Garden design, garden planning, garden layout, planting plants and planting schemes

On the edge – adding glamour

Posted on December 22nd, 2008

Ideally one should remove the bulbs from sales packaging as soon as possible after purchasing, otherwise they will rot especially in sealed plastic bags. Store bulbs in a dry and frost free place until you are ready to plant. Ensure the ground has been prepared in advance, i.e. well dug and free draining. Add some compost and fish, bone & blood fertiliser.

Plant bulbs ‘nose up’ at the depth and spacing to suit variety (check packaging for details). Cover with compost/soil and press down firmly to eliminate any air pockets. Water well and mark. Add some horticultural sand or grit to improve drainage under bulbs and offer some protection against possible slug and snail damage.

Formal displays can be attractive but bulbs are at their very best when planted in random groups or colonies. This is especially true when planted in lawn areas. Simply scatter bulbs, lift a layer of turf with a spade and dig a hole. Plant as outlined earlier, replace turf and water well. For best effect, concentrate the naturalised drift around trees and also in corners of lawns so as to make mowing around the area easier.

Remove dead flower heads to encourage further flowering. Taller plants like Lily, Dahlia and Gladioli will require support with canes. Repeat feeding after flowering to provide nutrients for the production of next year’s crop. Food contained in the foliage, returns to the bulbs after flowering. Do not cut leaves, to tidy simply tie in a bundle and wait until the leaves have gone completely brown before removing.

After a number of years, expect some congestion and overcrowding of bulbs especially with Daffodils and Narcissi. When this happens, simply dig and remove bulbs and divide with spade. During winter top dress area with a layer of bark mulch to protect Nerines, Lilies and Agapanthus from frost. Some bulbs including summer flowering varieties like Begonias should be removed
Before onset of frost. Simply dig up, remove all foliage and clean off soil. Allow to dry for a few days before storing them away in a cool, dry and frost free area.