One way to welcome spring is to plant bulbs in the fall. Planting time varies by zone and type of bulb, but the rule of thumb is if ground is not frozen, go for it.

Clear your planting area where it has good drainage and amend with compost. I like to plant for a natural look rather than the soldiers in a row look. Scatter your bulbs randomly and plant them at the correct depth, pointy side up, for the type of bulb you are using.

Cover with soil and apply granular fertilizer, avoid placing fertilizer in planting holes as it might burn the bulb. A 5-10-10 works well as it’s higher in phosphorus and potash than nitrogen, which promotes foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Water well to promote good root development before the ground freezes. Mulch with shredded leaves. Pick up bulbs’ papery skins after planting as the scent will attract wildlife to your bulbs.

Window screens placed over your planted bulbs will deter animals from digging them up. This needs to be removed when the ground freezes. Chicken wire protection over your bed can be left in place with soil covering it. Your bulbs will bloom right through it come spring. Every spring, fertilize when leaves emerge, then again after flowers have faded.

Deciding what to plant depends on the pests you want to feed. Daffodils are one of the best choices as most animals shun them and they also naturalize well. Other favorites of mine are the alliums. After they finish blooming, I cut the dried seed head that when painted is an excellent choice for my natural winter containers. A few other pest resistant bulbs might be camassia, fritillaria and crocus.

Don’t worry if you don’t have an area to plant in your garden beds. Bulbs planted in containers can also brighten up your spring landscape. Choose a container with good drainage as bulbs standing in water will rot. Also take into consideration the size of your container matching the scale of the bulbs they will contain. Using a potting mix, plant your larger bulbs 6 to 8 inches from the surface, smaller ones 5 inches deep. It’s OK to let the bulbs touch each other, but keep them away from touching the container sides.

Remember that most bulbs need a 15-week cold period, so consider the bloom time to determine the correct planting date. Most of the time, you can get away with planting until early December on most bulbs. After planting, water well, then place containers in a sheltered place out of the wind and away from hot sun, with the garage being a good spot. If containers can’t be moved, insulate them. Don’t braid or tie decaying foliage or remove it before it’s yellow. This is when the bulb is storing food from foliage.

Take some time now planting bulbs to usher in a colorful spring. For pictures and ideas for bulbs and planting, go to http://go.osu.edu/bulbs

Baytos is an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Mahoning County.