Can I use leftover bulbs from last season?

If you take care of them properly, leftover bulbs can come back to life. I resurrected 70% of a client's neglected tulip bulbs, using a technique I call a bulb bath. You take shriveled bulbs and soak them in water at room temperature for four hours. This will rehydrate the bulbs without causing them to rot. If there is any mold, look at them first because if you have one bad bulb it may spoil the whole batch.

With older bulbs, avoid planting at the recommended depths. A two-year-old daffodil that calls for planting at 6 inches deep? Go with 4-inches deep instead. This is a trade-off to compensate for a decline in energy reserves. I recommend pairing them with bulb booster fertilizer, a 10-10-5 NPK works best. You'll have smaller blooms, but a lot of color!

An avid gardener in Wisconsin was able to save approximately 50% of her crocus bulbs that were five years old this year using forced chilling. She placed the bulbs in the refrigerator for eight weeks before planting them in the spring. Although the blooms came later than in previous years with fresh bulbs, they still naturalized. Likewise, with aged bulbs, patience is more important than perfection. Remember to record your results and experiences in a garden journal.

Read the full article: 7 Essential Tips to Plant Bulbs This Fall