD, AND SANGAMON COUNTIES] |