Naturalizing How??????????????

I'm relatively new to this gardening thing. OK so far, but with the bulbs I've planted out in my yard (on acreage), I'm not so sure. Fall of '04 I planted about 100 Daffodils in an area, they bloomed beautifully in Spring '05, but Spring '06 only about 1/2 as many. They are in a faily open area, not anywhere that is mowed regularly, but plenty of sunshine, just on the edge of encroaching shrubs.

Also have Grape Hyacinths and mini Daffodils in another area. Same thing. 2nd year, not as many.

Am I doing something wrong? I received some Red Spider Lillies from a DG member in a trade and I was thinking of naturalizing some but in an area which DOES get mowing during the summer when it's needed. I don't know which tactic is correct yet. With bulbs it can take years to see that you've done is right or wrong.

Lady--only certain daff species naturalize well down here. But I have some that do real well. Red spider lily does great for me. If you are really interested in what bulbs naturalize well in the south, I can lead you to several websites with appropriate care and species. dmail me.

Ladyborg, were the daffodil varieties you planted known to do well in the South? I've read that some varieties dwindle if they don't get cold enough winters. Brent&Becky's bulb catalog lists appropriate varieties for the South. It does'nt sound like you've done anything wrong and the site sounds perfect.

The spider lilies will certainly do well in your area. As long as the foliage is allowed to do its job without mowing, I think they'd be lovely naturalized. I've been considering naturalizing some pink magic lilies (also Lycoris, but hardy here).

DMJ, yes, I'd love some resources, thanks!

Gemini, when would be the time NOT to mow? I don't even know when they flower, I think it's around now, which would mean that I would have to leave that side of the house relative unmowed from at least August on, which would make hubby very happy.

AND that side is the lowest spot, so when we get a ton of rain as we did recently, it takes longer to dry out. Will that hurt the Spider Lillies???????

Here's a pic of my awesome trade! I still can't believe it! All that for 9 Amaryllis bulbs I started from seed 2 years ago (an heirloom from hubby's grandmother)! Wow!

I would not recommend B and B for the following reasons:
1. Their bulbs are oftennot the species they advertise and they have been caught on this many times.
2. They are not located in the lower south--they are in Gloucester Va--I graduated High School near there--they are zone 6b we are borderline 8b/9a.
Debbie

Thanks. I have never bought from them but have been happy with my purchases and dealings (customer service) with Dutch Gardens.

I always hear how great B&B is...nobody in the Watchdog mentions getting the wrong bulbs? And I thought the bulbs come from Holland and these places just distribute them? Just wondering, I've never ordered from them. Are there bulb suppliers in the South?

Ladyborg, I'm wondering if you fertilize your bulbs. If not, I would use bone meal and maybe milorganite a few times a year.

Any time the foliage is green and healthy its storing energy in the bulbs for the next blooms. When the foliage starts to yellow off its safe to mow. If cut while green you fewer or no blooms.

While I had great experiences with B&B (got lots of daffs and hyacinths when they had 50%off ), there are lots of good sources for bulbs. The important thing is to find varieties from a list (that you're confident with) of good ones for the deep south.

Thats a ton of great looking bulbs! They'll be beautiful!

I was told to use BLOOD meal, instead of BONE meal. Is that wrong?????

I have had some errors with B&B and I called them and got credit for the miss-shipped/mis-identified bulbs that I reported. It is a bother and a "waste" of a season to find out months later that you don't have what you wanted--the problem with bulbs as opposed to live plants that can be instantly ID (though not always of course.)

Ladyborg~

Lycoris radiata will lose its foliage in the spring sometime and mowing is therefore not an issue after that, same as with daffs. Only pronlem is holding off mowing till foliage dies off or at least is starting to yellow.

One issue with red spider lilies would be mowing late summer/early fall as the scapes are emerging. One could be chopping them off as they emerge. Yikes! If the mower is looking out for them they could be missed and cut off.

Blood meal supplies iron and nitrogen and bone meal yields calicium. They are for different purposes.

If your soil has natural calcium already, adding more could over alkalinize an already neutral or base soil. (This occurs frequently in TX) Test your pH. Calcium is usually present in average garden soils and its best to check your soil first. Ask your local county agent.

Blood meal takes time to break down to an absorbable form, so you could apply it in the fall, before the bulbs can actually use it to feed the foliage, so that the bacterial action can get underway. BTW, this breaking down slows (and can actually halt) at low soil temperatures. Wish I could tell you more, not sure what that temperature is, your soil may not ever get that low there, or at least not for very long.

Robert.

I use the bone meal for its phosphorus, didn't think about the calcium angle.

I have acidic well water, so I guess the bone meal would be best, since it's what I water the plants with, no doubt it affects the alkalinity of the soil. Correct?

It makes sense on the face of it, but raydio is right, you should test the pH of the soil, maybe somewhere that you've been using the well water to see what's going on. The little kits aren't expensive, and it could save you all kinds of trouble.

I have a kit, I just don't use it :o).....................I also don't read directions!

There are several good Southern Bulb distributers.

Lycoris likes acidic soil.