Diggin’ deep

Fall is clean-up time for home gardeners as they prepare their beds for the winter months, but there’s still plenty of planting to be done. Fall bulbs offer IGC customers the promise of early spring color and, with the right communication and merchandising, gives garden centers a chance for late season sales.

Spring flowering bulbs (and rhizomes in the case of irises) require cool temperatures in order to enter the dormancy period that will allow blooms to flourish. The ideal soil temperature for planting spring bulbs is below 60° Fahrenheit. The best time for you customers to put fresh bulbs in the ground is a little over a month and a half before the first frost. That window of opportunity will, by necessity, drive your merchandising opportunities.

For example, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the Farmer’s Almanac predicts the first fall frost will arrive Oct. 29. That would mean bulb displays in the region will be most useful in mid-September. However, in Boise, Idaho, garden centers will want to push bulbs much earlier, with a predicted first frost of Oct. 14.

The blooms from many fall bulbs tend to look best when they are planted in big groups, creating a solid wash of color. That’s particularly true for snowdrops that can create a ground-hugging cloud-like effect in very early spring.

But that kind of planting requires digging many holes in cool soil, which can be back-straining, finger-breaking work. That’s why IGCs should consider merchandising work-saving solutions like the Power Planter next to fall bulb displays, which can promote add-on sales.

The Power Planter is an efficient garden auger compatible with any 3/8-inch power drill. Speed and efficiency are a huge selling point for those planting bulbs.

“In red clay, our augers are generally three times faster than a shovel or trowel,” explains Greg Niewold, owner of Power Planter Inc. “In sand, we are eight times faster. In prepped ground, we are able to do 13 five-inch holes in 33 seconds.”

Better still, Power Planter offers a full merchandising display with a range of auger size options. Niewold explains that the variety of Power Planter augers can be customized to bulb depth. “For daffodils and crocuses, we recommend the two-inch augers, and bearded irises and elephant ears will be planted easily with four-inch augers. For most homeowners, the best option is a three-inch auger. It’s a little large for some, perfect for most and great for larger bulbs.”

Power Planter augers comes in a variety of eye-catching colors that will draw consumers to the bulb display area. That’s a bonus for dreary looking bulbs that don’t offer the bright floral displays to entice customers to come close and browse.

When stocking bulbs, it’s important to remember your customers’ specific needs to help ensure success. Issues of animal resistance, blooming period and planting depth may be hard to navigate for customers — particularly new gardeners. Clear and concise point of purchase signage is crucial. Consider displays that call out when gardeners should expect the first blooms, when to plant, ideal soil conditions and the all-important planting depth.

With the right information and the right bulbs paired with the right tools in prominent displays, IGCs can count on fall bulbs as a late season money-maker they can rely on again and again.