Are Hyacinths Perennials?

Soil Preparation

• Give hyacinth a head start with a well-prepared planting hole. Dig the soil deeply, incorporating lots of compost into the soil. Adding bone meal to the bottom of the hole provides phosphorus for strong root growth.

Maintenance

• Maintain soil fertility with semiannual applications of a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 in fall and early spring, just as the leaves appear. After flowering, snip off spent blooms, but allow hyacinth foliage to fade on its own. This allows the leaves to continue taking in sunlight, strengthening the bulb for the next season.

Tips

• Hyacinth is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 through 7, but mulching will extend its range to zone 4. Hyacinth needs regular water during its growing season, but it can rot if overwatered during summer dormancy.