Petal-Packed Power

Your last chore for autumn is planting bulbs and the payoff will be wonderful

As fragrance wafts from their frilly flowers, spring bulbs are just what you need to turn the winter chills into the thrill of spring. And now – in autumn – is the time to plant your bulbs, while the earth is still warm and soft. Then, when the late winter sun starts to arch higher in the sky, they’ll jump up from their slumber, bringing your garden back to life with vibrant colour, vigour and passion. All it takes is a gentle nudge from that still wimpy sun!

MAKE YOUR GARDEN BED

WHEN TO PLANT

April in cool and cold regions and May in warmer areas when the weather and soil have cooled down.

SOIL

Well drained, because bulbs will rot if they are sitting in constantly moist soil. It should be slightly acidic, so dig in organic fertiliser before planting.

ASPECT

Most bulbs prefer lots of gentle sun, so avoid planting in areas exposed to hot afternoon sun. If you have a shady spot that needs brightening up, plant snowdrops (Galanthus sp) or snowflakes (Leucojum sp).

PLANTING

Check the packet instructions for how deep to plant your bulbs as the depth will depend on the variety. Generally, however, plant at a depth twice the size of the bulb. For a mass effect, plant about 10cm apart. Plant bulbs pointy end up, except ranunculi and anemone poppies. They are corms and tubers, so plant pointy end down.

CARE

Water immediately after planting. Apply slowrelease fertiliser just before spring as the bulbs – which are stores of energy – use much of this energy to produce the flowers. After the flowers fade, allow the leaves to return their energy to the bulb and only cut them back when they go limp.