Even an inexperienced gardener can create a breathtakingly beautiful spring garden with bulbs. We've put together a few handy tips to get you started, come spring, you should be well rewarded for all your efforts. 1. Selecting the right bulbs. Plan your spring garden, we hope that our website has plenty to inspire you. Spring-flowering bulbs offer a wide variety of colors, heights and flowering periods. They are ideal for planting between your perennials to give the necessary color while your plants are still dormant. Some varieties are naturalizing, slowly spreading over the years such as crocus, muscari and anemones can be used to color your lawn! Take the flowering periods and height of each variety into account and you can have non stop color right up to summer. Below are some well known types.  |  |  |  | | Allium | Hyacinths | Daffodils | Tullips |
If your not sure what to select, why not choose one of our for a balanced selection. 2. Planting your Bulbs Spring-flowering bulbs are best planted before the end of November in full sun or partial shade. Well drained soil will prevent your bulbs from rotting in damp weather. Prepare the soil well before planting, you can improve drainage by mixing in some sand. Work in some bone meal or any other good organic compost, as this will encourage strong root growth.. Dig a hole large enough for several bulbs, as bulbs are most effective when planted in groups. Plant the bulbs pointed side up, if you can't tell which end is which, don't worry about it. The stem will find it's own way, sooner or later. Bulbs should be planted at about 3 times their height deep. After planting make sure you firm the soil around the bulbs to prevent air pockets and water generously. Note: Some flowerbulbs need cold to develop a flower (Hyacinths, Tulips and Narcissi). If you live in an area where it never freezes during winter, put them in the crisper compartment of your fridge for about 6 weeks to give them their artificial winter, before planting them out.  |  |  | Plant at about 3 times
their height deep | Cover with soil and press to
remove airpockets | Water well after planting
cover with some mulch |
3. Planting in pots If you want to grow your bulbs in containers you should do so by using the ‘Lasagne technique' with this method you can plant 4 layers of different bulbs on top of each other for a long lasting display of color. Start with a layer of tall bulbs such as daffodils, cover with 2 inches of soil, use tulips or iris for the next layer, cover. Next plant a layer of hyacinths, cover and for the final layer you can use crocuses, anemones or muscari, followed by another layer of soil. Finally you can top the planter off with some viola's or primula's for instant color. Water well. The "Lasagna" method  |  |  | | Daffodils at the bottom | Tulips in the middle | Crocus at the top |
4. Protecting your Bulbs In colder area's, a layer of mulch will protect them from frost damage. In warmer climates, a layer of mulch will help to retain an optimal moisture level, avoid mulching over small early flowering bulbs. The mulch can be either shredded bark, compost or straw. If you have problems with rodents or squirrels digging up and eating you precious bulbs, place chicken wire on top of the planted area as protection, luckily most animals won't eat daffodils as they are toxic so you don't need to worry about protecting them. 5. What to do after Flowering. When flower-heads have faded, it is best to remove them but resist the temptation to remove the foliage early. It contains valuable nutrients that will be used for next year's crop of flowers. Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering - longer if possible - before removing them. Except for the naturalizing bulbs, it is best to dig up you bulbs after their foliage has died down. If you don't, some will reappear next year, but with less and smaller flowers. Once you have dug up your bulbs they should be allowed to dry out, before being wrapped in newspaper and stored in a cool, dry, dark place until the following fall.  |  | | From this in Fall | to this in Early Spring |
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