Growing plants from bulbs is an excellent move for gardeners of varying experience for so many reasons. For beautiful blooms and captivating colour from season to season, the use of bulbs is often seen as a simple step to beautifying green spaces of all shapes, sizes and styles.
Many bulbs are also easy to grow, well suited to several conditions, low maintenance, and particularly hardy. During the propagation stage, bulbs can be grown and nurtured using a range of techniques, providing the versatility and flexibility most gardeners crave.
With summer fast approaching, it’s time to plan ahead. In this blog post, we take a closer look at which summer bulbs you should be planting and when.
It’s easy to get swept up in the beauty of your outdoor space come spring. To ensure beautiful displays from season-to-season however, now isn’t the time to sit back and savour the view. Spring is the best time to plant summer-flowering bulbs, and here’s why…
Bulbs need to be planted while in their dormant phase for optimum growth. During this stage, that little bulb has the time to gather all the energy it needs so it can burst into life and provide a stunning display at exactly the right time.
Offering a heady scent and beautiful colour, summer flowering bulbs are incredible additions to any garden. Oriental and foxtail lilies, allium, gladioli, dahlias, cannas, nerines, and triteleias are just some of the flowering varieties that really come into their own during the summer months.
While simpler to grow and maintain, especially when compared with seeds, bulbs require care and attention to produce displays that can be enjoyed all summer long. The requirements for each summer-flowering bulb may vary. Most however require a sunny position within the garden and good quality, well-draining soil.
For a gorgeous look that will add beauty to any border, plant bulbs in ‘drifts’, i.e. position bulbs in greater concentration in the centre before fading out and blending with other flora. Planting bulbs under trees and deciduous shrubs is another option for garden displays that look as natural as possible.
Remember, bulbs also grow particularly well in pots and can even be planted sporadically in lawns for an informal finish. Before planting, bulbs should be stored in a cool, dark place to keep them at their best.