How the Charles River Conservancy Speed-Plants Daffodils

Guest Post by Logan Walsh for the Charles River Conservancy

You’re standing along the Charles River and before you are 1,000 daffodil bulbs. They are held in yellow mesh bags lying in plastic crates stacked four high. Behind, the morning sun glints off ripples and wavelets on the Charles River. A lone rower glides by in his sleek scull. It is 8:45 a.m. and in 15 minutes 30 volunteers are going to descend upon the Charles River Parklands. They’ll be eager to work for the next 4 hours – after all, these are mostly office-bound adults and digging in the Charles River Parklands is a unique opportunity to get dirty. But how, you wonder, will you get 30 untrained volunteers to plant 1,000 daffodil bulbs – in no less than 4 hours?

For the past month this has been a reccurring question for me, the Volunteer Coordinator for the Charles River Conservancy, as I’ve endeavored to plant, with the help of a few hundred volunteers, 10,000 daffodil bulbs generously donated by Mahoney’s Garden Center to the Charles River Conservancy. Last year we planted 10,000 bulbs along the banks of the Charles River in celebration of our 10^th anniversary. This year we’re looking for repeat success in our 2^nd Annual Bulb Planting Campaign. The technique we use can be implemented by anyone, from the home gardener to the landscape contractor.

When planting along the Charles River we ensure bulbs are planted in an area where mowing machines will not cut. The ingenuity of perennial bulbs lies in their ability to store harvested energy for the following year’s blossom but to do so necessitates the flower’s green leaves remain exposed to sunlight after the flower dies off. Planting in beds, or where mowers cannot reach, ensures the bulb will collect sunlight for next year’s flowers.

To achieve a full look – rather than lone daffodils standing apart – we dig trenches 2 feet wide and 3-10 feet long. The depth for each trench depends on the bulb being planted but averages 6-8 inches deep (bulbs should be planted at a depth thrice their height). A short trench, when filled with daffodil bulbs set 2-3 inches apart, can hold 20 bulbs, while longer trenches accommodate 100+ bulbs.

We mix daffodil varieties to create a dynamic and exciting daffodil presentation: Flower Record, Dutch Master, Ice Follies, and Fortissimo are varieties we plant. When working with volunteers I pre-mix the bulb varieties in separate containers. Each trench will then be planted with varying varieties in random order. The eclectic display always pleases come April.

Once the bulbs are placed in the trench and given a snug twist (pointy ends up, roots down – you’d be surprised how many bulbs go in upside down or sideways!) the tendency is to quickly shovel dirt back into the trench. The force of the soil may cause the bulbs to topple sideways – impeding their growth. Instead, we gently cover the bulbs until only their tips peek out. Now the bulbs are secure in the soil. With increased vigor we can then shovel and rake in the remaining soil.

(Hint: Lay a plastic tarp parallel to your trench. Place unearthed soil on the tarp. When it comes time to fill in the trench simply rake soil off the tarp – clean up is a cinch!)

Depending on the richness of soil, we may add a layer of compost to the trench. This will aid the bulb in collecting nutrients for successive growth. Daffodils also don’t like excessive water or overly moist soil, so we plant in a well-drained area.

Daffodils are beautiful, hardy, and come back year after year. With the right techniques, anyone can plant 10,000 daffodil bulbs!

Be sure to visit the Charles River this April to see the daffodil flower display.

Logan Walsh is the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for the Charles River Conservancy. The Charles River Conservancy works to make the Charles River Parklands more active, attractive, and accessible for all by advocating for land use and mobilizing 3,000 volunteers annually to beautify the Parklands. You may contact Logan at: lcw [at] thecharles [dot] org or visit the Charles River Conservancy website.