Fri Sep 13 14:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Get Ready for Spring Now: Plant Bulbs This Weekend!
As autumn arrives and temperatures drop, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about next spring’s garden blooms. The Royal Horticultural Society recommends planting spring-flowering bulbs this weekend, before the first frosts arrive.
“September is a great time to start preparing your garden for spring,” advises the RHS. “Planting bulbs now will ensure you have a beautiful display of flowers come next spring.”
Popular spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths can be planted in borders and pots. While tulips are best left until November, hardy summer-flowering bulbs like lilies, alliums, and crocosmia can also be planted now.
The RHS suggests planting bulbs in groups of at least six for a fuller display. Dig a hole wide and deep enough for the bulb and plant it at two to three times its depth. Leave a space between each bulb twice its width and gently firm the ground, but avoid treading on the soil.
Bulbs can also be planted in pots and containers. Use a mix of three parts multi-purpose compost with one part grit for single-season displays, or three parts John Innes No 2 compost and one part grit for long-term displays. Plant the bulbs a little deeper and closer together than you would in a flower bed.
Water the bulbs immediately after planting and regularly when they are in active growth. Reduce watering once the leaves start to die down and during the dormant season, but ensure the pots don’t completely dry out. During the growing season, feed the bulbs with a high-potassium fertiliser every seven to ten days.
By following these simple tips, you can ensure a vibrant and colorful spring garden next year.
First Piper 