Fall Bulbs Sell Spring Appeal!
Listing next spring?? Planting early flowering bulbs this fall, may yield big returns when it's "showtime"!
1. Select a nursery that stands behind their products such as Sheridan Nurseries or other reputable retailer. You don't want to risk not having your investment bloom just to save a few cents per bulb.
2. Ensure each bulb is hard (full of healthy moisture), free of splits or sprouts and a bit heavier than it looks. Soft or spongey bulbs may be rotten an will most likely never flower. Dry bulbs that are very light are most likely dead so they will not bloom. Spend time selecting perfect bulbs.
3. Loose bulbs are often a bit cheaper and allow you to pick each one individually, however, the risk of getting an odd colour or different variety increases, as they all look remarkably similar. For the purpose of adding curb appeal for listings, I always advise my clients to buy pre-packaged bulbs to ensure colour continuity. An odd orange bloom in a sea of white can easily throw off balance and the overall appeal.
Which bulbs to buy?
Listing in April or early May: Choose to plant yellow, white or purple Crocus or a combination of all 3 colours. Planted with white or purple Hyasinth, is a sure way to add instant appeal.
Listing in May or early June: Select narcissus like classic yellow daffodils, double white daffodils and mini daffodils. Why daffodils? Because they are not a favourite of squirrels (like tulips are), due to their toxicity, so planting them in fall usually guarantees gorgeous spring blooms.
Adding an odd number of giant allium to the daffodils, will make for an awe inspiring display.
Most people are attracted to the combination of yellow, purple and white, so sticking to this colour palette, selecting 2 of the 3 colours or even just your favourite one is sure to provide the broadest appeal.
* Avoid orange shades, pinks or multi coloured flower beds. Too much colour can look cluttered and appear high maintenance, which scares a lot of Buyers. Simple is best.
How to plant bulbs:
Preparing the soil:
Remove all weeds and loosen soil with a spade or hoe. Mix in a few bags of 3 in 1 mix, which contains peat moss, compost and topsoil. Mix in half a cup granular all purpose plant food such as 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 per 12 sq ft. into the soil, keeping a bit unmixed soil for each planting hole.
There are a few different ways to plant bulbs, but I am just going to explain my two preferred techniques, as they are easy and effective for any skill level.
Naturalized: This method yields the most natural looking format when the bulbs emerge in the spring. Simply take a handful of bulbs and gently toss onto the prepared soil. Wherever the bulbs fall, is where they are planted. Use a bulb tool to plant each bulb at the appropriate depth. You may mix all bulbs together or you can choose to toss each variety separately in groups from tallest in back to smallest in front, which is my favourite way each season.
Measured Rows: Start by selecting an area of the garden visible to the road and/ or front walkway. Prepare soil and mark ground every 9-12" with the point of a stick or spade. Move in front of that row about 12" and begin marking that row in between the first marks. Once the bed is marked, use a bulb tool to make holes of the appropriate depth (as per package instructions).
Planting:
- Sprinkle some unmixed soil into bottom of each hole.
- Place bulb flat side down into the centre of the hole.
- Cover bulb with soil to completely fill the hole and pack firmly in place, removing all air pockets.
- Mark area with simple tag so you don't mistake for weeds in early spring.
Now that you know how easy it is to add a bit of spring curb appeal this October, you can focus your energy on some other important pre listing tasks, like packing and purging over the next few months in preparation for your move. Come April, your hard work and forethought will pay off as your garden (in full splendour) emerges to inspire a buyer!
Happy planting!!
xo Laura
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