Caring for Oriental Poppies

• Plant Oriental poppies in the spring. Before you plant, loosen the soil 12 to 15 inches deep and mix compost in the top 2 to 4 inches of soil. The poppies will bloom in the late spring or summer, then go dormant. You will only need to water them during the summer if there are periods of drought. You might need to stake the flowers when they get tall to keep them from falling over.
  
  Once the soil has frozen for the winter, apply a 4- to 6-inch layer of mulch to protect the poppies.
  In the spring, remove the winter mulch, apply a thin layer of compost to the soil, then add a 2-inch layer of mulch. This will help the poppies hold in the moisture they need and will protect them from weeds. Oriental poppies will do very well with this simple care, except in regions with very hot summers, where they are not suited for the climate. Enjoy!