By Allyn Paul, filed under Planting Flower Bulbs.

A long cold winter without flowers can be difficult for an avid gardener. Luckily, there is a fun and simple solution to your problem. If you want to enjoy beautiful flowers all year long, consider forcing a few bulbs for winter enjoyment. Here’s how to do it if you haven’t ever forced bulbs before.

When forcing bulbs, you are basically tricking the bulb by manipulating their environment. By controlling temperature, water and light, you can force a bulb to bloom early and thus provide beautiful color during the winter. The best bulbs produce the best results, so always work with top quality bulbs that are firm and disease free. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and crocus work especially well.

Winter Planting: Your Bulbs Need to Chill

Prepare several pots for planting. Remember, bulbs need soil with good drainage, so be sure that any pots selected have drainage holes. Fill the pots with potting soil. When forcing bulbs, pack the bulbs into the pot. The bulbs should be very close together even close to touching. Cover most of the bulb with soil but leave the tips sticking out.

Place your planted pot into a box or other dark container. Place the pot outdoors if it’s already cold, or in the refrigerator. Your bulbs will need at least three months in the cold. Make sure that they are kept cold long enough, or you will not get any blooms. Storing your bulbs for longer in the cold will not create any problems. You will know your bulbs are ready when you see a couple inches of green shoots poking out of the bulb.

Once you remove your bulbs from their cold storage home, place your pot in a cool location. Near an entry way or a window should work well. Water regularly and ensure that your bulbs do not dry out. Once buds develop, move your pot to a sunny location for display and blooming. Your flowers will last longer in cooler temperatures. If your house is warmer than 65 degrees, your blooms may fade and die quickly.

If you want to enjoy spring during the winter, force some bulbs this fall and get the floral boost you are craving a little early this year.

____________________________________________________________

Wondering "what to" put on your lawn and "when to" put it down? Get my $7 Step By Step ebook and learn it! I am really proud of the results my readers are getting using this easy to follow lawn treatment schedule.

You can start at ANY time during the year... I wrote the book so it is easy to get into lawn care no matter what time it is... Just start NOW! Lawn Care, Step By Step