Football season, school and gardeners harvesting their vegetables and planting their second round of cool-season crops.

These harbingers of fall are reminders to plant spring bulbs now to enjoy in the spring.

Given the array of variety, size, color and bloom time, bulbs add a significant return on financial and time investment to any home garden or landscape.

Bulbs store nourishment for the plant’s life cycle during dormant periods when the weather is too cold or too hot for them to flower.

The major types of bulbs include true bulbs (daffodils and tulips), corms (crocus), tuberous roots (dahlias), rhizomes (iris) and stem tubers (potato).

Spring-blooming bulbs are planted in the fall, before the first frost, for an early to late spring or early summer bloom.

Summer bulbs are planted in late spring after the last frost for summer to early fall blooms.

Summer bulbs are dug up and stored over the winter as they are not winter-hardy like spring bulbs.

Plant bulbs with attention to their site location and preparation, soil characteristics and planting depth.

Site selection and preparation are key to many years of successful bulb growth and flower production.

Select a site that accentuates the bulbs’ best features, such as size, color and bloom time.

Bulbs prefer full sun. Planting spring bulbs under deciduous trees takes advantage of the sunlight before the trees get leaves.

Excellent soil drainage is crucial for root development and bulb rot prevention during the dormant season.

Take a soil test to measure pH and nutrients, and amend the soil based on the recommendations.

Bulbs prefer a soil pH between 6 and 7. Introducing organic matter, such as compost, helps stimulate and support root development in clay soils.

Create a design that incorporates bulbs into your existing garden beds.

A solid wave or drift of flowers provides more impact from a distance as compared to a small mixture of colors and varieties.

Learn the bulbs’ bloom time, size and color to contrast and complement spring perennials, shrubs and trees.

Keep kinds and colors of all bulbs together. Plant tall bulbs near the rear of your selected site or garden, with shorter bulbs planted in front.

Purchase high-quality bulbs from a reputable grower.

Quality bulbs are typically larger and free from cuts or gashes. Healthy bulbs should feel firm to the touch.

Bulbs are typically planted two-and-a-half to three times deeper than the bulb height. Follow recommended planting directions on the bulbs’ packaging.

Dig the bulb bed to the proper depth and press bulbs into the soil with the pointed end up and the root base down. Cover with soil and two to three inches of mulch.

The mulch protects the bulbs over the winter minimizing temperature fluctuations while maintaining soil moisture.

As the spring days become warmer and longer, the display of color emerges.

After blooming, keep the green foliage on the bulb, which provides the much-needed nutrients for next year’s blooming season.

Water the bulbs when the soil is dry.

If bulbs are going to be maintained in the same bed year after year, fertilize with a bulb-specific fertilizer.

Divide bulbs when they become crowded, overgrown, or not flowering.

Spring bulbs can remain in the ground year-round.

Invest in your garden’s spring splendor by planting your favorite or new bulbs in the fall.

“Growing Green” is contributed by Diane Dorn, Lehigh County Extension Office Staff, and Master Gardeners. Information: Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-813-6613