Planting bulbs in autumn is one of the simplest ways to transform your garden the following spring. While much of the garden is beginning to slow down, beneath the soil newly planted bulbs will be quietly establishing themselves, ready to produce a wonderful display of colour when winter comes to an end.
From the first delicate Snowdrops and Crocuses to bold Tulips and impressive Alliums, carefully chosen bulbs can provide months of interest. With a little planning now, you can enjoy flowers from late winter right through to early summer.
Plan for a Succession of Flowers
The secret to a long-lasting spring display is to choose bulbs with different flowering times.
Snowdrops, Winter Aconites and early Crocuses are among the first to appear, bringing welcome colour to the garden when little else is flowering. Daffodils, Narcissi and Hyacinths then take centre stage, followed by Tulips and, later in the season, tall and striking Alliums.
By combining early, mid-season and late-flowering varieties, your garden can continue changing and developing throughout spring rather than producing all its colour at once.
Create Colourful Containers
You don’t need a large garden to enjoy spring-flowering bulbs. Pots and containers are perfect for patios, doorways, balconies and smaller outdoor spaces.
For an impressive display, try planting bulbs in layers. This is sometimes called a bulb lasagne, with larger, later-flowering bulbs planted more deeply and smaller, earlier varieties placed nearer the surface. The result is a container that produces new flowers over several weeks.
Tulips, Daffodils, Crocuses and compact Irises all work beautifully in pots. Finish the container with autumn or winter bedding plants to provide colour while you wait for the bulbs to emerge.
Make an Impact with Tulips
Tulips offer an incredible choice of colours, shapes and heights, making them easy to coordinate with almost any garden style. Choose soft pinks, whites and creams for a calm and elegant display, or combine rich reds, oranges and purples for something brighter and more dramatic.
Planting several bulbs of the same variety together will create a stronger splash of colour than placing individual bulbs around the garden. Tulips also look wonderful grouped in containers, where their flowers can be enjoyed up close.
Simple Bulb-Planting Advice
Choose an area with free-draining soil, as bulbs can rot if they remain too wet. As a general guide, plant each bulb at a depth of approximately two to three times its own height, with the pointed end facing upwards.
Plant bulbs in generous groups for the most eye-catching results and water them after planting if the ground is dry. Once they have flowered, allow the foliage to die back naturally so the bulb can store energy for the following year.
Bring Height to Your Borders
For colour later in spring and into early summer, Alliums are an excellent choice. Their distinctive globe-shaped flower heads rise above surrounding plants, adding height, structure and a touch of drama to borders.
They work particularly well among ornamental grasses and perennial plants, while their dried seed heads can continue adding interest after the flowers have faded. Alliums are also popular with bees and other pollinating insects.
Start Planning Your Spring Garden
A little time spent planting in autumn can bring a wonderful reward after the darker winter months. Whether you’re filling containers, brightening borders or creating a natural carpet of flowers, spring-flowering bulbs offer something for every garden.
Our spring-flowering bulbs have arrived at Brick Kiln Garden Centre, with a wide selection of varieties and colours available. Our experienced team will be happy to help you choose the right bulbs and plan a beautiful display that will bring your garden to life next spring.
