Nothing says “spring is almost here” as the emergence of the brightly colored flowers on tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other early spring flowers.

These spring-blooming bulb flowers brighten the landscape early in spring.

Now is the time to plant them.

You should plant spring-flowering bulbs between about Oct. 15 and Thanksgiving in Kentucky.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planting them in your landscape this fall.

Plant them in a well-drained, prepared site. You should test the soil.

The soil pH should range between 6.0 and 7.0.

If it does not fall within this range, you should adjust the soil pH with lime or sulfur application according to the soil test recommendation.

We do not recommend the use of nitrogen fertilizer when you plant the bulbs.

However, applying one to two pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per every 100 square feet of planting in the spring is recommended.

You should use the fertilizer when flower plants emerge, but before buds begin developing.

Bulbs should be planted 4 to 6 inches deep.

You should loosen the soil so that it doesn’t compact around the bulbs to allow for proper root development.

After filling in the soil around the bulbs, you can add a thin layer of mulch, or you can add it later in the spring.

A pre-emergent weed control product can be added in the spring after the plants emerge to control weeds.

However, these products usually will only work on those weeds that have not yet germinated.

Once the flowers to show, they can be harvested or should be removed before the petals die.

However, the green part of the plant should be left to grow, which helps produce quality bulbs for the next year.

If you mow off the foliage when flowering is complete, it will significantly decrease the number and quality of the planting for next year.

Another good practice is to dig up the bulbs in early August once the foliage begins to die back naturally.

You should store harvested bulbs in a container such as an “onion sack” or crate that will allow for adequate airflow and drying.

They should be stored in a location where they will not dry out completely, but also where they will not get wet.

The smallest bulbs can be culled out or discarded as larger bulbs will make the best blooms.

You can then replant the harvested bulbs the next fall.

Although this practice is a little more work, and not completely necessary to enjoy spring bulbs for years to come, it helps maintain the quality of the planting.

It will not allow overcrowding to occur and will minimize disease and weed problems in the planting.

These are just a few tips to help you establish your spring-blooming bulb flowers.

For more information, contact the Clark County Extension Service at 859-744-4682.

David Davis is a Clark County Cooperative Extension Service agent for for agriculture and natural resources.