As the season winds down, Laura from Garden Answer takes on her final bulb planting of the year, sharing practical planting and bulb-care tips along the way. In this project, she plants more than 300 Thalia daffodils alongside a mix of spring bloomers, including Persian Pearl, Snowdrops, and Lilac Wonder—showing how late-season planting can still deliver impressive results.
Laura walks us through her process, emphasizing the importance of proper bulb depth, spacing, and soil preparation. These foundational steps help bulbs establish strong roots before winter, setting the stage for healthy growth and vibrant blooms in spring.
To support early root development, Laura incorporates Espoma Organic Bulb-tone at the time of planting. This organic, slow-release fertilizer is specially formulated for bulbs and helps:
Encourage strong root growth before dormancy
Support bigger, more vibrant spring blooms
Feed gradually over time for long-term plant health
Reduce the risk of burning young roots compared to quick-release fertilizers
By combining proven planting techniques with the right nutrition, this end-of-season bulb planting shows how a little extra care now can make a big difference when spring arrives.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Espoma_1225_GardenAnswer_Bulbs_Thumbnail.png7201280Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2025-12-23 10:38:372025-12-23 11:06:16VIDEO: Planting the Last Bulbs of the Season with Garden Answer
Fall always feels like the quickest season in the garden, and in her final autumn tour at Flock Finger Lakes, Summer Rayne Oakes invites us to slow down and savor what’s left before winter fully settles in. As she walks the property, you’ll see how the gardens she’s been nurturing with Espoma Organic Fertilizers and Potting Soils have grown into layered, living spaces that carry beauty even as the blooms fade and the days grow shorter.
A Farewell Walk Through the Pollinator & Herb Gardens
The tour begins on a crisp morning among the pollinator and herb gardens, where most of the leaves have already dropped, but the seed heads still stand tall. Summer lets them remain for the songbirds, creating a soft, textural landscape that feels both wild and intentional. From there, she moves to a front garden bed, gently tucking in Virginia bluebells beneath a freshly prepared layer of mulch and rich soil, imagining how their spring flowers will weave into the story of next year’s garden.
Soft Light on the Pond, Meadow, and Grasses
In the video, Summer moves down to the pond and meadow, where goldenrods, asters, sedges, and native grasses catch the low autumn light. The seed heads shimmer, the pond sits quietly in the background, and you get the sense that the garden is exhaling after a full season of growth. A visit to the compost pile reminds us that all of this beauty is supported by what’s happening beneath the surface: wood chips, sawdust, clippings, and plant debris slowly transforming into the soil that will feed future plantings.
The Meadow House gardens
At the Meadow House gardens, the mood shifts to one of hopeful beginnings. These beds are still young, yet already filled with perennials, bulbs, and containers that will be tucked away for protection as temperatures drop. You can almost imagine how full and lush it will all look when spring and summer return.
Reflecting on Five Seasons of Growth
Summer reflects on five years of tending this land and how much has changed in that time—tiny trees now casting shade, shrubs filling out, meadows finding their own rhythm. It’s a gentle, grateful goodbye to fall, and a quiet nod toward all that’s still to come.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Fall-Garden-Tour-frame-000001-copy.jpg540960Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2025-12-11 11:51:162026-01-06 13:12:24VIDEO: One Last Autumn Stroll 🍁🍂 with Summer Rayne Oakes
Laura from Garden Answer shows how to plant spring-blooming bulbs in large containers for a big, colorful show next season. She fills eight pots with Menton tulips and Spanish bluebells, feeding them with Espoma Organic Bulb-tone and then topdressing with Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost to refresh the tired soil and support strong, natural growth.
The Planting Plan: A “Bouquet” in Every Pot
Laura creates a layered “bouquet” effect in each container:
Center: Menton tulips
Outer edge: Spanish bluebells
Both bloom late in the season, so the colors overlap beautifully. Spanish bluebells grow about 14–18″ tall, while Menton tulips reach 23–25″, giving each pot a soft, tiered look. Planting in raised containers keeps everything at waist height, which makes bulb planting much easier than digging in the ground.
Step-by-Step: How Laura Plants Her Bulb Containers
1. Prepare the Container
Laura removes soil down to about 6 inches deep. This makes room for the first layer of bulbs and ensures they’re planted at the proper depth.
2. Amend the Soil with an Organic Fertilizer
Before placing any bulbs, she sprinkles Espoma Organic Bulb-tone into the container.
Why it helps:
Provides slow-release, organic nutrition right where roots grow.
Encourages strong root development, which is key for bulbs to overwinter and bloom well.
Gentle, natural formula that’s safe for people, pets, and pollinator-friendly gardens when used as directed.
3. Plant Tulips “Shoulder to Shoulder”
Menton tulip bulbs go in first at 6 inches deep, planted:
Pointy side up, flat side down.
Very close together—“shoulder to shoulder”—rather than spaced as they would be in the ground.
This tight spacing lets her fit about 100 tulip bulbs per pot, creating a dense, show-stopping spring display.
4. Add Spanish Bluebells
She covers the tulips with a couple of inches of soil, then plants the Spanish bluebells in a ring around the outer edge at about 4 inches deep. Bluebell bulbs look a bit different, but the rule still applies: roots down, growth point up.
5. Add compost
Because the potting mix has been used before and is showing roots and wear, Laura doesn’t just add more regular soil. Instead, she topdresses each container with Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost.
Why it helps:
Adds rich organic matter back into tired soil.
Improves soil structure and moisture retention, which bulbs love.
Supplies a gentle nutrient boost from premium ingredients like lobster and kelp meal, helping bulbs grow strong and bloom beautifully.
6. Water Thoroughly
After planting and topdressing, Laura waters each container deeply.
Her key watering tip:
Aim for even moisture across the entire soil surface, not just one side of the pot.
In winter, check containers every 2–3 weeks. The goal is soil that’s slightly moist, never soggy, and never bone dry.
Bulb-Specific Tips for Container Success
Laura’s main bulb care reminders:
Chill time matters:
Tulips and daffodils generally need 12–16 weeks of consistent cold (around 35–45°F).
Hyacinths often need 8–10 weeks; crocus and snowdrops around 6–8 weeks.
Mild climate? Go pre-chilled: If you garden in a warmer region, order pre-chilled bulbs so they arrive ready to plant and still bloom well.
Drainage is essential: Containers must have drainage holes so bulbs don’t sit in water and rot. In very wet climates, you may need to protect pots from constant rainfall; in dry climates, remember to water occasionally.
With the right chill, good drainage, consistent moisture, and organic nutrition from Bulb-tone and Land & Sea Compost, these containers are now set up for a spectacular spring show—naturally.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Espoma_1225_BulbTone_Thumbnail-copy.jpg10801920Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2025-12-09 16:44:432025-12-23 09:58:46VIDEO: How to Plant Spring Bulbs in Containers 🌱🌷 with Garden Answer
Watch as Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes takes us on a tour of her stunning tulip garden at her Meadow House Gardens. Last fall, Summer planted over 4,000 tulip bulbs using Espoma OrganicBulb-tone, and today her garden bursts with color from more than 100 tulip cultivars.
In this video, Summer showcases her favorite tulips, including the elegant ‘Sarah Raven,’ captivating ‘Flaming Flag,’ and dreamy ‘Ume no Murasaki.’ She also demonstrates how she feeds her tulips with Espoma Organic Flower-tone, ensuring healthy, vibrant blooms all season.
Summer’s Tips for Planting and Caring for Tulips:
Plant bulbs in the fall using a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bulb-tone for optimal nutrition.
Water bulbs thoroughly after planting to help establish roots.
Feed tulips after sprouting with a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Flower-tone for lush blooms.
Avoid fertilizer contact with blooms or foliage to prevent burning.
Consider naturalizing tulip varieties that are known to return each spring.
Bonus Tip: In addition to tulips, Summer planted a variety of perennials throughout her garden beds. Summer recommends planting with a high-quality organic starter fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to reduce transplant shock and help promote strong, healthy roots for big, beautiful blooms.
Spring is stirring in the Finger Lakes, and Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes is already deep into her garden chores. In this video, she takes us on an early-season walk through her ever-evolving landscape highlighting emerging bulbs, sharing design plans, and laying the groundwork for a bountiful, sustainable year ahead.
Summer uses organic products for all her gardening projects—including our trusted Tone line of organic fertilizers, premium Potting Mixes, and organic Liquid Fertilizers—to create healthy, thriving spaces across her property. When planting new bulbs like daffodils and tulips, she relies on Espoma Organic Bulb-tone to set them up for success. And whenever she plants something new, Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus is her go-to to support strong root development from day one.
For all her new garden beds, Summer builds nutrient-rich soil from the ground up with Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix, Land & Sea Gourmet Compost, and our premium Potting Mix—ensuring each planting area is full of organic matter, supports microbial life, and has optimum moisture-holding capacity.
From rewilding meadows and restoring forest edges to designing pollinator patches and building a 60-foot sustainable chicken coop, Summer’s garden isn’t just beautiful—it’s intentional. Her approach reflects a great mission: to nourish plants, support biodiversity, and build a healthier planet from the soil up. 🌱
Watch the full garden walk to get inspired for your own spring garden reset!
Planting daffodil bulbs in late fall is the perfect way to prepare for a colorful spring garden. Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide shares his top tips for planting bulbs to set them up for success. A key step is using a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bulb-tone when planting. The fertilizer provides essential nutrients that will be ready and waiting when the soil thaws, helping bulbs quickly establish roots and produce vibrant, healthy blooms in spring.
Don’t miss your window to plant before the ground freezes. With just a little effort now, you’ll enjoy bright, cheerful daffodils when spring arrives!
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Planting-Daff.jpg7201280Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2024-12-17 11:26:562024-12-17 11:27:22VIDEO: How to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Late Fall for Beautiful Spring Flowers 🌼 with Wyse Guide!
Camassia, a native North American bulb, is a stunning spring bloomer that thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3-8. Often underutilized these bulbs are known for their striking blue, lavender, or white flowers.
In this video, Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes shows how to plant Camassia bulbs and shares her top plant care tips. Summer recommends mixing in a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bulb-tone when planting. This practice ensures these bulbs get the nutrients they need to produce big, beautiful blooms.
For those wanting a vibrant pop of color this fall, Summer Rayne Oakes from Flock Finger Lakes shares her approach to planting beautiful fall bulbs like saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) in her garden. Known for its delicate red stigmas that produce the high-value spice saffron, this plant requires careful planning and timing to thrive. Summer Rayne explains her process for selecting ideal planting spots, and preparing nutrient-rich soil using a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bulb-tone.
Summer demonstrates how to plant each corm with a hori-hori knife, ensuring they’re set at the right depth and orientation for optimal growth. With a few helpful tips on moisture control and harvesting, she reveals why these crocuses are a beautiful and practical addition to any garden. Follow her journey to see how these stunning plants will enhance her fall landscape!
Follow along with Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide as he demonstrates how to clean, prep, and plant his recently harvested garlic bulbs. Kaleb plants his garlic in the fall to harvest the following summer. In this video, Kaleb also re-pots some Jade plants using Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix before heading out to his raised bed garden. There, he amends his beds, which are filled with Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix, by adding Espoma Organic Bulb-tone and Espoma Organic Chicken Manure. These provide the essential nutrients his garlic bulbs need to germinate and grow successfully next spring.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/PLant-Garlic-1.jpg7201280Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2024-09-20 14:18:442024-09-20 15:47:09VIDEO: How to plant GARLIC in the FALL ? ? with Wyse Guide!
Join Summer Rayne Oakes from Flock Finger Lakes as she guides you through the process of planting lilies in the garden.
In this tutorial, Summer demonstrates the proper techniques for planting these exquisite flowers and shares invaluable plant care tips to help you ensure your plants thrive.
Summer uses Espoma Organic Bulb-tone to feed her lily bulbs, providing them with the essential nutrients they need to bloom.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Planting-Lilies-in-Garden-IMG_6014-1-scaled.jpeg17072560Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2024-04-23 13:00:002025-06-10 14:13:22VIDEO: How to Plant LILIES in the Garden || Flock Finger Lakes
