setting, plant in squares, rectangles or circles. For a more natural or informal look, use ovals, triangles, kidney shapes or a free-form shape that fits the location. PLANT ANNUAL AND PERENNIAL BULBS Many spring bulbs, including daffodils, Scilla, Chionodoxa, alliums and Muscari, can be considered perennials, as they will return and bloom again every spring. In fact, most of these hardy bulbs will naturalise and multiply over time. Tulips and hyacinths are often treated as annuals because they usually put on their best show the first spring after planting. In the right growing conditions (full sun, well drained soil, hot dry summers), some tulips, such as Darwin hybrids, will re-bloom for several years. To ensure the most dramatic spring display, treat these bulbs as annuals and plant a fresh batch every autumn. SHOP FOR LARGE, HIGH-QUALITY BULBS Size matters when it comes to bulbs! The most reliable way to achieve professional-looking planting schemes is to choose the highest quality, top-size spring bulbs. Not only will you get bigger, better and stronger plants, but the blooms will go above and beyond all your expectations in terms of colour and longevity. Also remember that bulbs are perishable, so it’s important to purchase the freshest bulbs possible and store them in a cool place until planting time. BUY IN BULK Tulips should always be planted en masse: you need to think in hundreds. The tulip is the fanfare that greets the beginning of summer and, as such, should be loud and unashamed. There are so many fabulous tulips that it’s tricky to choose from the scores of different combinations that will work well together. In this case the
To p t ips
1. Don’t just plan t your bulbs in w ithout a plan. Sele favourite varietie ct s from catalogues or online. Before buy, print or cut ou you t the images. Mar k each one with th flowering times, th ei en play around w ith the pictures, m r them to contrast ixing in colour, shape an d scale. 2. Combine tulip s, alliums or daffo dils, making sure they flower at th that e sa opposite effect an me time, or deliberately go for the d put together gr oups after another to gi ve you weeks of pe which flower one rformance. 3. Try a simple co ntrast between tw o colours – purple orange, crimson an and d gold, coral and crea family of colours, similar, but with en m – or select a ough contrast be them (or one of th tween em) to make the group sing.
juxtaposition of deep purple Tulipa ‘Paul Scherer’, vibrant orange (and scented) Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ and the cool, soothing Tulipa ‘Spring Green’ gives just the right touch of restrained glamour. Three kinds are probably enough. CHIRPY ALLIUMS As the tulips begin to fade away, the alliums take over. Here’s three options for different sorts of alliums. Firstly, Allium altissimum, which has to be about the tallest of the lot: its sturdy stems are about 1.5m high and support flower spheres 10cm in diameter. If you have trouble finding a supplier, Allium ‘Gladiator’ is fine as an alternative. Beneath them will be plummy red Allium atropurpureum and Allium nigrum, which is white with a greenish tinge. Alliums die beautifully, which is always an advantage: their flowers fade to skeletal husks dotted with seeds as black and shiny as the eyes of a field mouse.
How to plant your spring bulbs • Position one bulb in each hole, unless the bulbs are small varieties, such as Muscari, crocus or dwarf iris, in which case you can plant a few bulbs in each planting hole. • Cover bulbs with soil and leave over winter. The soil is usually cool and moist enough during autumn to mean that the bulbs don’t require watering in, although if it’s particularly dry you can water them just once to begin with to help get them started. • After flowering, the blooms and foliage should be allowed to die back fully before being removed. This helps the bulbs to gather energy for the next year’s display. • Plant spring-flowering bulbs in autumn from September to late November. • Most spring-flowering bulb varieties will thrive in full sun or partial shade. • Plant in a hole which is twice as deep as the bulb is high. • If the bulb has a pointed side, position with the point facing upwards. Corms like anemones can be planted any way up. www.countrygardener.co.uk
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