Now’s the time to have visions of bulbs in your head.

Can you see them dancing around in the spring breezes, blanketing the earth in shades of crimson, black, fuchsia, yellow, pink and white?

Bulbs are the first and most consistent reminder that spring has, indeed, sprung. They cost almost nothing, and they come in a rainbow of colors – so much so that you probably could match them with paint swaths to coordinate perfectly with your house.

The only stickler with bulbs is that you have to think ahead and get them in the soil now for their springtime performance. I’ve been quite lucky with bulbs; they typically come back for at least a couple of seasons in my garden. But I occasionally run out and buy a few hundred every autumn. It’s an addiction I can’t control, particularly with tulips.

But, as many of us know, gardening can be a real crapshoot, and there’s nothing more annoying than only getting one good season out of bulbs, or realizing one frosty morning that the squirrels and other critters have dug up your daffodils.

However, there are some precautions gardeners can take to ensure a wash of color come spring and many seasons thereafter.

Dallas Bergstrom, a landscape architect and owner of Bergstrom Greenhouse and Nursery, says bulbs signal a new start at the end of a long window.

“The reasons are endless as to why to plant bulbs, but their beauty is key – knowing that three weeks of color isn’t long generally speaking, but the show is fantastic,” Bergstrom says.

So what are the secrets to tiptoeing through a thriving tulip bed?

“I think the soil preparation is paramount to having success with bulbs,” Bergstrom says. “Some bone meal at planting will ensure they get off to a good start. Having bulbs ‘rebloom’ the following season requires allowing the plants to fully die back on their own accord.

“Fertilization with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer will assist the bulb in regaining its size. This process often means that the early spring annual color has to wait for the regeneration process to complete.”

As for dealing with bulb-eating critters, Bergstrom suggests placing wire above the bulbs, which will prevent digging but allow the bulbs to grow through unscathed.

Another element that takes planning is placement. A randomly planted bulb here and there in the garden doesn’t add much drama.

Planting daffodil bulbs now will yield an colorful show come spring. Placing sharp gravel in the bottom of the planting holes will help keep moisture from collecting around the bulb and rotting it - plus it will deter moles and voles.

“Masses of the same thing are what I love,” Bergstrom says. “For instance, orange tulips planted with purple en masse are a great color combination. Waves of red contrasting with yellow are awesome. Too often, people feel the need to plant many types of bulbs together, which while pleasing to some tends to lose impact from a distance. This is not to say that it’s wrong, just simply my opinion.

“Keep in mind that varieties change all the time and improvements happen. Look for bulbs that say ‘early, mid or late’ to extend your spring color.”

I attempt to store some of my tropical bulbs every winter. My success rate is about 50 percent, but that doesn’t seem to stop me from eluding myself that this year those sweet potato vines are going to make it.

Bergstrom has some advice: “Tropical bulbs like dinnerplate dahlias, cannas and colocasia are best allowed to freeze lightly, allowing the foliage to be easily cut back. Then dig the remaining tuber or bulb and store it in an ‘onion sack.’ This will prevent mold. Hang the onion sack in a cool dry place, but keep them from freezing.”

Now that you know how to prepare the soil, plant bulbs, protect them from critters and store them in the winter, check out the calendar on this page to plan your own bulb scheme.