Janette was asked to give a presentation about bulbs to the rest of her workmates at the garden centre where she works. This blog post is based on her presentation notes.

Best Planting Locations

Bulbs can be planted almost anywhere in a garden. Planting ideas include:

Large drifts under trees, particularly deciduous
Amongst flowering annuals
Rock gardens & cottage gardens
Pots to brighten up a dull spot in the garden

How and When to Plant

The best time to plant your flowering bulbs is in Autumn once the soil has cooled. You should prepare the soil by mixing in compost and ensure there is good drainage otherwise the bulbs can rot.

The pointy end of the bulb should be planted facing up, with the exception of ranunculi and anemones.

If you are unsure the best thing to do is plant the bulb on their side and they will right themselves. Nature is amazing.

As a general rule plant the bulbs at a depth twice their own size although deeper is preferable because if they are planted too shallow the bulbs can get too hot during the summer time.

Ensure that the area you have chosen to plant your bulbs receives at least 6 hours full sun (snowflakes and blue bells can handle more shade).

It is always a good idea to add a mulch layer over the top of where you planted your bulbs, and if desired shallow rooted annuals can be grown over the top of them.

Don’t water during the summer as the bulbs are dormant.

Planting In Ground

You can use a bulb planter or dig a hole. It’s best to plant an odd number of bulbs in one spot so the clump looks natural.

Bulb planter - we have found them to be quite a good tool

It is a good idea to mark the area so you know where they are. You can do this simply by poking a stick in the round for example. Bulbs look great planted with antique perennials, hellebores and heucheras.

Planting In Pots

Avoid black pots as they can get hot and can overheat the bulbs. Make sure the pot has good drainage. You can do this by slightly elevating the pot off the ground so that water is free to drain from the pot through the hole at the bottom.

Plant your bulbs at the same recommended planting depths even in a pot.

Experiment with Lasagna planting in a pot. This is where you plant different bulbs at their preferred depth and effectively stack them on top of each other. This can really extend the flowering period of the bulbs in the pot

Refrigerate - if your winters aren’t cold enough!

If you live in an area where the winter temperatures are not particularly cold you can put specific types of bulbs in a refrigerator to mimic a cold winter. Tulips and Hyacinths in particular need a cold period.

You can put tulip and hyacinth bulbs in the fridge 6 - 8 weeks prior to planting to build up their strength for optimal flowering. The cold triggers a natural bio-chemical process that breaks down starch and carbohydrate stores in the bulb and creates glucose. The glucose is used as energy to make the bulb flower.

One thing you must not do is put your bulbs in the refrigerator with fruit and vegetables. The reason is that fruit and vegetables can release ethylene gas and that will kill flower buds.

Store your bulbs in single layer in a paper bag or aerated plastic bag.

What to feed the Bulb?

Feed at time of planting (Autumn) with special bulb food or a slow release complete fertiliser. This helps them set roots during winter.

Once your bulbs are established feed annually with potash (high in potassium) after flowering as the foliage withers and yellows. At this time the bulbs are taking in nutrients to store and use for next years flowering.

After Flowering Care

De-heading flowers has a number of benefits. Your clump of bulbs looks better and you are maximising the bulbs energy. If you leave a flower so that a seed pod develops the bulb uses a lot of energy to create the seed pod. All this does is deplete the bulb of energy. Where you see a spent flower just follow the flower stem down to the base of the plant and break it off.

It is really important to leave foliage intact for 6 - 8 weeks after flowering. As the leaves yellow and wither nutrients are taken back into the bulb and stored as starch ready to use for next years flowering.

I would avoid braiding the leaves as this decreases the surface area to absorb light. The reduced light leads to less photosynthesis.

If leaving your bulbs to wither looks untidy to you then a good idea is to plant your bulbs next to perennials.

Lifting & Storage

Bulbs can be left in ground but you can lift if over crowded. Its is best to lift bulbs once foliage has died down.

Store them in a cool, dry airy place - not in plastic bags

What to do with Pests

Snails can eat flowers.

Daffodils produce oxalic acid making them unpalatable to wildlife and stock.

Baby gladioli can get thrips / aphids - can use bug killa

Reason for no flowers (green foliage only)

Too much shade

Too dry after flowering in the 6 - 8 weeks period when taking nutrients in

Foliage cut off too early

Fed with too much nitrogen

Planted too late

Overcrowding - generally every 5 - 7 years clumps need dividing

Bulb Planting Guide

Below is a bulb planting guide that shows in both centimetres and inches the correct depth to plant different types of bulbs.

How to have the best Flowering Bulbs