Tubs of Fun with Spring-Flowering Bulbs

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Donna W. Moramarco

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Photo Credit: Donna W. Moramarco

Daffodils add tremendous color to any planter!

Most people hear “plant bulbs” and they automatically think “in the ground.” While these plants are definitely winners in the landscape, there’s another great way to make your bulbs shine – plant them in containers.

Bulb-planted containers are a great way to bring some fun, colorful springtime beauty to your front porch, balcony or deck. Here’s how to do it:

First, think about where you’d like your bulb-blooming containers to go. This’ll save you time, money and work in the long run, since the location of your planters will help determine what type and size container to get, as well as how many and what kinds of bulbs to buy.

Choosing the right container can be a lot of fun because the choices are practically endless. Wooden whiskey barrels tend to be more traditional, and they’ve got a good track record – they’re inexpensive and have enough soil volume to safely overwinter planted bulbs. If you get a large barrel, you can even plant a bunch of different bulbs that’ll bloom at different times, extending the show of springtime color.

Wooden wheelbarrows and milk crates make unusual and attractive containers or you can build your own. Whatever you choose, the key is to find a container that’s got good drainage – or else the bulbs will rot. If your planter of choice doesn’t have any holes at the bottom, drill some yourself.

And if you think picking out the container is fun, choosing your bulbs is like a trip to the candy store!

Warnings

When some wooden containers are filled with wet soil, they become too heavy for some structures to support.
Know your pots’ weather tolerance! Terra-cotta, clay or other non-frost-proof pots can’t withstand winter’s freezing temps, which cause them to crack or break.

Tips

Keep your planters in a full- to partial-sun and away from dense shade.
Keep the size of your planter in scale with your intended site. Large containers should be planted directly at the intended site, since they’ll be too heavy to move once they’re filled with soil.

Faqs

Q: How do I pick a bulb?
A: Only buy good bulbs from a reputable garden center, nursery or mail-order catalog. Bulbs should be firm, not soft and rotted, and the bigger the bulb, the bigger the flower that’ll come from it. Bulbs should be planted as soon as you can do so. Otherwise, store them in a cool, well-ventilated area and inspect them periodically. Throw away any bulbs that appear to be rotting.

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