Tips On Planting Bulbs

By Duston On November 10, 2010
Posted in: Gardening Tips

46 Responses to “Tips On Planting Bulbs”

  1. Mike says:

    Hey everybody, it’s Mike McGroarty. Leave a comment if you like. I don’t get on here to answer questions as much as I’d like, I spend a great deal of time on the Backyard Growers Message Board interacting with the members there and I don’t have much time to do anything else.

    Lately I’ve been buying plants from the members. Last weekend I bought $927 worth of Japanese Maples from a member and $365 worth of Harry Lauder’s Walking Sticks from another. The walking sticks were only $3.65 each so I grabbed 100 of those and the Japanese Maples were really rare varieties and I only paid about $8.00 for each of those.

    What will I do with them? I’ll plant them in my nursery and sell them for at least $75 each once I’ve grown them out. Some of the Japanese Maples I’m sure I’ll get $150.00 for those.

    Our members are doing an incredible job of tracking down wholesale deals on really rare, hard to find plants and they are selling them to their fellow members at really low prices and the nice thing is you can buy in small quantities. But you have to be a member of the Backyard Growers Message Board and you have to start by purchasing my Backyard Growing System, then later joining the group.

    Many people tell me that my system has changed their life. We’d love to have you in our club.

    • Sonja Choate says:

      Mike,
      I just wanted to say thank you for the tips and videos.They have been alot of help.I like your ideas,they have alot of help for me and my husband.Thanks again,Sonja

  2. Vilmundur Hansen says:

    Thanks for the video

  3. Annie says:

    Love it! You are incredibly charming. I can’t wait to see each video you send. Pam is a lucky lady.

  4. Colene says:

    I enjoy your short informative videos..thank you!! Are you on FB?

    I’m trying to find you but so far can’t find the right Mike…

  5. Connie in RI says:

    Mike, You are the best. Your videos are always so clear, concise and useful.

  6. dick hoyer says:

    mike,

    cAN YOU SUGGEST WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO BUY SOME crepe myrtle. We are looking for velma”s delight, dwarf style. Thest to be planted on Cape Cod.

    Thanks,

    Dick Hoyer

  7. cindy says:

    Thanks Mike, I needed the tips on bulb planting! I love reading your info, Keep up the good work!

  8. Daid Jensen says:

    Tulips usually do their best for me the first year. Each year in the spring I take pictures of my tulip beds when they are in bloom; then, in the fall I add bulbs that match to each of the beds where needed. That way I maintane or even increase my spring tulip display. A big mass of bulbs is much better than several sparse plantings. I also like to wait until bulbs are marked down to 1/2 price or less and plant in early November.

  9. Joyce Mickalson says:

    Thanks Mike, The drill is a nice touch to save some time. I still would like to know how and when to take starts from my Gunnera Mantis plant. Thank you.

  10. Shirley Daley says:

    Thanks so much for the tips!

  11. Murph says:

    I need some pointers, on growing “hens and chicks”. I have them planted in stones and dirt, and are on the SW corner of the house, in Wisconsin..

    Thanks

    Murph

  12. Irene says:

    Thank you for the great veido

  13. Irene says:

    When is the best time to plant bulbs on my patio in pots

  14. Anonymous says:

    Thanks Mike

    Always good infomation as usual.

    Bonnie in Newfoundland, Canada

  15. Della says:

    Mike. HELP! I can’t watch the video. I click on the title and nothing happens. I used to be able to watch your videos. Any tips from you or computer savvy people out there? Della

    • Martha says:

      Call a computer repair place & ask them what you need on your computer to see the videos. I’m no expert, but imagine it’s a program that you need to put on your computer. The computer place will tell you what is wrong.

  16. Chris burd says:

    Thanks Mike, your videos have helped me a lot.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Mike –wish I had three friends, I am 89 and all my old gardening pals
    have shovelled off to the blue above — Neil Hunter

    • Kathy says:

      Oh Neil, your comment was so bittersweet. I garden for people full-time, and a lot of my customers are around your age. I think the greatest reward I get is being able to do for them what they can’t any more! I can’t imagine how hard it will be to have to look out the window and not be able to get my hands in the dirt. It probably won’t happen, though, because I’ll probably just end up as compost one of these days! Until then, I’ll keep plugging along!

  18. Cindy Shaw says:

    Hi Mike:

    Really love the way you cheat, however, I planted about 500 spring bulbs this fall in two segments and unfortunately, between the deer and the crows, my plastic stakes, telling me I planted what where, were pulled out and blown in the wind. So when I went to plant the remaining 200 tulip bulbs, it was by guess and by golly. I had the misfortune of splitting my big allium bulb, so I tucked it together real tight and took 12 tulip bulbs to help hold it together, so next spring, I’ll be buying or making better stakes to know what really is where. But I still need to deer fence my garden until the tulips finally do come into bloom, cause we all know, it’s the deer’s favourite breakfast. Do you think the allium will make it, well I keep you posted in the spring. Thanx for the video Cindy

  19. donna gagne says:

    Mike, I really like your videos, thank you. The only thing that bothers me is that sometime the video doesn’t run straight through. It keeps hesitating, like the tape has to catch up with it then it will play alittle, then stop again until it catches up again. This is probably hard to understand what I and saying and prehaps someone else can discribe it better. but other then that I really look forward to seeing them and using the info.
    Keep up the good work.
    thanks donna

    • Martha says:

      I found that it takes more time to download on the computer if I use the full screen, & it pauses often, but I put it back on the small screen & it played straight through without taking time out to download. You might try the small picture on your computer & see if it doesn’t stop the pausing.

  20. Gail Huffstutler says:

    Dear Mike,
    I am unable to watch your videos, but enjoy when I can at least read your tips. The deer have me defeated — we planted two plum trees, one has been stripped of its leaves through the summer. I spent a lot of money on bulbs which the squirrels (I think) dug up and ate. I have one rock rose which has had a few blooms, which I spray with a stinky spray to try and keep the deer away, but it has to be renewed each time it rains. I think I’ll just buy some artificial flowers!
    Thanks, anyway.
    Gail

    • Kathy says:

      Gail, try growing some plants that deer and squirrels don’t like to eat. They generally leave daffodils alone
      but will eat tulips.
      There are more ideas in this article from Mike’s http://freeplants.com website:
      http://freeplants.com/deer-resistant-plants.htm

      Kathy Anderson
      Mike’s Assistant

    • Martha says:

      dig a hole about 8″ deep for your tulips & big enough to accommodate your bulbs. line it with screen wire & re-fill the hole with dirt inside the screen wire & plant your tulips inside there, as it’s probably voals that are in the ground that eat the bulbs. I had 50 one year that grew up, bloomed & fell over, bitten off at the ground by the little thugs. If indeed it was dug up, then it probably was squirrels & in that case you would have to put some screening above ground. Maybe a chicken wire screen would do. Or plant in containers & cover with screen till they start growing in the spring. Good luck.

  21. Anonymous says:

    LUV IT!!! Look out squirrels!

  22. rosie says:

    Thanks Mike for answering a question i always asked myself when i planted bulbs. Whey don’t the plants look great when they pop up…I have been planting them like you said one here one there, now I know better and I am going to plant some on Monday and I will be planting them next to each other in large groups.
    thank You again! Happy Holidays!!

  23. shannon says:

    Hey Mike I wasn’t sure I would like your program I purchased and I am feeling very excited and overwhelmed all in one. Where to start and I live in a rural area as well in Michigan don’t have a clue what sells or where to start. HELP!!

  24. I always forward your notes to a young landscaper who really doesn't have all the answers! Thanks....Rita says:

    I always forward your wonderful videos to a young landscaper who really doesn’t have all the answers he professes……..Thanks….Rita

  25. Rita says:

    I always forward your helpful videos to a young landscaper who really doesn’t have all the answers…………Thanks

  26. kerry says:

    thanks for all your videos, alot of wisdom i bought my first action hoe thanks to you and i love it
    i did 4 hours worth of weeding in 30 minutes.

  27. Carla says:

    Mike, loved the video. I’m like a kid in a candy store when I see you’ve posted a new video. They are so informative!!! I’m still thinking about joining your backyard nursery system, but I’m alittle scared. It’s hard to take the leap. If you want, you can try and talk me into it! Ha, Ha! I’m on your mailing list. I live in Dover, Arkansas. Please talk me into it!

    Thanks

    • Duston says:

      Hey Carla it’s Duston, Mike’s son…

      I’ll give it a try (talking you into it) :-) . First off, there’s no risk for you.
      If you purchase it, go through everything and find out it’s not for you,
      we’ll give you a full refund no questions asked!

      But I can promise you that you’ll love it. Listen to what some of our
      backyard growers have to say about it…
      http://www.freeplants.com/testimonials.htm

  28. Matt Horns says:

    Mix a bunch of powdered cayenne pepper into the soil around the bulbs and squirrels will leave them alone.

  29. Organic Gardening…

    [...]Tips On Planting Bulbs | Mike's Backyard Nursery[...]…

  30. Linda Vessels says:

    Your teaching methods are perfect for me to follow!!!

  31. Rachel says:

    Mike my mulch has gotten deep on top of my bulbs will this effect there growth come spring?

  32. mahdi says:

    Hi
    Is there any one that to know about Roses and its pets
    Iran

  33. Dana harness says:

    THANK again MIKE we like how you do thing fast and E-Z have a good one all you guys and gals

  34. Dan says:

    I bought some bulbs at the end of the season last year,
    and lost track of them. I live in Oregon in foot hills
    of Mt Hood at 1150 ft. Can I still plant them or should I wait for spring? We have had some snow but all melted now, but we can still get snow here up to Easter.
    Thanks, Dan

  35. James says:

    Mike, Can you do video on growing herbs and Tomatoes?

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