Spring-blooming bulbs start growing almost immediately. They send down roots in the fall and can continue growing at a slower rate throughout the winter. That’s why it’s so important to get them off to a good start. Choose a site that will get plenty of sunshine in the spring. Add a little organic matter and some bulb food or bone meal at planting time. And make sure you keep them watered until the ground freezes. These six spring bulbs are the easiest to grow and will give you the biggest bang for your buck. There are plenty of choices to choose from for each bulb type. Planting several varieties will keep your garden in bloom all spring. Crocus is a wonderful choice for naturalizing or planting in lawns. They are also incredibly easy to grow or force in containers. Hyacinth flowers come in colors that many other bulbs do not (blues and purples), so it’s nice that they bloom in time to mix with daffodils and tulips. Plant them in the lawn, along paths, under trees, and in rock gardens, and watch your yard turn into a river of blue. They are very long-lived, and while they tend to be well-behaved clump-formers, they also spread by seed, and you’ll find them popping up in surprising places. The latecomers will mingle with columbines and bleeding hearts—that is, if you can protect them from the deer, squirrels, and all the other animals attracted by their tasty petals.
