Tips for using Bulbs in Planting Schemes

Bulbs can be highly effective in a range of different planting schemes, spanning garden borders, containers, the lawn, areas of tall grass, formal planting schemes, naturalised meadow-like plantings and even the tricky shaded areas under the canopies of trees.

Here are our top 6 things to think about when using bulbs in your planting schemes:

1) Grow bulbs in clusters or drifts of the same or contrasting colours for greater visual impact. For a natural appearance, perhaps in a lawn, this can be achieved by scattering bulbs and planting whenever they land, using a bulb dibber or trowel.

2) Take flowering time into consideration – it often works well to plant a combination of early, mid and late flowering bulbs to extent the period of colour and interest. So as your early bloomers are starting to fade, other flowers are just coming into their prime.

3) Combining bulbs with companion plants is another way to keep up the display and interest as your bulbs start to die back. Choose companion plants with similar growing condition preferences – normally fully sun and a well drained soil. Perennials that are short when bulbs are in bloom work well so as not to block the view and by choosing perennials that don’t need to be lifted and divided often, you’ll avoid having the disrupt the bulbs every few years. For formal gardens, daffodils combine well with Buxus topiary or low hedging.

4) Layer bulb heights with the shortest growers at the front and the tallest growers at the back when planting multiple varieties that bloom at the same time. The principle is exactly the same as growing taller shrubs at the back of a border or shrubbery and the lower growing varieties at the front, allowing the full display to be appreciated to best effect.

5) Consider growing bulbs in containers. This will allow you to bring them into view in the most popular parts of the garden, or near doorways and entrances, when they’re at their prime, then move them out of the way when the foliage starts to wilt and when dormant. Bulbs can be grown closer together in containers that they would in the ground.

6) Bulbs are fabulous for providing a vibrant display of bright colours. But do consider how the flower colours you grow will blend in with their surroundings to avoid clashing colours and/or a mismatch in designs.