Planting spring bulbs: tips for a colourful display

The secret to a spectacular spring garden

You know the feeling: you walk through the neighbourhood in February and there's that one garden already bursting with colour. Crocuses, snowdrops, daffodils in every shape and size. Meanwhile your garden still looks bare and grey. The difference? That neighbour spent an hour last autumn planting bulbs.

GardenWorld helps you visualise your garden's potential after seasonal care. Perfect for deciding where to plant which bulbs for the most stunning effect.

When do you plant spring bulbs?

Most spring bulbs go into the ground between September and December. The soil shouldn't be frozen yet, but the bulbs need a cold spell to trigger growth. Plant them too early and they'll start growing before winter. Too late and they won't root properly.

Crocuses, snowdrops and winter aconite can go in as early as September. Tulips prefer to wait until November when it's properly cold. Daffodils sit in between: October is their ideal planting month.

Getting the depth right

The rule of thumb: plant a bulb at a depth of three times its own height. A tulip bulb that's five centimetres tall goes fifteen centimetres deep. That sounds deep, but it protects the bulb from frost and stops squirrels from digging them up.

Clever combinations for extended flowering

The best effect comes from combining bulbs that flower at different times. Start with snowdrops and winter aconite in January, then crocuses in February, daffodils in March and tulips in April. That gives you nearly four months of colour.

Plant them mixed together in the same border, in layers. The deepest bulbs (tulips) go in first, then daffodils, and the smaller bulbs on top. This is called the lasagne method and it works brilliantly, even in a small garden.

Most garden centres and RHS partner shops stock ready-made bulb mixes designed for exactly this purpose. Saves a lot of decision-making.

Where to plant them?

Spring bulbs like a sunny to partially shaded spot. They flower before the trees come into leaf, so a spot under deciduous trees works perfectly. Avoid waterlogged areas: bulbs sitting in wet soil will rot.

In a lawn, crocuses and daffodils look gorgeous. Plant them in irregular drifts by tossing a handful of bulbs onto the grass and planting them where they land. It creates a natural look. Don't mow that section until the bulb foliage has yellowed, usually by late May.

Pots and containers

No garden? No problem. Spring bulbs perform brilliantly in pots too. Use containers with drainage holes and fill them with compost mixed with some grit. Place them outside in a sheltered spot. In severe frost, wrap the pots in bubble wrap for extra protection.

Care after flowering

This is where many gardeners go wrong. Once the flowers have faded, the temptation is to cut away the untidy foliage. Don't. The leaves are busy storing energy in the bulb for next year. Leave them alone for at least six weeks after flowering.

Do cut off the spent flower stems, so the plant doesn't waste energy on seed production. Give a light feed after flowering with a bulb fertiliser.

Naturalising: bulbs that multiply by themselves

Some bulbs naturalise, meaning they come back every year and gradually spread. Crocuses, snowdrops, grape hyacinths and species tulips are champions at this. After a few years, you'll have a stunning carpet of flowers without lifting a finger.

Plant these varieties in large drifts for the best effect. The more bulbs you plant initially, the quicker you'll get impressive results.

Start this autumn

Planting spring bulbs is one of the easiest and most rewarding garden jobs there is. An hour's work in October delivers months of colour. And if you add a few more each year, every spring becomes more beautiful than the last.

Want to see where your bulbs will look their best? Head to GardenWorld and design your ideal spring garden.