Good for Naturalizing

One of the most appealing uses of spring-flowering bulbs is to plant them so that they look as though they had grown naturally. Wherever a bit of woods, a stream, a meadow, or a hillside is available, naturalizing may be done. As in nature the planting, no matter how many bulbs are being used, should be varied and scattered: here dense, there thin or dribbling out into a thin fringe.

Most soils do not require special treatment for naturalizing bulbs; however, sites where drainage is a problem should be avoided. Naturalizing bulbs is labor-saving and once planted the bulbs will require little attention. Of course a light dusting of bulb food in early spring helps, especially if the soil is poor. Suitable bulbs will persist for years and in many cases will increase their beauty. Only if colonies become too thick should they be lifted and divided in the fall.