bone meal

by loretta
(p.e.i.)

is it true that bone meal is really unneccessary and just sits on the top of the land and do we rally need to water often? but because i have my bulbs in a raised bed and intend to put color annuals in afterwards do i dig them up in fear of rottening my bulbs while watering my annuals

Doug says that phosphorus is not particularly soluble and usually doesn't move around too much in the soil so yes, bone meal on top of the soil is pretty much a waste of time. If you're digging it in, that may be another story.

Bulbs need spring water and don't want summer watering. If you're planting annuals over top of them - yes, they'll rot out or not produce flower buds in a raised bed with constant summer watering. (too much stress) So yes, after the leaves have turned yellow, you'll save them by digging them out and storing them for the summer - replanting in fall.

Fertilizing established bulbs

by Sally
(Saratoga Springs)

When do I fertilize established bulbs...tulips, daffs and grape hyacinth? Planted them with bone meal originally, and I'd love to keep them great looking instead of digging them up and replacing. Thanks for any tips.

Doug says that he only feeds them when he applies compost to the garden (in spring or fall). Spring flowering bulbs are not big feeders. Lack of blooms is related to other things (detailed in some depth here on questions already) and not usually feeding.

fertilizer for tulips?

I have tulip leaves that come up without flowers. Do I need to fertilize them? If so, with what?

Doug says - see the articles about bulbs not blooming for all the causes of a bulb not throwing a flower. As for fertilizing, compost is all you need. Nothing else as it provides all the nutrition a bulb needs.