Year Long Flower Box

Question

I don’t know exactly how to ask this question, but I have an area in front of the house between the road and the street it is about 40 feet long and 5 feet wide. This is currently covered in grass with a large tree and a flower box taking up about 4.5 foot in diameter. I would like to raise this area about 8 to 12 inches. I want to turn it into a flower bed, sort of like a lasagna garden filled with bulbs that will bloom in early-mid-late periods of each major season. I am looking for bulbs that would grow and flower in each season creating a never ending supply of flowers. Can you supply a list and planting chart that would create such a flower bed/garden?

Answer 1

You can plant spring blooming bulbs, summer blooming bulbs, and some perennials like daylilies to fill in when the bulbs are dormant. Since you are in zone 9, you won't be able to grow spring blooming bulbs that need a cold period, such as tulips, unless they are prechilled. When you buy them new, they are prechilled and should bloom. After that you can treat them as annuals, or lift them and store them in a cool place like the refrigerator. Most daffodils will grow in zone 9, however, and return every year. Iris rhizomes can be planted in late summer and bloom the following spring and return year after year. Summer bulbs such as true lilies, canna, elephant ears, calla, dahlias, gladiolas, and caladium should return. These articles should help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/iris/what-is-a-bearded-iris.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/bulbs-for-hot-climates.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/daylily/growing-daylilies.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/storing-bulbs-in-south.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/daffodil/daffodil-planting-care-tips-how-to-plant-daffodils-in-your-garden.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/dahlia/tips-dahlia-planting.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/dahlia/how-to-deadhead-dahlias

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/lily/how-to-grow-lilies.htm

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=57332