Summer may be ending, but this doesn’t mean your work in the garden has to come to an abrupt halt. Every month offers its own list of gardening to-dos, with the most green-fingered individuals seeing each season as an opportunity to get a jump on the next!
Planning for spring (and gardening success) starts as early as September, with the planting of spring bulbs a top priority for those looking to guarantee blooming beautiful displays when the weather warms once more. In this blog post, we share the ultimate guide to spring bulb planting, including why it’s important, which bulbs to plant, and how to get started.
The autumn months are the ideal time to get ahead with your spring floral displays. You’ll need to get those spring bulbs in the ground before those first frosts to ensure the healthiest plant life next year. Bulbs after all need time to develop, with the period between autumn and spring a time to gather the necessary energy and nutrients for growth.
Autumn’s cooler soil temperatures, consistent moisture levels and reduced number of pests provide the ideal conditions for new bulbs to thrive during the early stages of life.
Most spring flowering bulbs should be planted before the end of September as a rule of thumb. With any planting, it is important to take note of each bulb variety’s bloom date to ensure the timing is just right.
It’s not just bulbs being planted in the ground that require your attention right about now. Pot and container based spring bulbs also need to be planted.
There are so many fantastic bulbs that will make your garden extra bright and beautiful come spring. Tulips, daffodils, snowdrops and bluebells are all classics. Allium, crocus, hyacinth, iris and muscari are also prime examples of spring flowering bulbs that should be planted now for stunning results.
Timing is everything when planting spring bulbs during autumn, but so is depth and spacing. It is generally recommended that spring flowering bulbs are planted at a depth that’s three times larger than the bulb’s height for thriving bulbs and beautiful displays.
Preparing the soil is another must when planting spring bulbs this September. Choose the location of planting wisely, and remedy waterlogging beforehand to prevent your newly planted bulbs from rotting. For heavy clay soil, the addition of organic matter or sand can boost drainage and create better conditions.
After bulbs have been planted in your freshly prepared soil, backfill thoroughly before mulching and watering. Now it’s time to play the waiting game!