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® Bulbs direct to you from Holland since 1818 Dear Breck’s Gardener: Thank you for ordering your bulbs and plants from Breck’s. Here at our headquarters in the centre of Holland’s bulb-growing region, we have selected only the very finest bulbs and plants for shipment to you. Your order has been carefully packed, and every possible effort has been made to see that your bulbs and plants reach you safely at the proper planting time for your area. However, before you place your bulbs and plants in the garden, I suggest you read this special Breck’s Planting Handbook. While planting and caring for top-quality bulbs and plants is relatively simple, we have included a number of suggestions to help you achieve maximum beauty. You may find slight differences between the planting information in this handbook and that found in a Breck’s catalogue or on the bag in which your bulbs and plants were shipped. In such cases, I recommend that you follow the instructions printed on the bag, since these instructions cover the specific variety you have received. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to send Breck’s bulbs and plants for your garden. I hope their beauty will bring great pleasure to you, your friends and your neighbours. Faithfully, trademarks are trademarks of Gardens Alive, Inc. Alive, trademarks are of Gardens Ben van der Veldt Directeur, Breck Holland B.V. QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? In the U.S., contact: In Canada, contact: Breck’s Customer Service Breck’s Customer Service P.O. Box 65 9353 Graham Rd. Guilford, IN 47022-0065 West Lorne, ON N0L 2P0 Phone: 513-354-1512 Phone: 800-644-5505 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) ©2019 Gardens Alive, Inc. All rights reserved. Breck’s Alive, ©2019 Gardens Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 2 BULB AND PERENNIAL PLANTING TIPS FROM HOLLAND’S EXPERTS How to Create a Beautiful Dutch Spring Garden ON ARRIVAL America, where little or no frost Bulbs and most perennials are shipped can be expected, later planting is to you in their natural dormant state. recommended. After receiving your Do not be alarmed if your plants bulbs from Holland, give them a appear to be dead or void of green “substitute winter” by pre-cooling them leaves or sprouts. Rest assured, they in the bottom of the refrigerator before will spring back to life after you plant planting. A 6–8 week cooling period is them. Almost all bulbs and perennials recommended. die back to the ground in autumn and early winter. Bulbs and plants are more Growing masses of beautiful spring easily transported in a dormant state flowers is simple when you start with than when they are actively growing. top-quality Dutch bulbs and perennials. With just a minimum amount of effort, All bulbs and perennials should be you can have the same beauty found in planted in your garden as soon as the finest gardens of Europe. possible to ensure the best success. If you must delay planting, open the bags SOIL to permit air circulation and place them Spring-blooming Dutch bulbs are not out of direct sunlight in a cool (45–55°F too fussy about soil—provided it is not [7–13°C]), well-ventilated room. Do too heavy and sticky. If the soil is heavy, not place the bulbs where they can loosen it with a generous amount of freeze. If you have the space, storing humus, sand, gypsum, etc. If very light, the bulbs in the refrigerator is another add moisture holders like humus and excellent way to “hold them” prior to leaf mold. Bulbs and perennials need planting. If you choose this method, be plenty of water and good drainage. If sure to keep them away from any fresh water tends to stand in the planting fruit. The ethylene gas given off by area, you’ll want to break up hard ripening fruit can be damaging to bulbs. subsoil by putting in a layer of drainage In milder climate areas of North material such as sand, coarse gravel, 3 THREE STEPS TO PLANTING BULBS AND PERENNIALS 1. Dig a hole or bed to 2. Place plant roots or bulbs 3. Cover with loose soil and proper depth for the type (generally pointed tips up) at pack well. Then give a good of plant being planted and the bottom of hole. Be sure initial watering. That’s all. loosen the soil at the bottom there are no pockets to hold Now Mother Nature takes of the hole or bed. water. over. broken stone or sifted cinders below (e.g., pine needle mulch) or peat. For your surface soil. rapid pH lowering, use one of the acidic soil additives available at your local Some perennials and bulbs have specific garden supply store. Aluminum sulfate needs when it comes to the acidity, is one of the quickest-acting options or pH level, of the soil. Soil acidity available. In general terms, expect to is measured on a scale of 1 to 14. use about 1.2 lbs of aluminum sulfate to Everything below 7 is considered acidic lower the pH of a 10 sq ft patch of soil and everything above is considered by one on the pH scale. alkaline. Most garden plants thrive at a pH level between 6 and 7.5. This range is optimal for most plants because it PLANTING indicates the phosphorus in the soil is On pages 26–29 you will find a chart soluble—meaning that it dissolves in showing recommended planting depths. water—and can be taken up by plant Planting depth is measured from the roots. surface of the soil to the shoulder of a bulb (where the bulb begins to narrow) It is good to know the pH level of your or the top of a perennial. Distance soil. There are a few methods you can between plants is measured from the use to test your soil’s acidity. The first centre of one plant to the centre of is to send a soil sample to your local the next. See the bag label for this cooperative extension office and have information. it analyzed there. You can also purchase Although not required for success, it's a do-it-yourself soil pH testing kits at ® most nurseries and garden centres. good idea to mix a quantity of Breck’s Food for Bulbs and Perennials with If you want to raise the pH level, you the loose soil at the bottom of your can add garden lime. If you want to planting. This will provide additional gradually lower it, you can add organic food without any danger of “burning.” matter like compost, an acidic mulch Never apply fresh or half-rotted manure 4 HOW DEEP SHOULD DUTCH SPRING BULBS BE PLANTED? The illustration below provides a graphic indication of how deep major varieties of Dutch bulbs should be planted for maximum Lily growth and blooming in your garden. The depths indicated are the Giant Allium Crown Imperial minimum number of inches below the surface of the soil—not from the top of a protective layer of mulch that you add after planting. For more detailed information, see the planting guide beginning on page 26 of this handbook, plus the information printed on the bags in which your bulbs arrive from Holland. In cases where there appears to be a conflict in specified planting depths, it is recommended that you follow any instructions printed on the bag in which your bulbs are packaged. Tulip Tall Dutch Iris Daffodil Dwarf Mountain Daffodil Bells Hyacinth Wood Hyacinth Grape Early Hyacinth Snowdrop Star of Crocus Holland 1" 2" 3" 4" 5" 6" 7" 8" 9" Planting depth from surface of soil to the base of the bulb directly on bulbs and perennials. 1. Spade or rototill the soil to a depth of 12–15" (30–40 cm). There are two basic methods 2. Thoroughly mix in a generous 2" (5 of planting: cm) layer of dehydrated manure, 1. Dig individual holes for each plant garden compost and Breck’s Food or bulb. This can be done with a for Bulbs and Perennials. garden trowel or with a special 3. Firm the soil a bit. hole-cutting tool called a bulb planter. 4. Place the bulbs at the proper depth (see detailed chart on pages 2. If you are planting several 26–29). plants or bulbs in a single area, you may want to dig an entire 5. Work soil in and around bulb/ bed to planting depth. Then you tuber, firming it with your fingers. can place all the plants at once 6. Water thoroughly after planting. and fill dirt in around them. Planting bareroot perennials Planting flower bulbs and tubers step by step: step by step: 1. Remove the roots from the 5 package and soak them in cold to 6. Carefully remove the plant from lukewarm water for 30 minutes. the pot. Score vertical marks on 2. Spade or rototill the soil to a depth all four sides of the root ball to of 12–15" (30–40 cm). encourage roots to grow outside 3. Thoroughly mix in a generous the surrounding soil. 2" (5 cm) layer of dehydrated 7. Hold the top of the root ball manure, garden compost and level with the soil surface and Breck’s Food for Bulbs and carefully fill in around the Perennials. root ball. Firm soil around the 4. Firm the soil a bit.