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Beginner question regarding planting bulbs for spring

HeftyHefty Posts: 370

hey so i have a question, i have bulbs for spring - my borders are kinda packed, but can i still plant the bulbs there among the current plants?

i mean, for example, if the current plants will not be there after winter (either dead or dormant) then the bulbs will take their place? and then when the dormant plants wake up the bulbs will have finished flowering etc?

is that right? image thanks in advance

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Bulbs will grow up through other plants without any problem unless there's something like a really densely planted area of evergreens. If you have mainly perennials, it's ideal for putting in spring bulbs. The emerging growth of the perennials will hide the fading foliage of the bulbs. Ideal time for them as the GCs, DIY stores and supermarkets are full of them just now  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • HeftyHefty Posts: 370

    perfecto - just what i wanted to hear image thanks a lot

    while we are here, anyone have any tips regarding bulbs or anything like that?

  • Fishy65Fishy65 Posts: 2,276

    I've just been reading up on this very subject Hefty image Plant daffodil bulbs about 3 times their depth and in natural drifts. Mid-August through to and including October is an ideal time. The roots on the bulbs get a good start and should produce stronger flowers.

    Remember to plant the pointy bit up. I seem to remember planting crocuses along the same lines last year and had them flower nicely. I've just bought a bag of daffodils so know what I'll be doing tomorrow.

  • DorcasDorcas Posts: 159

    If you have room amongst the plants, try planting up your tulips in 'pond plant baskets' and then dig a hole and put the basket in, to just under the soil.  The tulips will push their roots out of the basket holes and flower as usual.  When they have flowered just dig up the basket and leave the whole thing somewhere shady in the garden for the bulbs to die down naturally.  I generally give my bulbs a feed at this time as well.  You now have a new hole ready for planting Summer bedding and next Autumn replace the annuals with the (already planted) basket to start the cycle all over again.  Works every timeimage 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Sorry Hefty  -  I went to bed after I posted! 

    The others have given you good advice though. You can plant very densely in pots to give real impact but remember that when finished, you may need to split them up into smaller amounts or plant out into the  garden. Give them a liquid feed as the foliage dies back and then clear it away when it's all died. Just put the pots somewhere sheltered till the following year if you're keeping them like that.  I like pots of a single variety grouped together but 'the world's your lobster' with bulbs, and 'layering' is a popular way of getting a long display from one pot. Pick a good big one to get the best effect though, and put the latest flowering bulbs in first and the earliest ones at the top, so daffs at the bottom, crocus at the top for example  image

    Plant about three times the depth of the bulb and in borders , try and keep them natural in drifts as Fishy says. Daffs and crocus etc are pretty straightforward, but the more refined, fancy Tulips are a bit more tricky as they need very sharp drainage so many people treat them as annuals instead. The species ones which flower early (around crocus time) and are shorter, are tough. They tend to be in bright colours - yellows, reds and oranges, like the two bog standard kinds in red and yellow. 

    There are so many types of spring bulb, you might want to browse the online specialists, but beware, they can be very addictive! image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • I like bulbs planted densely in more natural areas and so they just grow through long grass.   You can get a lot of interest for a long time if you plant a range of bulbs.  I've got snowdrops followed by crocusses, daffodils and then blue bells all planted in the same area at the edge of the lawn and under and round trees.

    To be fair I've only actually planted the crocusses.  The rest are there naturally.

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  • HeftyHefty Posts: 370

    great thanks for the info and tips!! image v handy!

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