Naturalizing Bulbs in the Lawn

Each spring, when I see old lawns glazed blue with scilla, I briefly think maybe I'll give that a try next fall. Then I remember the year I crawled around the lawn planting dozens of crocus bulbs that somehow disappeared after their second year. Maybe they were eaten or maybe I just mowed them down too early.

Do bulbs planted in a lawn have to be allowed to yellow and die on their own, like bulbs planted in the garden? 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