Tips from a GALANTHOPHILE

POSITION SNOWDROPS WHERE YOU CAN ADMIRE THEM WITH THE SUN AT YOUR BACK, AS LOW WINTER SUNLIGHT FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION CAN BE BLINDINGLY BRIGHT.

PLANT IN DEEP, WELL-DRAINED SOIL IN SUN OR SEMI-SHADE. ADDING COARSE SAND AROUND EACH BULB WHEN PLANTING WILL DISCOURAGE DISEASE.

ADD A SURFACE DRESSING OF BONEMEAL IN EARLY AUTUMN AND A THIN MULCH OF GARDEN OR MUSHROOM COMPOST IN DECEMBER, TO IMPROVE THE FLOWERS’ APPEARANCE.

LIFT SNOWDROPS EVERY THREE YEARS TO PREVENT THEM ‘GOING BACK’ (FAILING TO FLOWER). IF THEY AREN’T INCREASING NATURALLY, LIFT THEM MORE FREQUENTLY AND GENTLY TEASE CLUMPS APART BEFORE REPLANTING.

LABEL EVERYTHING, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT COLLECTING A CERTAIN TYPE OF PLANT. AT NORTH GREEN, THEY ARE KEPT DISCREET AND UNIFORM WITH BLACK LABELS.