Spring-flowering bulbs: how to plant them

Choosing the planting location

Most spring-flowering bulbs prefer full sun, though some varieties like daffodils or fritillaries tolerate dappled shade. Camassias, Erythroniums, Squills, Winter aconites and Wood anemones require partial or even full shade.

Observe your garden, noting sunlight patterns at different times of day, and choose a planting spot with the right exposure – afternoon sun at the very least!

Choosing the right planting substrate

Flowering bulbs have one enemy: excess winter moisture, which is why they thrive when grown in pots, on sloping ground, or in well-drained soil. If your soil is heavy (clay-based), add some sand to garden soil to improve drainage.

Planting method

From late summer onwards, use a spade to dig a planting hole 5 times the height of the bulb, fill with 2/5ths of planting compost and firm down.

Place your bulbs with the pointed end upwards and roots downwards, spaced at least half their width apart, backfill to ground level (bulb covered with twice its height of soil), and lightly firm. Only water (moderately) at planting time if your soil is particularly dry.

Generally, the best effect is achieved with dense planting (80 to 150 bulbs per square metre depending on varieties). For this, you can excavate the entire flowerbed area, position your bulbs, then backfill “en masse”. For dense planting in lawns, follow the same technique by cutting out turf sections that you’ll replace after planting.

For a “naturalised” planting, mix different varieties in a basket before planting.

Mark planting areas to avoid accidental spade damage to your bulbs during winter…

Aftercare:

After flowering, you can cut the stems with secateurs and add some flower bulb fertiliser – this is when the bulb rebuilds its reserves for next spring’s flowering. For the same reason, only remove foliage when completely dried out.