This time every year I recommend people plant spring flowering bulbs for an uplifting and colourful display next spring but it seems as the days cool down and the daylight gets less, so does peoples enthusiasm for outdoor chores. Every autumn I guarantee that next spring, “you’ll be glad you did … ” and every spring I hear someone say, “I wish I had …”
The ‘fields of gold’ that the Really Welsh Company www.reallywelsh.com nurture (left) are an incredible sight in the springtime – Max Boyce and I loved them – and you too can have your own (though slightly smaller!) uplifting bulb display next spring if you make an effort now.
If planting in tubs or troughs then try to layer the bulbs with compost so you can get more blooms and more colour from each container. Dwarf bulbs are also effective in hanging baskets and although need to be planted now, don’t have to be put up until blooming is imminent next year. In beds and borders, bulbs can be used as under planting through a variety of other ground cover plants. A traditional but effective partnership is tulips through a carpet of forget-me-nots.
As many people have created raised beds to grow their own veg why not utilise these areas to grow some spring flowering bulbs to pick for the house. This would be effective for schools too, maybe the school children will be able to pick their own daffodils for St Davids Day next year. The best way to do this is to plant the bulbs in big flower pots and then bury the flower pot in the soil so they are easy to remove once they have flowered and before next years veg is sown. Try a couple of different types and varieties to prolong the flowering period for as long as possible. Choose from the early risers like snowdrops and crocuses, followed by chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow) and Iris reticulata and then choose from numerous varieties of daffodils and tulips. Bluebells and grape hyacinths could also be used but be sure the bulbs stay in the flowerpots to avoid them taking over the veg patch.
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