Gardening
Planting Spring Bulbs
With the way 2020 has gone maybe it’s best we all look towards the future! Gardeners are used to it, always planning ahead for the next season. Right now, mid-September, it’s time to plan for spring colour and there is such an array of bulbs to choose from, you really will have something lovely to look forward to, whatever your tastes.
Spring bulbs can be planted directly into the ground or into containers, so if you only have a small garden or just a porch or window box, you can still enjoy a blast of colour in spring 2021.
How to Plant Spring Bulbs:
- September to October is the ideal time to plant spring bulbs, Tulips can be planted into November.
- Prepare the soil before planting, remove any weeds or stones and mix in some compost or bone meal to promote healthy growth.
- Bulbs are best planted in a sunny location with free-draining soil, avoid areas where water collects or lodges – bulbs do not like wet feet!
- As a general rule, bulbs should be planted 2-3 times the depth of the bulb. For example, for a bulb measuring 5cm (2in) high, dig a hole 10-15cm (4-6in) deep.
- Plant the bulb with the pointed end facing upwards, if you cannot identify a point then judge where roots shoot from or place the bulb on its side and it will find its way.
- Backfill the hole and lightly compress the soil, a gentle watering may be needed depending on weather conditions.
Top Tips:
- Bulbs will give you the biggest impact when planted in groups or clusters, so avoid planting in singles or straight rows. Simply scattering them and planting them where they land is a good approach.
- Layering perennial bulbs can make the best use of space and double the colour, so plant smaller perennial species such as crocus over bigger bulbs like daffodils, particularly useful for container/pot planting. Double the colour in half the space.
- Mark the position of your planted bulbs for reference to help you avoid planting or sowing something else in the same spot jogo do aviator.
- After your bulbs have finished flowering, allow the plant foliage to die back naturally and resist the urge to cut back the plants while still green. This allows the bulb to build food reserves for next year.
- Spring bulbs are some of the best to use for naturalising, which is the term given to informal looking drifts of bulbs. Snowdrops or crocuses are ideal for planting in drifts under deciduous trees for that beautiful English country garden look.
A couple of my favourite spring bulbs…
Allium Graceful Beauty Narcissi Jetfire Daffodil
Check out some added video tips here
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