Spring Flowering Bulbs

Spring Flowering Bulbs: Plant Now for a Garden Full of Colour

It may still feel like summer, but now is the perfect time to start thinking about spring. From September onwards, spring-flowering bulbs begin to appear in garden centres, giving you the chance to plan ahead for a garden filled with colour after the winter months.

Whether you love the cheerful yellow of daffodils, the vibrant colours of tulips or the architectural flowers of alliums, planting bulbs in autumn is one of the easiest ways to create a beautiful display with relatively little effort.

Why plant spring bulbs in autumn?

The months of September to November are generally the perfect time to plant many spring-flowering bulbs.

At this time of year, the soil is still warm enough for bulbs to start developing their roots, while the cooler temperatures encourage them to settle in for winter. Once spring arrives, they’ll already be established and ready to put on their display.

Planting in autumn also gives you the opportunity to think about where you’d like colour to appear next year, rather than waiting until spring when the growing season is already underway.

Which bulbs should you plant?

There are so many varieties to choose from, so you can create a display that suits your garden and your personal style.

Daffodils

A spring favourite for good reason. Daffodils are cheerful, reliable and come in a wonderful range of shapes and sizes. Plant them in borders, containers, lawns or naturalised areas for a splash of sunshine as winter fades.

Tulips

For bold colour and beautiful shapes, tulips are hard to beat. With hundreds of varieties available, you can choose everything from simple single flowers to spectacular fringed, double and parrot tulips.

Try planting different varieties with different flowering times to extend your display.

Alliums

With their distinctive globe-shaped flowers held high above the foliage, alliums add height and structure to a spring or early-summer border. They look particularly effective planted in groups among grasses and perennials.

Crocuses

Small but full of impact, crocuses are among the earliest flowers to appear. Plant them in lawns, borders, containers or beneath trees for an early burst of colour.

Hyacinths

Hyacinths are perfect if fragrance is important to you. Their dense flower spikes produce a wonderful scent and work beautifully in containers, borders and around seating areas.

Where should you plant your bulbs?

Think about how you want your garden to look next spring.

Plant bulbs in groups or drifts rather than scattering individual bulbs throughout a large area. Groups of the same variety tend to create a much stronger visual impact.

Bulbs can be planted in:

• Flower borders
• Containers and pots
• Lawns and grass
• Under deciduous trees
• Around shrubs and perennials
• Along paths and entrances

You can also use containers to create seasonal displays, particularly if you have limited garden space.

How deep should you plant bulbs?

A useful general rule is to plant bulbs at around two to three times their own depth, although this can vary depending on the variety.

Always check the planting instructions on the packet for the particular bulbs you’ve chosen.

Make sure the soil is well drained, as bulbs generally don’t like sitting in wet conditions. If you’re planting in containers, use good-quality compost and make sure the pot has adequate drainage holes.