DATE: Sunday, June 1, 1997                  TAG: 9705310040

SECTION: HOME                    PAGE: G6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER

                                            LENGTH:   56 lines

IF SPRING BULBS FAILED, FIND WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM

IF YOUR BULBS failed this sping, now is the time of year to figure out why. Few plants are more dependable than Dutch bulbs, but failures do occur.

The most reliable bulbs are daffodils. They're poisonous to squirrels, raccoons, voles and moles. That is a big plus. They're also the most likely of the spring-blooming bulbs to produce flowers year after year.

McClure & Zimmerman, one of the most reliable bulb suppliers in the country, offers these reasons why bulbs sometimes fail:

Poor drainage. Most bulbs cannot tolerate too much water. Soil must drain well. Rot is the most common reason for failure. If you plant bulbs in a low spot that collects water, you'll have problems.

Not enough sunlight. With few exceptions, all bulbs perform best when foliage gets plenty of sun. The foliage needs sun for the bulb to grow and increase in size. When bulbs don't get enough sun, they diminish. Without sun, bulbs cannot produce flowers. Treat the foliage on your bulbs well by watering and applying a commercial fertilizer after blooming. Remember that the foliage should dry and turn tan before you remove it.

Rodents. Mice, chipmunks and voles can decimate an entire bulb bed over one winter. They especially like tulips. Watch for signs of rodent infestation and take whatever action you can to stop the problem.

Heat. Never store your bulbs where they may get too hot before planting. Don't store them in a hot car trunk, a closed garage or a sun-filled room. As soon as you purchase bulbs, open all bags to provide ventilation.

Small bulb size. Most bulbs must attain a critical size before they produce flowers. Imported bulbs are 99 percent flowering size, but some wild bulbs grown from seed may need one season or more to attain flowering size. Either buy large bulbs or have patience.

Not enough time. All bulbs are perennial plants and should come back year after year. If your bulbs produce foliage and get enough sun and nourishment, they will grow and flower for many years. Some bulbs put up foliage in the spring (Lycoris is one) but flower in the fall. Some wild bulbs may require a year to acclimate to your garden.

If your bulbs did not come up or failed to bloom this past spring, try now to determine the cause. Dig in the affected area and look for signs of rot or rodents. You may be surprised to find healthy bulbs beneath the soil that just need more time to grow and flower.

Small burrows or holes the diameter of a quarter are a tell-tale sign of voles. Put Ramik in the runs to poison the voles or use the new Whole Control to drive them away.

Replacement bulbs are no good if you subject them to the same problems that caused this year's bulbs to fail. You must correct the problem for your bulbs to succeed. MEMO: For a McClure & Zimmerman catalog, write them at 108 Winnebago

St., P.O. Box 368, Friesland, Wis. 53935. Call (414) 326-4220. ILLUSTRATION: NETHERLANDS FLOWER BULB INFORMATION CENTER

Rodents including squirrels, mice, chipmunks and voles will eat

bulbs. They're especially fond of tulips.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu