Planting flower bulbs by season

Flower bulbs: colour all year long

Flower bulbs are the easiest way to bring explosions of colour to your garden. Put them in the ground at the right time, wait, and enjoy months of results. The secret lies in timing. Different bulbs need different planting moments. Garden centres stock bags of bulbs from late summer onwards.

With GardenWorld you can preview how plants will look in your actual garden. Combine bulbs with perennials and check the spring effect on screen.

Autumn bulbs: plant October to November

The best-known group goes in during autumn. Tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, snowdrops and alliums are planted between mid-October and late November. They need winter cold to trigger germination.

Tulips go in last, after mid-November. That reduces the risk of tulip fire, a fungal disease that strikes when planted too early in warm soil.

Daffodils go in first, as early as September or October. They root more slowly and need a longer lead time.

Crocuses look best planted in clusters of ten to twenty. Scatter them loosely across the lawn for a natural effect.

Spring bulbs: plant March to May

Summer-flowering bulbs go in after the last frost. Dahlias, gladioli, lilies and begonias are planted from March to May depending on the weather.

Dahlias are the stars of late summer. Plant in May in a sunny, sheltered spot. Set the tuber 10 centimetres deep with the eyes facing up.

Gladioli go in from mid-April. Plant in batches every two weeks for a longer flowering period.

Lilies go in as early as possible in spring. They like cool feet, so mulch the soil around the stems.

Planting depth and spacing

The rule of thumb is simple: plant a bulb at a depth of three times its height. A 5 centimetre tulip bulb goes 15 centimetres deep. Spacing is twice the bulb width. Small bulbs like crocuses sit closer together than large ones like tulips.

Use a bulb planter for quick, neat work. For large quantities, dig a shallow trench, lay the bulbs in and cover them in one go.

Lasagne planting

Want a long flowering season in a small space? Try the lasagne technique. Plant in layers: large bulbs at the bottom (tulips), medium above (daffodils) and small on top (crocuses). They come up one after another, providing weeks of successive bloom.

Bulbs in the lawn

Crocuses and snowdrops naturalise beautifully in grass. Toss a handful and plant them where they land for a random, natural pattern. Don't mow the lawn until the bulb foliage has completely died back, usually late June. The leaves feed the bulb for next year.

Bulbs in pots

On a balcony or terrace, bulbs work brilliantly in containers. Choose a deep pot with good drainage. The lasagne method works even better here than in open ground. Leave the pot outside in autumn in a cool spot. After winter the flowers emerge.

Water potted bulbs regularly but never let them sit in a saucer of water. After flowering you can lift the bulbs and store them dry for reuse.

After-bloom care

Remove spent flowers but leave the foliage. The leaves manufacture food that the bulb stores for next year. Only remove the foliage once it has turned yellow and floppy. That takes about six weeks after flowering.

Feed bulbs after flowering with a potassium-rich fertiliser. This strengthens the bulb for the following season.

Plan your bulb garden at gardenworld.app and look forward to a sea of colour.