Back to basics
Growing naturalistic swathes of spring bulbs in your lawn is a quick and easy way to add a boost of cheery colour, while also providing valuable early nectar for pollinating insects. Select a site near the edge of your lawn or under a tree, bearing in mind that the grass must be left uncut until the bulb foliage dies back in May or June. Long grass is great for encouraging wildlife, though. Make sure you choose bulbs that suit your conditions. Crocuses and scillas do well in the open; snowdrops, cyclamen and narcissi are good under trees; and snake’shead fritillaries thrive in moist soil. Camassias, being tall, can overshadow other blooms, so are best kept on their own. Dwarf irises and the smaller species tulips need full sun and good drainage, so are better in gravel. To ensure the bulbs flower for years to come, plant them at the right depth, which is roughly three times the bulb’s height.