The Alexander County Master Gardeners met in October to learn how to plant bulbs lasagna style!! This is a very simple task you can do to get that early spring color of bulbs without having to dig in the yard or remember where plants already are in the landscape that are dying back. Use the Bulb chart above and these steps below to create a potted bulb planter that will look good all winter until those bulbs start showing!
Step 1 - Find a pot with good drainage that will either stand the cold (insulated) or find a pot that you can plant in that you can slip down into an empty insulated pot you might already have. Flimsy pots will struggle in the winter and could potentially kill bulbs in late winter/early spring if we have a warm spell followed by another cool spell.
Step 2 - Fill bottom with a few inches of regular potting soil or planting mix that is well draining. Look for a mix that has a good amount of bark, larger pieces, or perlite because that will help with drainage as well.
Step 3 - Start with your largest bulbs at the bottom of your pot (pointy side up!). Make layers following with a layer of soil and the next largest bulbs until you reach the top few inches of your pot.
Step 4 - After adding your smallest bulbs and a light layer of soil near the top of your pot, add plants that don't mind the cold to give you some late fall/winter color. This includes pansies, dusty miller, snapdragons, ornamental kales and cabbages, or even pretty twigs and evergreen trimmings!
Step 5 - Water everything in well and place your (insulated) pot on the porch, in the driveway or wherever you’d like!
Notes
*If you do not have a good insulated pot, just make sure to bring your pot in the garage or outbuilding when we have freeze events. Just remember to bring them in when temperatures get back above freezing.
*Be sure to look at what type of bulbs you are adding in: what color they are, time before they start to emerge, & scents.
*Bulbs will need a little space from each other on the same level so don’t pack them too tightly.
And viola! You have made a beautiful lasagna bulb planter that will bring you pretty colors and joy for the winter and spring season.
