Bulbs, seasonal guide
Planting spring bulbs.
Want this in March? Start here in autumn. Spring bulbs go in months before you see anything above ground, and getting the bed ready is most of the work.
- DaffodilsSeptember to October
- TulipsOctober to November
- Depth2 to 3 times the height
Timing and depth, bulb by bulb
General RHS and horticultural guidance for the UK. Your packet has the detail for the variety you bought.
| What is being compared | When to plant | How deep | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daffodils | September to October. The earlier the better. | About three times the height of the bulb. | Too shallow can mean leaves but no flowers. Leave the leaves about six weeks after flowering. |
| Crocus | September to October. | Two to three times the height of the bulb. | Suits grass. Wait until the leaves die back before you mow. |
| Hyacinths | September to October. | About 10 cm deep and 7.5 cm apart in pots. | Follow the packet for feeding, and leave the leaves to die back. |
| Tulips | October to November. November suits well. | Two to three times the height of the bulb. | Squirrels like them. Border tulips often fade after the first year. |
Snowdrops are best planted in the green, just after flowering while they still have leaves.
Borders, pots or grass
The same rules, applied three ways.
In borders
Most spring bulbs like a sunny, well-drained spot, because they come from places with dry summers. Bulbs planted into compacted or waterlogged soil generally do worse than those planted into ground that has been loosened and improved first.
Plant in groups of at least six, nose up, and space them at least twice the bulb's width apart. The RHS says 25 to 50 bulbs typically make an impressive show.
- SiteSunny and well drained
- SoilLoosen and improve it before you plant
- GroupsAt least six together
- SpacingAt least twice the bulb's width apart
In pots and containers
Use a pot with drainage holes. For a one-season display the RHS suggests three parts peat-free multi-purpose compost to one part grit. For a bulb lasagne, use a pot at least 30 cm wide and deep, and stack two or three layers with the biggest, latest-flowering bulbs at the bottom.
- PotDrainage holes, and at least 30 cm for layers
- CompostPeat-free multi-purpose with some grit
- LasagneBiggest and latest bulbs at the bottom
- Cold gardensPots can freeze, so shelter them
In grass
Crocuses and other early bulbs suit grass, and most daffodils do well too. Plant in autumn, no deeper than three times the bulb's height, and wait at least six weeks after flowering, ideally until the leaves are yellow and straw-like, before you mow.
For the rest of the year, our lawn feeding basics cover mowing and when a lawn really needs a feed.
- Best forCrocuses, daffodils and other early bulbs
- DepthNo deeper than three times the bulb's height
- MowingWait at least six weeks after flowering
What to do after the flowers fade
Let the leaves die back naturally. They recharge the bulb for next year, so do not tie them in knots or cut them off. For daffodils, wait until the leaves turn yellow, usually about six weeks after flowering. Deadhead the flowers so the energy goes into the bulb rather than seed.
Bulbs in containers can have a high-potash feed, such as tomato feed, from when shoots appear until the leaves die down. Bulbs in the ground often need no feeding, and for daffodils and hyacinths the packet is the guide. If squirrels dig up your tulips, chicken wire over the pot or bed keeps them out until shoots show.
Planted late?
Later than ideal is better than not at all, as long as the ground is not frozen solid. Results can be a little less reliable the later you leave it.
Three common bulb mistakes
-
Mistake 1
Planting too shallow
Shallow daffodils can produce leaves but no flowers.
InsteadPlant at two to three times the bulb's height.
-
Mistake 2
Tidying the leaves too soon
The leaves feed the bulb for next year.
InsteadWait until they yellow, about six weeks after flowering.
-
Mistake 3
Planting into wet, compacted soil
Bulbs sit in water and can rot.
InsteadLoosen the bed and improve drainage first.
Soil Improver: For Beds, Borders and Pots
A peat-free soil improver for working into the bed before you plant. It prepares the ground; it is not a bulb feed.
- How to useWork a trowelful through the top layer of soil around a plant or two. Potting up? Mix a couple of generous handfuls into the compost.
- Size1L pouch, also a 17L tub
- Also good to knowBulbs do best in well-drained soil, so prepare the bed first.
Questions people ask
When should I plant spring bulbs?
Autumn. Daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths are best in September and October, and tulips later, in October to November. Planting before the ground turns hard with frost gives the roots time to establish.
Does Soil Improver feed my bulbs directly?
No. Soil Improver prepares the ground, its structure, drainage and ability to hold water and nutrients, before you plant. It is not a bulb feed, in the same way it is not a plant feed for anything already growing.
Can I plant bulbs in containers?
Yes. Use a pot with drainage holes and a free-draining, peat-free compost with some grit, and make sure it is at least 30 cm wide and deep if you are layering bulbs.
How deep should I plant bulbs?
About two to three times the bulb's own height, pointed end up. Check the packet for anything specific to the variety you have bought.
What if I plant bulbs late?
Later than ideal is generally better than not at all, as long as the ground is not frozen solid. Results can be a little less reliable the later you leave it.
Do tulips come back every year?
Often not reliably. Border tulips commonly flower best in the first year, and many gardeners treat them as bedding. Darwin hybrid and Kaufmanniana types come back more reliably.
