Springtime is synonymous with daffodils, tulips, bluebells and crocus. So brighten up your garden by planting a selection of bulbs this autumn for a splash of glorious blooms early next year
If your garden is in need of riotous colour, then now is the time to start planting bulbs that will bloom in spring. These versatile plants look fabulous in large containers dotted around patios, grouped together for a flourish of flowers in borders, or scattered in higgledy-piggledy drifts in lawns and under trees to give a wild effect. Here are some top tips to help you get the most from your bulbs.
BRIGHTEN UP BORDERS
Bulbs work best when planted in groups in borders. Follow the instructions on the packet for the correct planting depth and the distance that should be left between each bulb. You'll find it easier to dig a large hole in which to plant several bulbs, rather than planting each one individually. Most require free-draining soil, so you may need to add sand or grit to the soil if it's heavy clay, for example. Once they have finished flowering, the dead heads should be removed to prevent the plant wasting energy on seeding. Leave the foliage for a further six weeks, as this provides food reserves for the bulbs. To avoid the unsightliness of this yellowing foliage, it's a good idea to plant bulbs in a mixed border, surrounded by plants that will be in leaf or flower at this time. Alternatively, they can be carefully removed from the border and planted elsewhere temporarily for the summer. After a number of years, some bulbs may fail to flower, despite coming up year after year. This is a problem with daffodils particularly, and is due to overcrowding when the bulbs split into numerous smaller ones. If this happens, simply dig up the clump in late summer, separate the bulbs and replant elsewhere.
GO WILD IN THE GARDEN
To imitate the effect of bulbs that grow wild in the countryside, many varieties can be planted in grass to form natural drifts. This is especially useful in areas under trees or on grassy banks where the grass grows less vigorously or is tricky to mow regularly. Narcissus, crocus, snakeshead fritillaria, anemone, snowdrops and grape hyacinths are ideal for planting in this way. Bulbs planted in grass look best when they are spaced randomly in bold, single colours. With smaller bulbs such as crocus, you can save time by rolling back a piece of turf and planting several bulbs at once. After flowering, the grass should be left uncut for at least six weeks to ensure that the bulbs build up enough energy from their leaves to flower the following year.
WELL CONTAINED
You can grow most types of bulbs in pots. Use a container that's at least 25cm (10") deep and has large draining holes. Place small stones or gravel in the base of the pot to allow drainage, and add a layer of compost to the depth indicated on the bulb packet instructions. Arrange the bulbs about 2.5cm (1") apart on the surface, then top up the container with more compost to within 2.5cm (1") of the rim. To extend the flowering period, you can grow bulbs in layers in containers; for example, put crocus above narcissus, or include other plants, such as polyanthus, ivy and small conifers.
This article was first published on Waitrose.com in September 1999.