planting tulips and covering ugly leaves

[Stacyrxx]

Hello.
I am a bit new to gardening. I have ordered some tulip and daffodil bulbs and I plan to plant them this fall. Any suggestions on the best way to plant them? I have read up on it some and I think I have a pretty good idea about planting the bulbs. My main question is what types of plants to plant near the tulips to cover the ugly tulip leaves after the spring bloom is over. I live in Nebraska. I'm not sure if I should do annuals or perennials around the bulbs. Any suggestions would be appreciated. :D
I'm looking for suggestions on specific plant types. And I do plan on leaving the bulbs in the groud year after year, if that makes a difference Thanks!

[Newt]

Hi Stacy,
Since you say you are a bit new to gardening, the first thing I always recommend is to pay attention to the soil before you plant. Healthy soil will give you stronger and healthier plants. If you are working with bulbs, enrich the soil with compost and rock phosphate before you plant. You won't get another chance to mix it in with bulbs though you can topdress later. Best to do it when planting. You may already know that part.

Here are some of my favorites that have 'good garden manners' and won't spread all over the place and be a maintenance problem later.

I do find that some of my daffs and tulips are planted where it's sunny in the spring but shady later when the trees leaf out and the sun is higher in the sky, so I have some here for shade or part shade.

Part Sun - 4 to 6 hours:
Hemerocallis - daylily. There are some that rebloom and some that everbloom to give you longer seasons of interest. One of my favorites is Hemerocallis 'Big Time Happy'. It's a nice yellow and often blooms the first year. Light fragrance is a bonus. You can do a search at www.google.com with terms like:
hemerocallis + everbloom
hemerocallis + rebloom

Hardy geraniums - my favorite for a long bloom time is Geranium 'Rozanne'. Beautiful blue color but give it some room to spread it's arms.
Rozanne:
Flowers
http://www.overthegardengate.net/garden/archives/template.asp?linkid=1758&linkcat=Hardy+Geraniums
Plant
http://www.overthegardengate.net/garden/archives/template.asp?linkid=1911&linkcat=Hardy+Geraniums
This site lists many.
http://www.shared-visions.com/explore/gardens/geranidx.htm

Heuchera - Coral bells is native and lots with pretty leaves. My favorite for purple leaves is Heuchera 'Plum Pudding'. Will be darker with more shade.
http://www.contrarymarysplants.com/plant_images/heuchera_plum_pudding.jpg
If you scroll to the bottom of the page here, there are lots more to tempt you! ;)
http://www.terranovanurseries.com/pages/plantsH2.html

Full Sun - 6 hours or more:
Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'
http://www.sunnyborder.com/veronicasbb.htm

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' is one of my favorite sedums. Starts out as a nice round ball and gets green flower heads that turn pink in summer and rust by fall.
Early summer
http://www.gardenpursuits.com/perennials/sedum/autumnjoy2000e.html
Mid summer
http://research.sun.com/people/nicoley/PixGarden/SedumAutumnJoy.gif
Fall
http://www.millernursery.com/image/sedumAutumnJoyS.jpg

Platycodon - Balloon flower - purple or white flowers
White flowers
http://members.cox.net/leaonarddjohnson/images/Balloon%20Flower%20Platycodon%20(1).jpg
Purple flowers
http://www.math.umn.edu/~white/personal/images/Garden/platycodin.jpg

Alchemilla Mollis - Lady’s Mantle - there's a dwarf form and looks great with dark foilaged plants or with a yellow daylily or dark flowered plant. The leaves hold water after a rain and look like they are decorated with jewels.
http://www.boga.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/html/Alchemilla_mollis_Foto.html
Plant not in bloom
http://hflp.sdstate.edu/ho311/outdoor_images/Alchemilla%20mollis.JPG
Plant in bloom
http://www.hayloftplants.co.uk/alchemilla.mollis.jpg


For shady spots of 2 hours or less of sun in summer where there is sun in spring and shade in summer think about:
Hosta - so very many to choose from here
Ferns - lots to choose from as well
Tiarella - Foam flower and a native

Bulbs will also grow through groundcovers.

Hope this helps,
Newt