How and when to plant bulbs for spring

The diverse range of colours that bulbs offer can also be used to create atmospheric moods and ambiences in the garden. They range from exuberant reds, oranges and yellows, to subdued and muted hues of cream, whites and pale blues.

Another reason to grow bulbs is they are easy to grow. They almost look after themselves. Once they are in the ground, many of them can be left to naturalise. They don’t usually require much aftercare once they have flowered. In most cases, leaves and flowers can be left to die back naturally so that all their goodness goes back into their bulbs for next year. What could be easier!

An additional benefit of growing bulbs is they are relatively cheap compared to other plants. In terms of flowers, you get a lot of bang for your buck. A bag of bulbs can cost just a few pounds and yet create a dazzling display in your containers or borders. The cost would be substantially more if these were traditional herbaceous perennials, bedding plants or shrubs.

As a general guide, spring and summer flowering bulbs are planted in autumn, whilst autumn flowering bulbs are planted in spring.

Cassie King, public relations manager for British Garden Centres, says: “Autumn is the perfect time to plant spring bulbs for a colourful lift as winter ends. Plant them while the soil is still moist and warm to give them the best start. From daffodils to tulips, snowdrops and crocus, bulbs planted now will create a fantastic display in any border or container.”

Ali Marshall, head gardener of Torre Abbey Gardens, says she follows a logical chronological pattern when it comes to planting spring bulbs in autumn. “I start with snowdrops in early September as they will be the first to appear in late winter. This is followed by crocus bulbs later in the month and then daffodils and other narcissus in October. I finally plant tulip bulbs in November.”

Peter Freeman is the buyer and product development manager for Sutton Seeds and explains how important the timing of planting bulbs is. “Aim to get your bulbs in the ground or containers about six weeks before the soil starts to freeze. Bulbs actually need a period of time in the cold ground before they flower.”

Bulbs are usually planted to a depth of two or three times the size of their bulb. For example, if a bulb measures 4cm (1.6in) deep, it should be planted between 8cm (3.1in) and 12cm (4.7in) under the surface of the soil or compost.

It’s important to plant bulbs the correct way round too. Although bulbs are roughly round, they will usually have a pointy end, which needs to be facing upwards when planted. There are also usually roots at the base of the bulb and these need to be placed in the bottom of the planting hole.

Freeman adds the following advice regarding how far apart bulbs should be planted.

“Don’t be too concerned about planting your bulbs a certain distance apart, because getting the depth right is more important.”

For a naturalised look in a lawn or meadow you can scatter the bulbs across the area and then plant them where they land.

If you prefer more precision, perhaps for a more formal area, you can use a trowel to create individual holes and plant bulbs directly into them.

Alternatively, you can use a bulb planter, which is pushed into the ground and twisted, removing a section of soil for the bulb to be placed into. This section of soil is then replaced on top. For those people with a bad back or just requiring a bit more comfort, there are long handled versions of bulb planters.

If you have lots of bulbs to plant, you can dig one large hole or trench and place the bulbs into them before covering them back over.

Planting bulbs en-masse can be back breaking. For large areas it is possible to hire bulb planting machines that will save you having to dig any holes.

Different types of bulbs have different planting requirements. Whilst many don’t like it too wet, as some bulbs can be prone to rotting in damp ground, there are exceptions, such as snake’s head fritillaries, which like some moisture. Even some narcissus (daffodils) don’t like it too dry. So always check the planting requirements before sticking bulbs in the ground.

It’s not just the soil you need to consider, though, when planting bulbs. Their sunlight requirements can also vary. Some will prefer full sunlight whilst others like to dwell in the shade. Bulbs such as bluebells, trilliums and epimediums are examples of woodland plants that will struggle if exposed to too much direct sunlight.

Saul Walker is host of the popular gardening podcast Talking Heads. He explains it is important to understand the weather patterns in a garden, as it can influence what you plant where.

“I garden in the southwest of England on a quite exposed site, meaning it can be very windy down here. I therefore tend to avoid tall varieties of daffodils and tulips because they simply get blown over by gusts of wind.

Bulbs are perfect for planting in containers, and because many of them are seasonal, they can be moved in and out of sight easily to ensure they are only on display when looking at their best.

Marshall suggests packing lots of bulbs into a container for maximum effect. “There is nothing worse than looking at a sparsely filled floral display in a container. I like to cram about 12 tulip bulbs into a 30cm (11.8in) wide container.”

“Although these are much closer together than if you were planting directly in the garden, the display in a container is short-lived. So long as you feed them weekly when they’re flowering and look after them, they’ll be fine.”

Marshall adds: “Good drainage is also essential when planting bulbs in containers. Otherwise, they will rot if stuck in a wet, soggy pot. I use a peat-free, general-purpose compost, mixed with horticultural grit to ensure water doesn’t stagnate.”

There are literally hundreds of bulbs to fill your garden with, but we have selected six of the most popular ones.