PBS Forum

50 years ago I began my new 1/2 acre garden by planting bulbs in the fall.  I knew I'd be planting in the same areas in the spring and didn't want to spear my new bulbs.  I had seen lemon balm growing at my rented house and decided it would be a good idea to plant one above each cluster of bulbs.  

I had no idea how generously that plant self-sows.  Come early spring, it wasn't possible to tell where the bulbs were until they came up.  

I've been pulling out lemon balm ever since, though my son liked it to make smoothies so I never totally eliminated it.

Diane,

I sympathize!  Perhaps a twig or plastic straw would have worked better.

I used to over-plant with grape hyacinths. Their even earlier growth serves as an aide memoire when I go to plant new bulbs in early autumn.