Planting Autumn Bulbs

After a long cold dark winter, the appearance of the first blooms of spring are like an elixir of rejuvenation, awakening spirits weary from the wintertime chill. From tiny delicate snowdrops and bluebells, to swathes of daffodils and tulips, thick sweeping brush stokes of yellow, red, orange, these are the vanguard, the first flowers ahead of the profusion of glorious blooms that follow from late spring through summer.

Right now, spring may seem like a very long way away, but its during the preceding autumn when you should be planting bulbs if you want a floral spectacular next spring.

In the Garden
Spring flowering bulbs can brighten the most dismal of spots in the garden, though you will need to consider that the light requirements of the plant are correct for the location. Also when planning your planting, think in terms of blocks of colour and sweeps of flowers, this will look spectacular in springtime. Think too about how colours work together, and complement each other. Some basic understanding of colour theory will help you immensely with understanding how to use colour to its best effect.

You will also need to make sure that you know how to plant correctly. An autumn planted bulb needs to be planted deeply, three times the depth of the bulb is a good guide. A tulip for example will need to be planted about 8" or 20cm deep. This ensures that the bulb is safe from hungry rodents, and has a good supply of moisture.

If you have a high clay soil, then add some grit and organic matter such as compost. If the bulb is going to remain put for more than a single season, then it is a good idea to add fertilizer when planting too, or simply use a specially formulated bulb compost such as Miracle-Gro Eco Sense Bulb Booster which has been specially formulated to nourish bulbs and encourage vigorous root growth.

Finally, water well, which will help the bulb to root before it gets too cold, but be careful not to over-water as this will cause rot.

In the Container
Bulbs in containers are extremely versatile, they can be moved around and put in spots for a welcoming splash of colour. How wonderful for example, to come home after a long commute to planters full of glorious purple hyacinths or cheery yellow Narcissus framing the front door , a sight to lift away the stress of a hard day's work. All it takes is autumn planning and preparation. Fill the container with compost, and as for planting in the garden, a special purpose bulb compost is perfect as it contains all the specific nutrients for bulb growth.

Plant the bulbs to the correct depth and make sure they are not touching. Top off with a mulch and finally give the pot a good watering.

Planting suggestions to get you started

If you are confused about which bulbs to plant, here are some suggestions:

Narcissus (Daffodil), Tulipa (Tulips), Muscari (Grape Hyacinth), Hyacinthoides (Bluebell), Galanthus (Snowdrop), Crocus.

Tulipa - Lifting the Spirit of the garden!

Jewel-coloured flowers burst into life in spring. Whether forming stately processions across a border or ornamenting a bed in vivid patches, the presence of tulips in the garden lifts the spirits!

Since their introduction from Turkey 400 years ago, tulips have been one of the most popular and rewarding bulbs for late Spring displays. They are grown for their elegant flowers which are available in nearly every conceivable colour except true blue.

The six-petalled flowers are generally cup or goblet shaped - although some may be rather starry - and mature blooms tend to open so wide in the sun that they are almost flat. Each erect stem normally carries a single flower but some varieties bear two or three flowers per stem. There are usually two or more lance-shaped basal leaves and smaller stem leaves which are often greyish green. The bulbs, which vary greatly in size, have a pointed tip and a brownish skin.

The genus as a whole is very varied, from the tiny mountain species suitable for the rock garden or greenhouse, through to the gaudy modern hybrids that are planted in huge beds in public parks and gardens. Around 100 species of tulip are known, mostly from west and central Asia, and there are thousands of garden hybrids that have been developed over the years.

The small species tulips are best planted in clumps towards the front of a border and they make colourful rock garden residents.

The tulip index is very large so we have decided to document this on a separate post.

The large flowered hybrids can be used for general garden display either in formal beds - planted with forget-me-nots (Myosotis) or wallflowers (Erysimum) - or in clumps planted among herbaceous plants. Tulips can also be grown in containers for display on a patio or terrace.

All require a heavy loam soil that is nevertheless free-draining and a warm, dry summer dormant period to ripen the bulb. It is normal practice to lift the bulbs of the modern hybrids as the leaves fade and store them until replanting in autumn.

If you want tulips left in the ground so that they form large patches the following tulips are the recommended species:
Tulip Saxatalis
Tulip Sprengeri
Tulip Sylvestris

We have just recently planted tulips in a border bed alongside a Camellia, when we have updated photos of this shooting we will post the images here.

A little Tulip Tip!
If you want to keep the bulb for planting next season, pull the Tulip bulb from the ground (after it has flowered, of course!), leaving the leaves on the bulb - place in a plastic container (doesn't need to have a lid), wait for the leaves to die before cutting them off - this will nourish the bulb, ready for next season ;)