What Bulbs Would Be Popping Up Early Fall?

Question

We are in a new home and the previous residents planted bulbs. I am curious what is popping up now. I can't figure out what they could be.

They look sort of like tulip leaves only shorter and are dark green.

Do you have a list of bulbs that would be showing their leaves in the early fall?

I hear ya about the bulbs being too close to the surface. Its like a mound of bulbs out there with hardly any dirt.

I am afraid I have inherited a bit of a mess. I will get that mulch. I think they are going to need it.

Answer 1

There are lots of bulbs that will send up foliage in the fall, but wait until spring to bloom. I've never seen a tulip do that, but it's always a possibility. There are some alliums that have tulip-like leaves. I don't know how long you've been in your house, but there's the possibility that the previous home owners gave some bulbs a cold treatment in the refrigerator, and then planted them outside so they bloomed out of their normal cycle.

Answer 2

All bulbs will pop up in early fall if the weather is unseasonal for your area. For example: if instead of having cold wet weather, it is warm and wet, the leaves begin to shoot up just like in the spring. Just cover all the bulbs with mulch (like leaves) so that when the seasonal weather returns, only the leaves are frozen off and the bulbs are not damaged. The bulbs also may be planted to close to the surface.

Answer 3

Some bulbs, like grape hyacinths, put up foliage in the fall. Sometimes daffodils will do this as well. It doesn't hurt them at all in our climate (KY).

Answer 4

I know only one and its called Phlox. It comes in a few varieties.