Planting bulbs in autumn means they’ll flower every spring for many years to come.
Plant spring flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, crocus and species tulips into areas of your lawn or under trees and shrubs where they can naturalise and make a lovely permanent seasonal spring feature.
Create the natural look by scattering bulbs randomly on the ground and plant where they land. Make sure they are planted in a hole with a depth that measures two to three times the bulb’s height.
Lift turf if needed, plant the bulbs then press the turf back. By planting the bulbs at the correct depth, it enables them to flower reliably year after years.
Many of the most loved spring-flowering bulb varieties are best planted from September to October, when the soil is still warm and workable.
When planting tulips, however, you should wait until late October or November. This is because they are prone to the disease tulip fire, which can distort the leaves and give the impression they have been scorched by fire. The colder, later weather is more likely to destroy any disease lurking in the soil.
As soon as bulbs become available in store or online, it’s a good time to buy so you can ensure you get the best selection. Select your spring bulbs to suit your theme and style and be aware of the correct planting time (see above).
To extend the flowering season, pick varieties carefully based on their flowering time – this information can easily be found on the bulb packets. This way, your bulbs can flower in succession from late winter all the way into summer.
If you are planning on planting bulbs in a big pot, or in a decent width bed or border, you may want to select bulbs of different eventual flowering heights. It is best visually to plant taller varieties in the middle of the pot, or towards the back of the border and shorter ones towards the edge of the pot or front of the border.
Author: Jonny
Author of Gardening Life!