There is still plenty of time for planting before winter arrives in the Lawrence area.

Remember last spring when you were admiring the brilliant colors of tulips and daffodils and basking in the fragrance of hyacinths? Fall is the time to add these spring-flowering beauties to the garden, and there is still plenty of time for planting before winter arrives in the Lawrence area.

Bulb planting can be done on a whim, with a little planning, or with carefully planned designs. Bulbs perform best in sunny to partially shaded sites with well-drained soil, but they are generally forgiving for at least one year. For long-term plantings, avoid areas with dense tree roots and heavy soil.

If time is the limiting factor or you prefer a simple approach to gardening, pick up a few varieties of bulbs and work them into the garden where there is space. Try naturalizing daffodils and tulips by scattering the bulbs among other perennials and planting them where they fall. Early-blooming crocus can even be naturalized into the lawn in a similar manner since they are up and blooming in late winter before the grass gets going.

If you want a bigger show or prefer a little more thought to plantings, look at specific areas of the garden where early spring color makes the most impact. Then, consider species, varieties, bloom time, color and height to make it all fit together.

Species and variety will also make a big difference if you are trying to achieve a big color show. Plan ahead. Carefully consider colors, heights, and bloom times and plant blocks of the same species rather than single rows or mixing them in with other perennials.

Types of spring-flowering bulbs

Crocuses are one of the smallest and earliest of the spring bulbs. Flowers are delicate; yellow, white or purple; and the plant grows to about 6 inches high. Crocuses lack the big impact that masses of larger bulbs give, but they are an early promise of spring and warm the souls of many gardeners.

Grape hyacinths are another small early bloomer with tiny purple blossoms that hang from the stem like miniature grapes. The foliage of grape hyacinths stays green through the season instead of fading like most other bulbs, so give them their own space in the garden.

Regular hyacinths are a little taller (up to 12 inches depending on variety) with a larger erect flower stalk covered in fragrant blossoms and typically bloom in midspring. Look for hyacinths in shades of pink, purple, yellow and white, and plant in mass when possible.

Tulips range in size from 6 to 30 inches and may bloom early, midspring or late, depending on the variety. Tulip blossoms may be red, pink, yellow, orange, white, puple, black, speckled, mottled or striped. Hybridization has also produced tulips with blossoms that appear ruffled or feathery. Read the description to know what you are getting and whether they are time sequential or concurrent blooms.

There are also many options with daffodils, with sizes from 6 to 30 inches and a range of bloom times. Flowers are a little less variable, with a pretty standard trumpet-shaped flower in shades of yellow and white. Naturalize with day lilies or plant tall varieties in mass behind shorter tulips for a bold show.

Alliums are the star for the end of the season and are a little less commonly planted than the others. They produce a 3- to 4-foot flower stalk with a softball-sized mass of pink to purple blossoms. Alliums are best tucked in with other tall perennials and bloom in late spring to early summer.

Plant all varieties of bulbs two to three times as deep as the bulb is tall. For example, a 2-inch bulb should be planted with the base about 6 inches deep.

People often complain about bulbs failing to come back in the second or third year after planting despite being described as perennial. The bulbs with the largest and prettiest flowers are indeed less hardy as they have been bred for their blossoms over their durability. Irrigation and poorly drained soils are also to blame in many situations. For long-term plantings, select a site with well-drained soil, avoid supplemental watering through the summer and fertilize as needed in the fall.

To alleviate drainage and improve most soils, additions of compost are the most effective.

— Jennifer Smith is a former horticulture extension agent for K-State Research and Extension and horticulturist for Lawrence Parks and Recreation. She is the host of “The Garden Show.”