Why your bulbs didn't bloom

Q. My bulbs just didn't come up at all? What gives?

A. This kind of disappointment is generally caused by:

• Animals eating the bulbs or young plants (see www.bulb.com -- Spring Bulbs, Pest Prevention Tips),

• By bulb rot caused by planting in wet soggy soil. The Dutch have a saying: "Bulbs don't like wet feet." They will not thrive in soil where water collects or puddles (for example at the base of a hill or slope, under drain pipes, or where heavy clay is abundant). In the future, you'll want to either plant bulbs elsewhere or amend the soggy area with compost, peat, sand or well-rotted manure to improve its drainage.