Parade of Homes featuring the best of new homes in Manitoba, Canada
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/1481503
FALL IS THE TIME TO PLAN FOR SPRING'S BLOOMS, AND IF THE WEATHER STAYS WARMISH, YOU CAN PLANT BULBS AS LATE AS MID-OCTOBER. By Wendy King >> YOU STILL HAVE TIME to get out to the garden for one last hurrah. If you dig before the frost sets in, you can plant bulbs now for a big bloom later. Fall is the time to plan for spring's blooms, and if the weather stays warmish, you can plant bulbs as late as mid-October. "You want to get bulbs into the ground while it's still warm so they waken up just a little bit and have a bit of root development established before it's too cold," says Carla Hrycyna, president and co-owner at St. Mary's Nursery & Garden Centre. With bulbs, there are plenty to choose from, including some new favourites. "One that really stands out is the allium collection, the ornamental onions," says Hrycyna. Ornamental alliums have a long stem with a floral ball at the top, in shades of purple, bluish purple, pinkish and even white. You'll find balls ranging from small two-inch heads to six-inch globe flowers. "There is growing interest in them. People will say, 'I saw this big purple ball,' and they want those," she says. Alliums, like traditional favourites, tulips and daffodils (which are coming back around), have to be planted in fall. You can plant crocuses in the lawn for pre-mow spring blooms, but get crocuses bred for naturalization (they will multiply). Ornamental crocuses are for your garden. Tulips can be early, mid-spring or late bloomers. There's always the chance of snow in spring, so mid- to late- blooming tulips are recommended. When it comes to planting bulbs, garden bed preparation is important, but so is location, location, location. Cont'd on page 140 Parade of Homes FALL 2022 139