Bring Your Garden to Life Next Spring
A Simple Guide to Planting Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Autumn is the perfect time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. Although there’s little to see above ground at first, beneath the soil your bulbs are busy settling in and preparing to burst into life when spring arrives.
From cheerful daffodils and delicate snowdrops to colourful tulips, fragrant hyacinths and cheerful crocuses, spring-flowering bulbs are one of the easiest ways to add colour to your garden after the long winter months.
The secret is simple: plant them in the autumn, give them the right conditions, and then let nature do much of the work.
Here’s our guide to getting your bulbs off to the best possible start.
Choose Your Bulbs
There are plenty of spring-flowering bulbs to choose from, so you can create a display that suits your garden
Some of our favourites include:
- Narcissi (Daffodils) – cheerful, reliable and a real sign that spring has arrived.
- Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrops) – delicate flowers that can appear surprisingly early in the year.
- Tulips – available in an enormous range of colours, shapes and sizes, perfect for creating eye-catching displays.
- Alliums – architectural flowerheads that add height and interest to borders.
- Hyacinths – wonderfully fragrant and particularly lovely planted near paths or entrances where their scent can be enjoyed.
- Crocus – small but colourful, providing some of the earliest splashes of spring colour.
Timing And Placement is Everything
As a general rule, aim to get your bulbs into the ground while the soil is still workable and before the hardest winter weather arrives. Planting in autumn gives the bulbs time to develop a strong root system before spring growth begins.
Most bulbs are wonderfully versatile, but choosing the right location will help them thrive.
Look for a spot with well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine. Many spring bulbs will also tolerate partial shade, making them useful for planting beneath deciduous trees and shrubs or in less sunny corners of the garden.
Good drainage is particularly important. Bulbs sitting in waterlogged soil can rot, so if your soil is heavy, improve it with organic matter or consider planting your bulbs in raised beds or containers.
Planting Your Bulbs
1. Prepare the Soil
Clear away weeds and loosen the soil before planting. If the ground is particularly heavy, add some well-rotted organic matter to improve its structure and drainage.
2. Dig to the Right Depth
As a general guide, plant your bulb at around two to three times its own height. Larger bulbs will therefore be planted deeper than smaller ones.
Always check the instructions on your bulb packet too, as the ideal depth can vary between varieties.
3. Get the Direction Right
This is an easy one to remember: pointy end up, roots down.
Place the bulb with the pointed growing tip facing upwards and the flatter root plate facing downwards. If you’re unsure, don’t worry too much – nature is remarkably good at finding its way!
4. Give Them Some Space
Avoid planting bulbs too closely together. Giving each one a little room allows the plants to grow without competing unnecessarily for water and nutrients.
5. Cover and Water
Once planted, cover the bulbs with soil and gently firm the surface. Give them a good watering to settle the soil around the bulbs and encourage root development.
After that, autumn rain will usually do much of the work for you. Just keep an eye on newly planted bulbs during particularly dry spells.
Create a Natural Display
For a really impressive display, try planting bulbs in groups rather than spreading them too thinly across the garden.
You can also combine different varieties to create a succession of colour. Early-flowering crocuses and snowdrops can be followed by tulips, daffodils and alliums, helping to keep your garden looking colourful from the first signs of spring through to the warmer months.
For a more natural look, avoid planting bulbs in perfectly straight lines. Instead, scatter a handful across an area and plant them where they land – a simple way to create a relaxed, informal display.
A Handy Tool for the Job
If you’re planting lots of bulbs, a wooden dibber can make the job much quicker and easier.
A dibber is a simple gardening tool used to create planting holes for seeds, bulbs and small plants. It helps you achieve a consistent depth and makes it easier to space your bulbs evenly. For something a little more robust, the Kent & Stowe Stainless Steel Dibber is a useful addition to any gardener’s toolkit and is particularly handy when planting smaller bulbs.
Bulbs Aren’t Just for Borders
No garden? No problem.
Spring bulbs are very happy growing in containers, making them perfect for patios, balconies, terraces and smaller outdoor spaces.
A terracotta bowl or pot can make a beautiful home for a collection of bulbs. Try combining different varieties and planting at slightly different depths to create a layered display, giving you flowers at different times throughout spring.
Just remember to choose a container with good drainage and use a quality, free-draining compost. Containers can dry out more quickly than garden borders, so keep an eye on them during dry weather.
Grown Right Here in Britain
We’re pleased to stock ready-to-plant bulbs grown in Britain by Taylors Bulbs in Lincolnshire.
Taylors Bulbs is a fourth-generation family business, with their specialist daffodils grown on their farm in Holbeach, Lincolnshire.
We’re delighted to offer their bulbs as part of our autumn range, giving you the opportunity to choose British-grown bulbs for your garden and enjoy a beautiful display when spring arrives.
We’ll have a wide selection of ready-to-plant bulbs available from September, including old favourites such as daffodils, snowdrops, tulips, alliums, hyacinths and crocuses.
Explore our Garden Centre
With over 40 years’ experience of growing and selling plants, a visit to Priory Farm Garden Centre is the perfect choice for any gardener.