Planting bulbs is a fun occupation for gardeners of all ages. By age 2, children are quite able to assist in the simple steps involved. By age 5, they can understand the basics of planning your garden with the help of the tips printed on the back of the box of bulbs. On Long Island, this is the perfect time to plant fall bulbs that will bloom in the spring. As long as you can get the bulb digger into the ground, you can plant them.

1. Take your children with you when you go to pick out your bulbs. Look at the boxes together and talk about which varieties will be ideal for your desired garden.

* Most suppliers will only ship their bulbs to the proper zones at the time they should be planted. If you are buying from a discount store, just check the box to make sure they are hardy for your area. Long Island is in zone 7. (Summer bulbs for southern climates are planted in spring and will have to be dug up and stored in a warm, dark place over the winter.)

* If you have deer in your area, you will want the bulbs that are marked “deer resistant”.

* Do you want bulbs that will come up in very early spring, early spring, mid-spring, late spring, or summer? (I suggest getting a variety of these and layering them.)

* Do you want bulbs that will come back every year and multiply in number? If so, you will want bulbs that are marked “ideal for naturalizing”.

* Where do you want to plant your bulbs? Look for the symbols for planting in full sun, partial shade, or shade. Also look at the flowering height. Tall bulbs will look nice in front of a fence. Short bulbs might look nice in front of larger plants.

* Do you want a color scheme or a variety of colors? Do you want one type of bulb or several?

* If you don’t have one, you might want to pick up a bulb planter for about $4. A shovel will also do the trick.

2. Now take your treasures home and walk around the yard together. Place the boxes where you think you will want to plant them.

3. If you are using a bulb planter, it will have a measuring guide to tell you how deep you are digging. For larger bulbs, the typical bulb planter will not go deep enough and you will have to use a shovel. Using the instructions on the box, dig a hole the recommended depth.

4. If moles are a problem in your area, I recommend sprinkling some cayenne pepper, garlic, or other hot spice as a deterrent, both on the bottom of the hole and on top of the newly planted area.

5. Place the bulb, pointy side up, in the hole. If there is no point, there may be little sprouts; put them face up. A bulb will still come up if placed upside down; it just might take a little longer.

6. In colder climates, the mulch inside the box will serve to help the bulb with over-wintering. Take a little and sprinkle it around the bulb. If you want to layer an early-blooming bulb with a late-blooming bulb, simply place the late-blooming bulb first, then the early-blooming bulb, in the same hole.

7. Now cover the bulb with the dirt. Sprinkle it with a little cayenne pepper.

8. If rain is not expected, water your bulbs.

9. You might want to cut out the picture on the box and mark the location of where you planted the bulbs.

10. Wait for spring.

This also teaches patience! If you wish, you can “force” bulbs, such as paper whites, inside the house over the winter. There are kits widely available in stores, but you can do this without a kit. Look for an article on this in the future.

For a nice beginners’ guide see Old House Gardens