Spring on the balcony: Plant early bloomers in the fall

If you want to ensure a bloom-filled spring on your balcony, plant early bloomers in the fall. As soon as the summer flowers fade, place the flower bulbs in the balcony box.

Daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths are classic early bloomers for the balcony. Once the autumn planting has lost its beauty, it can be removed to make way for the vibrant spring blooms.

Before planting early bloomers in the balcony box, the autumn planting must first be dug up. It’s best to choose a frost-free day for this task. Make sure to remove the roots thoroughly. It’s a good idea to replace the soil so the spring flowers have enough nutrients.

There should be no waterlogging in the balcony box. It’s best to choose a container with drainage holes, which can be covered with broken clay pieces to prevent too much soil from washing out when watering. Alternatively, you can add a drainage layer, such as gravel.

Plant the spring-blooming bulbs in the autumn so they can experience frost in the soil. This cold impulse is necessary for the plants to develop their flowers. Before planting, arrange the bulbs on the fresh soil. There are no limits to your creativity, but be mindful of the appropriate planting distance. Ideally, there should be 10 to 15 centimeters between the plants. However, in a small space like a flower box, this spacing may not always be possible. A popular planting style is called "tuffs," where the same varieties are grouped together. A lively effect can also be achieved by arranging the spring bloomers in a more chaotic mix.

Plant the bulbs in holes that are twice as deep as the length of the bulb. Press the soil down firmly and water it. Leave the balcony box outside during the winter in a sheltered spot, away from rain and wind. On frost-free days, check the moisture and water if necessary.

In the garden and on the balcony, there's always something to do. Moreover, it's easy to forget to prepare for spring in the autumn. But that's no problem. If you want to bring some color into your life with the first signs of spring, you can buy pre-forced spring flowers from specialty stores. These are planted directly as young plants. For this, dig a planting hole that's deep and wide enough to fully accommodate the roots. Make sure that the flowers aren't planted deeper than they were in the pot. Firm the soil and water, and voilà: spring is here! Now, you just need to keep the spring flowers evenly moist.