How to plant bulbs in lawns

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Tuesday, 24 September 2019 at 2:41 pm

Create a naturalistic effect by planting bulbs like daffodils and fritillaries in your lawn.

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Bulbs look best when they grow naturally – or at least when they look like they do. Spring bulbs look particularly impressive when planted informally in lawns. Many varieties of daffodil and crocus are perfect for growing under turf, and will multiply over the years to produce even bolder displays.

For the greatest impact, use a single variety, planted in large drifts.

In damp areas, try planting snake's head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris), an early flowering bulb that looks stunning when naturalised in grass.

You Will Need

Daffodils
Crocus corms
Bulb planter

Step 1

Scattering crocus corms in the lawn

Rather than planting in straight lines or small groups, throw your bulbs into the air and see where they fall. Then simply plant them where they land.

Step 2

Using a bulb planter to make a hole in a wall

Use the bulb planter to make a hole in the lawn. Push firmly, using the gauge on the side to ensure that it reaches a depth of 5cm.

Step 3

Removing the earth from the bulb planter

Pull the bulb planter out of the lawn and remove the piece of earth that comes up with it. Put this to one side as you will need to replace it after you have planted the bulb.