There is nothing like seeing a splash of colour from flowering bulbs to herald the start of spring. Planting bulbs is one of the fastest and easiest ways of creating a bright array. September is the time to be planting bulbs that will flower between January and May next year, such as daffodils, snowdrops, bluebells, tulips, hyacinths and crocus.
Before buying and planting your bulbs it's a good idea to draw up a planting plan. Choose a mixture of colours and varieties, and plants of different heights and flowering times to create real interest. You could plant tulips in your flowerbed and then plant crocus in the front of them. Alternatively add a clump of bulbs to provide a natural touch under shrubbery or on the lawn. It's always best to group colours and sorts so that one part of your garden is in full bloom, rather than a few bulbs dotted around.
Flowering bulbs are ideal for mixing with other flowering bulbs or bedding plants in containers, or for planting amid other plants that bloom at other times of year.
Choosing the bulb for your garden
|
Type |
Planting Time | Flowering Period | Colour | Height |
| Cyclamen coum | Autumn | Nov – Jan | pink or white | 10cm |
| Snowdrop | Autumn | Jan – Mar | white | 15-30cm |
| Aconite (Eranthis) | Sept – Dec | Jan – Apr | yellow | 10cm |
| Crocus | Sept – Oct | Feb – Mar | purple, yellow, white | 10 – 15cm |
| Iris reticulate | Autumn | Feb – Mar | blue, purple, yellow | 10 – 15cm |
| Daffodils (Narcissus) | Aug-Oct | Feb - May | yellow, peach, white | 15 – 40cm |
| Tulips | Sept – Nov | Feb – May | yellow, red, purple, | 20 – 75cm |
| Pink & white | ||||
| Anemone | Oct – Apr | Mar – May | blue, pink, white | 10 – 20cm |
| Fritillaria imperalis | Autumn | Apr – May | yellow, orange | 150cm |
| Grape Hyacinth | Autumn | Apr – May | blue | 15cm |
| (muscari) |
Planting
- Do not plant when the soil is very dry, waterlogged or frozen
- Plant several bulbs in one large hole or trench. Make sure they aren't touching
- Dig the soil over well before planting - working the soil to a depth which is at least twice the height of the bulb
- In wet soils place a 2.5cm layer of sharp sand or grit at the bottom of the hole
- Plant bulbs twice as deep as the height of the bulb, (check the packet for detailed instructions)
- Large bulbs should be spaced at 12cm intervals, smaller at 10cm.
- Cover the bulbs with loosened soil and then water in. Remember to mark where you have planted bulbs so you do not disturb them in the future
Care
Once planted spring flowering bulbs require very little after care. The bulbs can be left in the ground for subsequent years. If you wish you can feed the plants just as the flowers are going over which will build the bulbs for the next spring.
