To ensure your crocuses thrive and produce beautiful blooms, follow these essential care tips. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early fall if your spring is short and warms up quickly, or after the bulbs have bloomed in late winter if the spring is long and temperate. This extra nutrition will help the crocuses develop larger carbohydrate stores, enhancing their growth.
During the fall, make sure to keep the crocus beds adequately watered if the weather turns dry, but avoid overwatering the soil. Before winter arrives, cover the beds with compost to protect the bulbs during the colder months.
In late February, remove heavy mulches from snowdrops and crocuses to allow the shoots to emerge. Leave a light layer of leaves to provide protection from late-season frost. Also, be prepared with plastic milk jugs or covers in case severe weather threatens the early blooms of crocuses and other spring flowers.
If you have crocuses growing in your lawn in mid-spring, refrain from mowing until their leaves have died down naturally. This allows the bulbs to gather energy for next year's growth.
Recommended varieties of crocuses include 'Bowles White' with white flowers and deep golden-yellow throats, 'Flower Record' featuring single pale violet flowers, and 'Pickwick,' a striped crocus with alternating pale and dark purple colors.
Another striking option is 'Tricolor Crocus' with narrow flowers displaying distinct bands of purple, white, and golden yellow. Lastly, 'Purpureus Grandiflorus' boasts abundant violet flowers with purple bases and blooms from spring to early summer. These varieties will add vibrant colors to your garden and bring joy during the spring season.
