Naturalizing Bulbs in the Lawn

Do bulbs planted in a lawn have to be allowed to yellow and die on their own, like bulbs planted in the garden? And if so, will mowing too soon hurt them? Good question. A spring lawn glowing with scilla or dotted with crocus is stunning, but the lingering foliage can be an eye sore. However, if you want your bulbs to thrive, naturalize and bloom for years to come, you need to let them go through their normal cycle and store as much food as possible. That doesn’t mean you have to live with an eye sore. There are a few tips to making the dieback process as painless as possible. Here’s how to plant and care for bulbs in the lawn.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc.