Plant Now, Thank Yourself In Spring
Planting spring-flowering bulbs is one of autumn’s easiest and most rewarding gardening jobs. YouGarden TV presenter Shaun Ryan shares his straightforward advice on planting depth, drainage, bulb combinations, containers and naturalising, so you can enjoy waves of colour from winter right through to early summer.
“Hello again…
This month I wanted to talk about one of my favourite autumn gardening jobs: planting spring-flowering bulbs. It’s one of the easiest ways to guarantee a garden full of colour next year – and, with a few simple rules, it’s very difficult to go wrong.
Get The Basics Right
The first rule is wonderfully simple: plant bulbs the right way up. In most cases, the pointed end faces upwards and the flatter, root end goes down. If you genuinely can’t tell, don’t panic – plant the bulb on its side and it will usually find its own way.
Good drainage is just as important. Bulbs hate sitting in cold, waterlogged compost or soil and can simply rot away. Most YouGarden pots already have good drainage holes, but if you’re using your own containers, make sure excess water can escape freely.
Rather than relying on a thick layer of grit in the bottom, make sure the drainage holes are clear and use a free-draining compost; on heavy soil, a little horticultural grit mixed into the planting area can also help.
Plant For Months Of Colour
I love planting a mixture of bulbs so that one display hands over to the next.
Snowdrops can get the show started from January, followed by crocuses in February. March is when narcissi really begin to fill the garden with beautiful yellows, oranges and whites. Tulips usually take centre stage in my garden in April, while muscari – the lovely little grape hyacinths – are brilliant for spreading and naturalising. Then the alliums carry the display on into May and, depending on variety, even early summer.
Try A Bulb Lasagne
One of the most popular ways to get maximum impact from a pot is ‘lasagne’ bulb planting. This means planting several types of bulbs in layers, choosing varieties that flower at different times.
Put the largest bulbs deepest, cover with compost, add another layer, and finish with the smallest bulbs nearer the surface.
The shoots happily grow around one another, giving you wave after wave of flowers from the same container.
A useful general rule for planting depth is around two to three times the height of the bulb, although it’s always worth checking the packet because some bulbs have particular preferences.
A bulb about 2cm tall, for example, would commonly be planted roughly 4-6cm deep.
Don’t Be Afraid To Pack A Pot
You’ll find recommended spacing on the bulb packets, and that’s the best guide for borders.
In pots, though, I tend to plant more generously for a spectacular display. I position bulbs quite closely without having them touching. It’s amazing how many you can fit into a good-sized container, and that extra planting gives you a much fuller spring show.
Some Of My Favourites
There are some gorgeous bulb combinations around this season. I particularly love purple-and-white mixes: they’re incredibly tasteful and work beautifully in pots.
Look out for fringed tulips, with their finely cut petal edges, as well as sumptuous double tulips. Some doubles have so many petals they look almost like peonies.
Shaun’s Quick Bulb Rule! Pointed end up, good drainage, plant at the right depth – and never cut off healthy green foliage after flowering.
Miniature daffodils are another favourite, particularly ‘Tête-à-Tête’. Last year I planted hundreds in the pub garden I look after, alongside miniature tulips. The timing worked brilliantly: just as the daffodils were beginning to fade, the tulips took over, giving us a spectacular display for weeks.
The Secret To Getting Bulbs Back Next Year
Many spring bulbs will naturalise and return year after year if you treat them properly after flowering.
Deadhead spent flowers where appropriate, particularly tulips and daffodils, but leave the foliage alone.
Let the leaves yellow and die back naturally because they’re still photosynthesising and sending energy back into the bulb for next year’s flowers.
It can be tempting to cut untidy leaves off or tie them into neat knots, but resist! Removing healthy green foliage too early can weaken the bulb and reduce flowering the following spring.
With naturalising bulbs such as snowdrops, simply allowing the foliage to disappear naturally is the easiest approach.
Forgotten A Packet? Plant It!
Every year I seem to discover a packet or two of bulbs that I haven’t got round to planting. If that happens to you, don’t throw them away. Plant them!
I’ve planted forgotten bulbs as late as January and still had a lovely display. They may flower a little later or on slightly shorter stems, but bulbs are remarkably determined.
If you can’t plant newly bought bulbs immediately, keep them somewhere cool, dry and well ventilated, away from heat and direct sunlight, and check them occasionally.
Generally, the sooner they’re in the ground during their normal planting window, the better. Tulips are often deliberately planted a little later in autumn, once the soil has cooled.
A Little Effort Now, A Lot Of Colour Later
So good luck with your bulb planting this autumn. It really doesn’t take much time, but the reward is enormous.
A few hours spent planting now can give you months of colour from the depths of winter right through spring and into early summer.
And there is something particularly satisfying about spotting that very first green shoot pushing through the soil and knowing that spring is on its way.”
