Light up with bulbs
NOW IS THE TIME TO PLANT BULBS FOR A LOVELY CARPET OF COLOUR DURING SPRING
AS summer draws to an end, it’s a busy time for gardeners. One of the principal jobs at this time of year is getting spring bulbs planted in the ground to make sure we have lots of gorgeous flowers to greet us early next year.
In the wild, bulbs are the plants that couldn’t compete with the big boys like trees and shrubs. But these clever plants found ways to take advantage of what was available to them and adapted to survive. Hiding underground they create a store of food and lie dormant until something triggers them to awaken. In the forest setting this is spring sunshine.
As the soil begins to heat up, spring-flowering bulbs take advantage of that short period before the tree canopy of leaves emerge to cast them into darkness again.
The beauty of bulbs is that they appear as if from nowhere and disappear just as mysteriously. Every year it’s a wonderful surprise when they show up.
In general, you should plant bulbs to a depth three times their own height – so that above the bulb there would be room for two more bulbs standing on top of it.
There is a right way up too – think of an onion with a stem on top and roots at the bottom. That said, even if they are planted upside down, bulbs will find their way to the light!
Maintenance is simple – dig up and divide in autumn if clumps have expanded and are getting congested. Some bulbs like snowdrops can be moved after flowering when the leaves die down. Don’t be tempted to tie dying foliage in knots to tidy them up or cut them back. The leaves may be unsightly but they are still producing food to build up the bulb for the following year.
For beginners I always recommend daffodils. Whether wandering lonely as a cloud or surrounded by your pals, a host of daffodils never fails to delight and bring a smile. And what a range there is too.
One of my favourites is a white one called Thalia, a natural looking daff with a small trumpet and lovely scent. A very popular dwarf narcissus is Tete a Tete, which has a lovely yellow flower and is perfect in pots on the windowsill. Get a bulb catalogue and have fun choosing your favourites – yellow, pink, dual tones, double headed, paper whites and more.
I love seeing the gentle white wood anemone appear on the woodland floors. But for my garden I choose the less subtle but oh-so-cheerful anemone blanda which has bright blue daisy flowers and finely cut foliage. I recommend soaking the bulbs before planting and once they establish in your soil they will naturalise easily and form these joyful carpets. They are also available in pretty shades of pink and white. The range of crocuses is vast – traditionally either purple or yellow but also striped, pink, orange and white. Enjoy in small clumps or pot in plants close to the house. They are also happy in grassland – in fact, they enjoy a variety of settings so there may just be a crocus for every spot!