Spring woodlanders

Woodland-style gardens are increasingly fashionable, and now is a great time to plant woodland perennials that flower in springtime, says Hazel Sillver

- Hazel Sillver

WOODLAND gardens are at their best in spring, when the fertile ground beneath deciduous trees is abloom with flowers. Light falls through branches that haven’t yet come into leaf, bathing the plants below in sunshine. The show begins with snowdrops and aconites, and transforms week by week, as Siberian squills bloom, followed by primroses, forget-me-nots and wood anemones.

Humus-rich soil

There is still time to plant woodland perennials and even ready-grown bulbs. If you have an area under and around deciduous shrubs and trees, this is the place to plant them. Most woodlanders appreciate humus-rich soil, so digging in leafmould or compost before planting is worth the effort. It’s also an excellent time to plant trees, if you’d like to create a new woodland-style area. Many can be bought bare-root now, which saves money and creates a robust root system.

Trees are the most important plants in eco-friendly gardens because they support a wealth of wildlife and improve air quality. This means that garden designers are increasingly including them, in turn transforming our idea of what the average garden looks like.

An important season

While the traditional British garden used to have the odd tree, such as a crab apple or cherry, contemporary gardens tend to contain several trees, putting woodland plants on the priority list and making spring an important season. Summer may still take centre stage, but the months before are no longer just a build-up.

March and April